Support women's sports and SHARE this story with your friends!

Kim Smith, 28, has been a top runner since she won four NCAA titles in only two seasons at Providence College. Since her college success, the New Zealand native has continued to collect National Records and Olympic and World Championship performances. She stands in her country’s record books as the fastest woman in the 3K, 5K, 10K and Half Marathon. Some of her career highlights include chasing Shalane Flanagan in the 10,000m and coming within one second of clipping her on the same night that Flanagan set an American Record; Smith ran 30:35 to Flanagan’s 30:34. More recently, Smith became the fastest non-Ethiopian woman in the Indoor 5,000m, running an astonishing 14:39 in 2009.

With her focus turned toward the marathon, Smith kicked off her 2010 campaign racing on the heels of Berhane Adere in the New Orleans Half Marathon. Smith’s 1:07:55 was the third fastest time by a woman on U.S. soil. She followed up this performance less than a month later by winning the New Bedford Half in 1:10:53 – she used New Bedford as a tune-up for the London Marathon on April 25.

London marks Smith’s second marathon appearance. Her debut in New York, following her 8th place 2008 Olympic performance in the 10,000m, did not go as planned. With just eight weeks to build-up, she fell sick before the race and was forced to drop out after mile 20. This time around, however, she enjoyed a positive and uninterrupted training cycle where she consistently logged 100-110-mile weeks. Smith faces a tough field on Sunday – a field that boasts six athletes who have eclipsed 2:22 in the marathon. Some of the big names in the race include Irina Mikitenko, Deena Kastor, Constantita Dita, Svetlana Zakharova, Bezunesh Bekele and Mara Yamauchi.

Smith sounds ready to make a run for it, and with her 5K, 10K and half marathon speed, she cannot be counted out of a top finish.

Eliterunning.com: First of all, congratulations on kicking off the 2010 season with a 1:07:55 half-marathon PR in New Orleans (also a New Zealand National Record and the third fastest time ever run by a woman on American soil), and a strong performance in the New Bedford Half. It looks like you had two different strategies entering these races: run all-out in New Orleans and use New Bedford as a pre-London tune up/workout. How did feel in these races? Did you accomplish your goals?

Kim Smith: Yes, those were my two strategies. I had run one half marathon prior to New Orleans at the World Half Marathon Champs last September and I felt I didn’t race very hard as I was kind of scared of dying as I had never run a half marathon. I went to New Orleans wanting to run hard and fast and see what I could do for the distance. I went out hard and was a little worried, but it seemed to work out in the end. I was very happy with the time. I wasn’t planning to run in New Bedford but I often struggle doing long tempo runs on my own so I jumped into the race so I would have a group of guys to run with. I felt really comfortable and it was a good workout. [Editor’s Note: Kim finished New Bedford in 1:10:53]

ER: In New Orleans, you ran neck-and-neck with Berhane Adere as you both entered the homestretch. Considering that Adere has run as fast as 2:20 and 2:22 in the marathon, did your final time and your close race with her boost your confidence heading into London?

KS: It was definitely a confidence booster. It’s always going to be tough to out-kick someone like Adere so I tried hard to shake her for 13 miles but she stuck with me the whole way. I think she ran a PR so we both had great races. [Editor’s Note: Adere's 1:07:52 was a new PR for her]

ER: With several fast spring marathons on the racing calendar, what attracted you to the London Marathon?

KS: I’ve run a few road races in London recently and really enjoyed them. Time wise, it fit in well and it is a pretty flat course, which I was looking for.

ER: In a recent article, you mentioned 2:25 as a target time goal. Is that still your goal?

KS: It’s hard to set a time goal because the marathon is such an unknown distance. But I would love to run 2:25. It’s definitely a scary race!

ER: Coming off of your 9th place finish in the 10,000 in the Beijing Olympics, you turned your sights to your marathon debut in NYC. You got sick a few days before the race, and ended up dropping out between 30K and 35K. Did you reassess after NYC and decide to wait to make another run at the marathon? Did you gain any experience from that race that you are taking with you to London?

KS: I was put off of the marathon for a while but after running some road races in London I got excited to run another one. I don’t think New York showed me a whole lot. I felt terrible from mile 1 so it’s hard to know. I would love to go back to New York if London goes well to race it again. It’s such an awesome race and I’d love a more positive experience there.

ER: Prior to NYC, you had never raced longer than 10K. With several fast half marathons in your legs, do you have a fresher feel for the distance and for your ability to race it?

KS: I definitely feel better prepared and more confident this time around. I had a bigger and better build up this time. I was pretty tired after the Olympics in 2008 and I got sick three times in the 8-week build up to New York. I haven’t had any disruptions this time and I got in the long races so I definitely feel like I have a better feel for the distance.

