"I am not just defined by my running, I am also a friend, a project manager, a partner, with the capacity to love beyond the confines of my sport. You can be ALL THE THINGS.” - Sarah Hutchings - Alton
By Kelly Joy — 2023
Photos provided by Sarah Hutchings - Alton
Sarah at Carlsbad 5k in 2023.
I am not going to lie, I actually met Sarah a while ago, but for some reason something was holding me back from sitting and placing fingers on the keyboard, it was like I was waiting for her to run her most recent marathon. Therefore, much has happened since Sarah, and I sat and had coffee together. Point one about Sarah – SHE LOVES COFFEE, as do I and we both have no qualms about consuming several cups a day, I knew we were going to be friends. Therefore, due to the time lapse, of meeting Sarah, to me sitting here in the dark at 6:15 am while my kids sleep, I would actually like to open this interviews trajectory from the present….
October 14th in New York state somewhere.
Sarah is 33 years old, she is a marathoner, and she has just…. wait for it…. Obtained her PR at the McKirdy Micro Marathon (you basically run nine loops of just under three miles a loop, with personal bottles and a small field, basically a nicely controlled marathon) with a 2:42:03– that is a full 6 minutes off her previous marathon time last year at a 2:49:08 at CIM. BOOM. This is huge, and a massive step closer to an Olympic Trials qualifying time of 2:37:00. It has taken six marathons, copious amounts of running and dedication to get her here. Sarah was successfully coached to her amazing time by her husband and Boulder Underground coach Guy Alton plus a whole lot of Sarah’s own dedication and badassery (ok I have just discovered this is actually in the dictionary as no red line appeared under “badassery” – day made)
Now that’s the announcements concluded, let’s swiftly move back to the beginning and start our story, because every dramatic final scene of a tale has humble beginnings, this is Sarah’s and so we begin.
Once upon a time, far, far away lived a little girl called Sarah Hutchings…. No, but seriously, let us begin.
Meet Sarah
Sarah’s Long Run at Magnolia Rd.
When I met Sarah, the first thing I noticed was her gentle aura, it was a comforting energy, not one that barrels in and hits you over the head, but an energy that allows you to feel at ease and comfortable occupying space around her. So, I settled in and began the interview….
Sarah Hutchings – Alton is a 33-year-old Project Manager at UC Health, and a lifelong runner. OK that’s the regular stuff done, now to talk about the “interesting,” the “whys” of running, why does anyone run? As for each person it is unique, and a little window into the soul of a human being, that is what makes runners so fascinating.
Sarah found running, because she had in her words no hand / eye coordination, well that’s all racket / bat sports out the window, also in her own words “ I sucked at every other sport at school.” Sarah tried swimming and cheerleading, but she finally fell into running and it stuck. Sarah admits that what she loved about running is that you can have the autonomy of an individual sport, but you work together as a team. She did the normal running gambit, through middle school and high school of track in the Spring / Summer, cross country in Fall / Winter. However, by the time college (Indiana - Purdue Fort Wayne (IPFW)) came around Sarah was on the fence.
“I wanted to be a normal kid, as running is strict, however I realized running is my sense of normal. When the world is changing, its solace is continuous, and that is amazing.”
She competed at a high level and graduated from IPFW with the school record in the 3k steeple. WOW
Sarah running Cross Country for Purdue University Fort Wayne.
As I have found with some college runners, by the time they finish running at school, they are exhausted both mentally and physically, Sarah thankfully takes a break.
She eventually falls back into running when she moves to Boulder in 2014, (after a brief 18 months in Denver) and joins the Boulder Track Club, she was ushered into the marathon…
I could continue on this broad tapestry of Sarah’s life, of she did this, she did that, but it is the delicate fibers that weave in between that make the person. YES, she is a dedicated marathoner and is talented, she is fast, she is tenacious, but when we spoke, Sarah is also very thoughtful, spiritual, emotionally in tune, she is caring and kind, and quietly driven. She reminds me of a diamond, it is beautiful to behold and reflects light and the person who peers in, but it is also the strongest element in the room, it may sound cheesy , but that is the best way I can describe her. As what people may not know about Sarah is she is always asking questions of herself and she suffers from imposter syndrome, in her professional and running life.
“Am I good enough?”
How does one settle that insecurity, Sarah runs up a mountain, because what you may not know, she is also a very good trail runner, and if Sarah needs to step away from the negativity in her mind she runs, and she runs UP “Sanitas.” (For non-Boulder people , this is a very steep, technical climb in Boulder. Like MEGA STEEP) By the time she gets back down, her energy and confidence are restored.
Injuries
Sarah running w/ friends in Golden Gate Canyon.
