#509 - Heather Knight Pech: Breaking Records into Her 60's

In this episode we are re-airing one of the best conversations in Rambling Runner history, and for good reason. Heather Knight Pech was once told that her peak was gone. It was in a class she was taking at Stanford 18 months ago. It sparked a deep conversation with her coach, James McKirdy, and her support team. Dejected, she was reminded that there's simply no chart or metric that can measure the power of the human spirit. This past weekend, just a few days before turning 61, Heather ran her second fastest half marathon. 1:27:51. A result that is a World's Best for her age group (60-64) and pending American and World Record (1:28:21). This episode was recorded last spring two weeks after she set the Boston Marathon record in the women's 60-64 age group. A record previously owned by Joan Benoit Samuelson. Below is what Heather's coach and friend James McKirdy wrote after she ran Boston in 2022. It is perfect I’ve inserted it below: ”If all we did was acknowledge the time on the clock... we'd be giving a standing ovation. If all we did was acknowledge that a record was broken and that the impossible had been accomplished... we'd be celebrating for weeks and then life would move forward as it does. But the reality is that what Heather Knight Pech accomplished in the Boston Marathon is far more than her finish time of 3:03:47. It's far more than winning the division (60-64). And it's certainly far more than breaking the record held by Joan Benoit Samuelson. It's been 3 years since since Heather last finished Boston - a race that lives in her soul. It's been a bit over 1.5 years of injury that left Heather wondering if the best was behind her. But the success Heather found on Monday isn't found in the result... it's the in-between time where the story is truly told. The injury. The heartbreak. The self doubt. The loneliness of not being able to do what she is so clearly meant to. But to know Heather is to know what it means to not give up. To know what it means to demand the very best. To know what it means to love with all that you are. Heather fought her way through this hard time - but she wasn't alone. She found the best doctors for therapy. She found shoulders to lean on with her family and friends. She found inspiration from her athletes while self doubt crept in. She surrounded herself with believers leaving her no choice but to believe in herself. When Heather stepped on the starting line she left all the self doubt behind her. She knew what she could do... she was patient... and she ran the race of her life!” Follow Heather at https://instagram.com/_knighttraining Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by UCAN nutrition which is powered to deliver steady, long lasting energy without the spike and crash. Add in UCAN Hydrate to get those electrolytes that you need to stay hydrated. Finally, you've got to try the award winning Edge energy gels - they are my go-to on the run. You will get 20% of all of your orders at ucan.co with code RAMBLING and get a free sample pack of six Edge energy gels, you only have to pay the shipping, at www.ucan.co/rambling. _ _ _ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices