An Interview with Magdalena Lewy-Boulet

Despite placing fifth in a PR of 2:30:50 at the 2004 Olympic Trials, Magdalena Lewy-Boulet has been flying under the radar this year. She has run just two marathons in the past four years, qualifying in New York City in 2006 with a time of 2:42:38.

Boston Athletic Association: How did you first become involved in the sport – and when did you first realize that you had a future as a distance runner?

Magdalena Lewy-Boulet: I was on the swim team in high school and when the season ended, I needed something to do after school, so I started to run on the track. The cross-country coach saw me run and invited me to join the team, but I didn’t think of myself as a runner, so I passed on the invitation. That evening, my competitive personality came out and I thought it would be fun to see how I would stack up on the team. I fell in love with running the very next day and never looked back.

M.L.B.: I swam all my life. I still do it occasionally, but not nearly as much as I used to.

B.A.A.: Your family grew up in Poland – what led to your move to the U.S. and what was the transition like?

M.L.B.: My parents wanted a better life and more opportunities for us, as well as for themselves. We still have a lot of family in Poland and it was a difficult process, but I’m so grateful to be here now and to have the chance to follow my dreams.

B.A.A.: You officially became a U.S. citizen on September 11th, 2001 – talk a little bit about that experience and what it means to be an American.

M.L.B.: Being sworn in on 9/11 put my citizenship in perspective very quickly. I gained a world of opportunity on a day that several thousand people lost their lives, just because they have those same opportunities. I love this country. It’s my home. Being American was a choice for me and I think when you choose something and go through a process to attain it, it’s that much more precious. I owe it not only to those who died, but to Americans everywhere to do my best and represent my country to the best of my ability.

B.A.A.: Describe your feelings and emotions that go along with qualifying and competing in an Olympic Trials race. What does the accomplishment mean to you?

M.L.B.: It’s such an honor to be on the same course as so many accomplished women who all share the same goal. Being that it only happens once every four years makes it even more special. Everyone in that race will remember that day for the rest of their lives and will tell their grandchildren about it.

B.A.A.: You finished fifth at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials and set a personal best of 2:30:50 in the process. What was it like to run that type of time and be in contention at the Olympic Trials?

M.L.B.: I set pretty high standards for myself and my goal that day was to finish in the top three. Even though I ran a personal record, I was actually fairly disappointed because in my heart, I believed I was capable of making that team. Who knows what would have happened if the race had been on a different course or on a different day. The race order would have been completely different. I do think that I ran as well as I could on that day and all of the credit goes to those four who finished ahead of me.

B.A.A.: Have your expectations changed from 2004 to this year's Olympic Trials?

M.L.B.: Not really. I know what I’m capable of when all goes well.

B.A.A.: The last marathon you ran was your qualifying performance of 2:42 at the 2006 ING New York City Marathon – can you take us through that race?

M.L.B.: I started to have a pretty bad case of plantar fasciitis a month before the race and was only able to run three miles every other day. I was relying on daily spinning classes and pool workouts in the final four weeks of preparation for New York. I was hoping I would still be able to run reasonably well, something in the 2:35 range, but the heel flared up a few miles into the race and I just ended up getting to the finish line as best I could without doing too much damage.

B.A.A.: Do you think not running a marathon since then is an advantage or a disadvantage?

M.L.B.: I think it would have been nice to have run a good one last year, but I’m not all that worried about it. Even if I had run a good marathon last spring or last fall, it wouldn’t necessarily mean a better result at the Trials. Your performance at any one race has way more to do with specific preparation in the months leading up to it than with any previous race results.

B.A.A.: What are your goals for the 2008 season, beyond the Olympic Trials?

M.L.B.: I will be on a plane to Costa Rica three days after the Trials to attend my best friend’s wedding. Then I’ll go back to work where my goal is to lead the Cal to as many personal best performances and jump in the 10K myself at the Olympic Trials, assuming I walk away healthy from the Marathon Trials.

B.A.A.: Has your training changed since giving birth to your son Owen in 2005?

M.L.B.: Yes, to some extent. I have incorporated treadmill running, which include easy runs as well as interval repeats. Due to the lack of flexibility in my daily schedule, the treadmill has allowed me not to compromise any part of the training formula required for optimal marathon preparation.

B.A.A.: Your coach Jack Daniels lives in Flagstaff, AZ. How does that relationship work with the two of you as far away as you are?

M.L.B.: It works well, as it is much closer than Cortland, NY, where Jack used to coach and teach prior to moving to Flagstaff. I call him after most of my workouts and we email a lot. I went down to Flagstaff this winter and would love to move there, but the reality is that my husband owns a running specialty store in the Bay Area and I coach at Cal, so we aren’t going anywhere. I will keep going back to Flagstaff. Jack and his wife love to visit the Bay Area, so it works out for all of us.

B.A.A.: What has your experience coaching at your alma mater (The University of California) been like and what has it taught you about running?

M.L.B.: It has mainly taught me that there is not one system that works well for everyone. I know what works for me, but I have to remind myself that my athletes are not me and that everyone has different needs. But I absolutely love it and I love seeing the kids learn, grow and improve.

B.A.A.: What has been the biggest challenge of your running career?

M.L.B.: My husband is my biggest influence in running. I have watched him train and race at a very high level, and to this day I see how much he loves to run. He understands what it takes to run and compete at this level and supports me in every way he can.

M.L.B.: My coach, Jack Daniels, inspires me because of his love and passion for the sport of running, his approach to coaching, and for his attitude toward life.

B.A.A.: What is something interesting that the running community may not know about you?

M.L.B.: My dream is to climb Mt. Aconcagua, which is the highest peak in South America at 22,800 feet. I love to summit non-technical high peaks. One year for my birthday, I ran up Mt. Whitney and back . . . that was a great birthday gift for me.