I promise I will get back to Sarah’s marathon trajectory. Yet before I do, what you also need to understand that over the years Sarah has been plagued with multiple stress fractures and I mean we are in the double digits here; therefore, she has to be highly in tune with her body, she has to listen, she must do strength, and take easy days easy. Thankfully, it has paid off and she has been stress fracture free for the last 2 ½ to 3 years. I ask how did you manage months of not being able to run.
“It is hard when running is everything, yet it forced me to realize I am not JUST a runner, I had to branch out and find other activities, I LOVE spin classes. It enabled me to feel gratitude for the things I love, and also made me mentally stronger. One can only run as fast as the weakest part of the body!”
On top of managing this, two years ago Sarah had her first epileptic episode, thankfully Guy was with her. She went on to have another four more episodes over the course of 24 hours, thankfully one of them being in the ER. This had come completely out of the blue. Terrifying! I ask how did she cope?
“It was tough, and hard to fully understand, plus you cannot drive for 60 days, so you are limited in what you can do.”
How I see it, it must feel like you are out of control, your body and mind are uncontrollable at the time of an episode, I cannot imagine how scary this must feel. Sarah went on to see a couple of Neurologists and she is now very aware of her body and when an episode is coming on. She has had to be meticulous with looking after herself, keeping stress levels down (enter trail running) and sleeping well. All of which are vital components to a successful marathon runner. To be so hyper aware of your body, that you can feel every subtlety as you move forward through the marathon, meticulously checking and adjusting, pushing towards a goal, this, my friend is a superpower when it comes to navigating 26.2 miles.
Training
Sarah & her husband, Guy Alton.
Sarah is coached by Boulder Underground coach Guy Alton, he is also her husband (although they had been dating long before he started to coach her), therefore more than most Guy understands and is empathetic to the nuances of Sarah as an athlete. That does not mean they have not had their challenges, but Sarah shares, Guy is a realistic coach, who thinks outside of the box for his athletes. He puts the onus on the athlete, he is a guide, and there will always be a conversation about needs, reality, goals and wants. She reveals that he understands the emotional side of each person, and how their individual lives impact their training. He is able to flex to an individuals’ life and the pressures it can put them under. Guys approach feels caring and holistic.
As much as Sarah at the beginning was training alone, Guys BU group has flourished and she now has a team to work with, I ask how that is? Sarah loves having people around her for longs runs and working her pace down (side note her favorite thing is the progressive long run) so it has been extremely beneficial to her training,
As our heroine of this tale worked her way towards her latest marathon (yes, the 2:42:03 one 😊) she confides that she has never been competitive in the process but has put A LOT of work into the journey, each time attempting to show up as the best version of herself, as marathon training is high on the commitment level. Therefore, after each cycle it is good to take a break, be positive and reestablish the love for the method that is running.
The Future
What next? More marathons? Probably, maybe? Sarah right now needs to bask in the glow of her achievement, to relish in the triumph of putting everything out on the course and crossing the line 6 minutes faster. When we met, I asked what she sees herself doing going forward. I loved her attitude, Sarah is so much more than her running ability, she wants to concentrate on her health, plus exercise, yet being able to chase goals, be a role model to others and advocate for benefits of self-care. To Sarah you can be all the things and still run fast.
“I am not just defined by my running, I am also a friend, a project manager, a partner, with the capacity to love beyond the confines of my sport. You can be ALL THE THINGS.”
She is truly inspiring, I loved her approach to a sport that can be seen as selfish, insular, and consuming. Sarah is warm, humble, honest, pragmatic, insightful, tenacious, and caring to herself and also others. She is a good role model, advocating for nurturing “the whole person” when I comes to all facets of life, not just in running. Because, if running was taken away, what do you have left to lift you back up? I am excited to see where Sarah takes her talents, not just in running, but also the rest of her life. She left me with some beautiful nuggets of wisdom as we downed our fourth coffees of the day….
“If it scares you, then it is something you have to do.”
However, me personally, Kelly Joy will NOT be bungee jumping anytime soon 😉
Sarah Stats
Sarah running somewhere up high in Indian Peaks.
Next Challenge – “I would like to do some more trail running and tick off some bucket list trails 4 Pass Loop in Aspen.”
People who Inspire you – Deena Kastor
Fuel – Maurten Gels “I suffer from GI issues, so these do not mess with my stomach.”
Marathon Morning Breakfast – Sourdough toast and butter, “something simple.”
Sneaker of Choice – Trainers – NB Vongo / Brooks Adrenaline, Race – Hoka Rocket X
Notable Times – Marathon – 2:42:03, Half Marathon – 1:15:59, 5K – 16:54
1-year Goals – “I have started my own business, advertising solutions for local businesses in Boulder, I would like to develop this further. Plus, support Guy as he starts to run again after injury.”
Something no one else may know about you – I love Pickletinis – Vodka + Pickle Juice. “I LOVE drinking pickle juice.”
Sarah with friends at Bolder Boulder Fun Loop (after the hard, serious loop) 2023.