Poland’s Flament ready for Texas


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Sarah Flament, 36, of Poland will compete in the Olympic trials for the marathon Jan. 14 in Houston.

Staff report

POLAND

Sarah Flament’s children, Logan and Alyssa, should appreciate her, a mom whose running career was put on hold to have a family.

Maybe Logan, at age 7, has some concept that his mother’s dream of competing in an Olympic trials for the marathon was secondary to his birth and upbringing.

Alyssa, who turned 4 on Dec. 6, probably doesn’t understand that she’s benefited from her mother’s sacrifice.

Now, almost eight years after vicariously enjoying the achievement of a former college competitor in the 2004 Olympic trials, Flament’s moment has come.

The 36-year-old Poland resident’s turn to be in the trials is Jan. 14 in Houston.

“At that moment, I reflected where my running career would have taken me if I would have pursued that path,” Flament said. “Instead, I chose to focus on starting a family and I was completely content with that decision while cheering for my friend.

“It’s still hard to believe that eight years have passed. But I have a wonderful family and I still achieved that dream of competing in the trials,” she said of having the best of both worlds.

For the first time, both men’s and women’s trials for the marathon will be on the same day.

“It’ll be cool to be involved in a historical moment with both genders racing together,” Flament said of the unprecedented arrangement. “From what I understand, this is the first time a city has felt it could do both at the same time,” said Flament, originally from Wausau, Wis.

“It’s a big deal for the sport because there will be a greater amount of attention. It’s a huge deal for Houston to host the trials and also a major race the following day. A lot of time and money is spent on logistics and making sure the weekend goes smoothly.”

In Houston, the women’s race will start 15 minutes after the men.

“Spectators will see the best marathoners in our country and see those who will represent the United States in the 2012 Olympics [in London],” she said of the three-loop course covering 26.2 miles.

“It should be very-spectator friendly and I’m sure Houston will live up to everyone’s expectations.”

Flament actually qualified twice: once at the 2009 Twin Cities Marathon (2:45.58) in Minnesota and again by improving her time this past April at the Boston Marathon (2:43.37).

In Boston, Flament placed 27th among all females and 11th among American females.

In Houston, she will be one of 169 women who have qualified, but only the top three finishers make the Olympics.

To say it’s an uphill battle would be an understatement.

“To be honest, I don’t have a shot at making the Olympic team,” Flament said. “I know a lot of people think that just because you make the trials means you have a good chance.

“They have no idea how difficult it is to actually make the team. You have to place in the top three and must also have achieved a time of 2:37 within a specific time frame.

Although Flament — ranked 93rd by USA Track and Field — may be selling herself short, she’s not being overly unrealistic.

“My chances of being in the top three are extremely unlikely,” Flament said. “There are 15 women entered who have run 2:33 or faster.

“It’s not that I’m thinking negatively, I don’t have the experience of some of the faster women and I haven’t had the uninterrupted, injury-free training. Eventually, I know I’m capable of running in the mid-2:30s. It just won’t be this January.

“To qualify and compete in the trials was my original ultimate goal and that is something to celebrate. I just want to take it all in and appreciate the moment. For the majority of the athletes qualified, the trials are considered our Olympics.”

Currently, Flament runs 80 miles a week.

“It’s pretty rigorous at the moment,” she said. “I definitely feel I’m prepared, but I’m not sure what my time could be.”

To say the road to the trials has been without tribulations would be inaccurate.

During the summer of 2010, Flament had a stress fracture in her hip, then, after Boston, she developed severe plantar fasciitis in her left foot, which led to other problems.

“Stress reaction is what happens in the bone before it develops into a stress fracture, but it was caught in time,” the runner said of corrective action taken by her podiatric physician, Dr. Greg Blasko of Ankle & Foot Care Centers.

Then she experienced plantar fasciitis pain and Blasko came to the rescue again.

“He has helped me tremendously,” Flament said. “I’ve made a lot of progress considering the time lost because of injuries since Boston.

“Basically [in Houston] I’ll do the best I can given the circumstances and where I am in my life.

“I’m not just focusing on the trials being the end-all of my running. I’d like to accomplish things even later down the road. Right now, I’m going to put my best foot forward come Jan. 14.”