“The marathon is a conundrum, relaxing and terrible in unison.” -Sarah Berline following her 2:58 Marathon at CIM
BY: Kelly Joy
The mystical, magical, wondrous Three Hour Mark of the marathon. A goal pursued by many, achieved by few. That is a 6:50 minute mile. Sarah Berline has achieved just that, thus putting herself in to the top 4% of marathoners in the world.
As I was scrambling to find my keys, dropping everything in my hands at the same time, to get my wild kids in to the house, my phone rang, 3 pm, Sarah was on the phone, we had arranged to chat at 5pm for this interview, and for some crazy reason I did not even begin to think Sarah would actually live in another state! Her cheerful voice rang down the line, she laughed at my mistake, and I liked her instantly.
Sarah is a 33-year-old, Behavior Analyst, online Boulder Underground athlete hailing from Indiana. Most certainly not the running capital of the USA. Chatting on the phone, what I loved about Sarah was her warmth, and easy attitude towards life and running. However, just lying beneath the surface is a dedication and steeliness that drives her to push for goals. Achieving all of this as a solo runner.
In college Sarah was a rower, right there is a foundation of strength, resilience, and drive. Which she quit on leaving school, looking to channel all that athleticism into something else. Enter her sister-in-law stage right, with an idea at the time seemed nuts, unachievable, plus a bloody long way. She swings into the scene, and says, “Hey let’s run the NYC marathon, fun! Right?” That was five years ago. Sarah was not so keen, but indulged her sister-in-law, pulled on her sneakers, and started to train. She ran a 3-hour 45-minute marathon, impressive for a first go at the golden 26.2miles
It became their thing, a way to do something they enjoyed together, and travel to fun destinations. Over the next few years, they ticked off Boston twice, Berlin, NYC, amongst others. Yet, a sub-3-hour marathon was never deemed a possibility. That was until Sarah met Matt Hensley through her sister in laws friend from high school. Matt planted the seed, that it was very possible goal, especially from her current 3hr 20-minute marathon she had recently run, and so the hard work begun. Sarah shares, Matt gave her the gift to believe in herself, to trust in her ability to run that far and that fast. This was 2 years ago.
Our conversation evolves and moves through what the marathon is to Sarah, how it appeals to her, fits in with her life, and what it gives to her. She shares that the beauty of 26.2 miles is that it creates a situation where you can challenge yourself and additionally find a state of rhythm and mindful calm, even when you know at some point you are going to be in pain. You have to accept this pain, sit in it, and trust that your training, aptitude, and strength will propel you to the finish line. The marathon has taught Sarah that to have one person who believes in you, can create a tangible if not seemingly unachievable goal. It creates a feeling of “I can do this.” Which can be relatable to all aspects of life, manifesting a positivity that can be poured into many situations.
As an online Boulder Underground athlete, Sarah runs all her workouts on her own, I ask her how does she keep motivated? She reveals it is something she does from joy, and it is a way she can stabilize herself before she starts her day, on a day she may need to be motivated she reminds herself of her bigger goal.
Berlin 2022 – Sarah ran a 3:01 marathon time, she thinks, “well maybe this sub three thing is possible?”
We talk about marathon prep, to Sarah it is an ever-evolving process, dialing in her nutrition pre-race and during the race. Like her training and the marathon, itself, it is a fluid process, no two times will ever be the same, a good marathoner, is a person how can adapt with the circumstances, and to not let change be what stops them from pushing forward.
California International Marathon (CIM) Sarah runs her goal – 2 hours 58 minutes and 28 seconds, Sarah crushes in a perfect execution.
As we discuss her feelings and her goals going forward, what truly strikes me about Sarah is how humble she is, and grounded. Running is clearly especially important to her, but her attitude is healthy, that she does it to enhance and enjoy her life. She is family orientated and is wonderfully supported by her husband, parents, and immediate family. As a runner I know how the marathon can consume you, at times you can’t see the wood for the trees, becoming so bogged down in the details, you lose sight of the long-term goal. Sarah has most certainly not gone down that rabbit hole. We discuss 5-year plans, she actually has none, she lives for each day, relishing what life gives her as it happens.
To achieve a long-term goal is a reaffirmation of Sarah’s talent, tenacity, strength, and dedication to the process. To have a belief in one’s own ability is a gift only she can give herself. Where she goes from here is her journey alone, a personal journey, reliant only on her own dreams, no one else, and that is an extremely exciting precipice to be peeking over. Whether it be faster times, longer distances, or trail running, Sarah will assuredly create a joy in the process, an adventure of the journey, and believe in herself that she will get there eventually.
BU Athlete Stats
Name – Sarah Berline
Age - 33
Home state – Indiana
Favorite sneakers to train in – New Balance 1080’s
Favorite sneakers to race in – “Those fancy Nikes with % in the name.” I genuinely loved this answer, it shows ability not to get bogged down in the details of running, technically the world most simple sport.
Go to nutrition – Huma Gels
Interesting people you have met on your journey – “I ran with a guy from NASA at the Glacier National Park half marathon, I learned a lot about telescopes!”
What excites you about the marathon – “It is a structured race against myself. It is individual, unlike rowing, whereas a team, if one person had a bad day, then the whole team suffered. It is all about me, against myself.”
Person, you admire – My family
Something no one else may know about you – “ Much to my brother’s dismay, my two nieces stay with me often, and I allow them to say naughty words they are not allowed to say at home. 😊”