ER: You have posted some extremely fast times in the 5,000 and the 10,000. You are the fastest non-Ethiopian runner in the indoor 5,000, having run 14:39 in 2009. You’ve also run 14:45 outdoors and 30:35 in the 10,000. After London, do you still plan to race on the track and the roads in the 5 and the 10? Do you plan to switch your focus more to the marathon?

KS: It will depend on how the race goes, I guess. I would still love to run faster on the track but it’s getting harder to knock the seconds off my times. Breaking 14:30 would be great but that’s pretty tough to do.

ER: At what distance do you ultimately think you will be most competitive? Is the marathon your primary goal for the 2012 Olympics?

KS: It will again depend on how the race goes. I want to be a marathon runner badly, but you don’t really know until you run one how it will go.

ER: You have run in the 80-90 mile range for several years, and you have recently been in the 100-110 range. What has your mileage and long runs been like leading up to London, and can you give us a sample week of training?

KS: My mileage has been in the 100-110 range. I think I would get really tired doing more. It amazes me that people run 150-mile weeks – I would be too tired to race if I did that. I also space out my workouts more than other people as that has always worked for me. I have a two week schedule where I do a tempo, a workout of long reps, a workout of short reps, and a long run of 20 -24 miles.

ER: Is there a particular workout that you like doing before a race – one that tells you what kind of shape you are in and what you can expect on race day?

KS: I have those workouts before a 10k or a 5k race but the marathon is kind of unknown. If I’m getting ready for a 10k I know I’m in shape if I can do 3 by 3km in 9 minutes to 10 minutes. That’s probably my favorite indicator workout.

ER: How would you describe your overall training philosophy?

KS: I’m pretty good at reading my body. I often will go to the track and warm up for a workout and if I feel bad I’ll just run and do the workout the next day. I often change things around in my schedule and I think that’s why I don’t get injured very often. I don’t think there is any point in pushing things if you’re really tired. I like doing good, hard workouts and would rather wait a day than beat myself up about a bad workout.

ER: Do you do any kind of cross-training to supplement your running?

KS: No, I haven’t had many injury problems so I don’t cross-train.

ER: How important is nutrition and recovery to you?

KS: I’ve been better about those things training for the marathon. I would eat a lot of take-out before, but now I’m trying to eat better. I got sick so much the last time so I’m trying to eat more vegetables and good foods rather than junk food.

ER: You have worked with Coach Ray Treacy since you ran under him at Providence. How would you describe your relationship with him? How much of a factor has he been in your running career?

KS: Coming to Providence College and working with Ray has been a huge factor in my running career. I just wasn’t that good before I came here. I improved so much and loved running in the NCAA system. I think it is a great stepping-stone to running on the world stage. I appreciate so much what Ray and Providence College have done for my career. I know I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing now if it wasn’t for Ray.

ER: You are from New Zealand and you hold National Records in four distances. So how do you like training and living in Providence? Do you train there full-time?

KS: I train in Providence most of the time. Molly huddle, Roisin McGettigan (my training partners) and I went to Phoenix to train for part of the winter and I usually go home over Christmas for a month or so. I like training in Providence because it’s where I feel comfortable. I like doing the same loops I did in college.

ER: How did you get into running? Were you always a good athlete growing up? Did anyone inspire you to give running a shot?

KS: I got into running, I guess, because it was something I was good at. I wasn’t winning anything nationally growing up but I was up there. I think I matured as a runner a lot later than most people. I just kind of stuck with it and improved. I guess you see that a lot with young girls. A lot of time the best girls in high school don’t do too much later on.

ER: Looking back over the past few years, have you been surprised by your success, or did you always feel that kind of potential brewing inside of you?

KS: I’ve been completely surprised. When I was a teenager I never dreamed of going to the Olympics or anything; it wasn’t something I thought about at all. It still shocks me sometimes that running is my job now. It’s crazy.

Now for the quick-fire questions . . .

My favorite book is: any cheesy chick lit
My favorite song is: don’t have one
My favorite meal is: burgers
I indulge in: a lot of coffee
My favorite workout is: workouts are hard so I don’t think I like any, but I know the 3 by 3 km workout is good for me
My pre-race ritual is: a lot of coffee drinking
The one thing that people would be surprised to find out about me is: sometimes I’m so lazy I do my morning runs at midday…like today
My life philosophy is: don’t be too serious; you have to have fun and enjoy what you do
When I was a kid, I wanted to be: a teacher
The most miles I have ever run in a week: 120
My worst injury was: a torn achilles that caused blood clots that moved to my lungs
My worst running moment was: tearing my achilles in a race
My greatest running moment was: winning an NCAA championship the first time
My number one running goal is: to win a big city marathon

Support women's sports and SHARE this story with your friends!

Filed Under:  

• Running
• Sports

This post is related to an event on our Calendar:

• Virgin London Marathon

This post is related to an ongoing story:

• London Marathon

View Original Post at eliterunning.com

View BridgetM's Full Profile