Confident and joyful are two ways to describe Emma Bates as she prepares to race the Boston Marathon on Monday.
The talented runner who trains with Team Boss in Boulder, Colorado has had her best marathon buildup in her career, and the love and support that she’s received from her training group has elevated her confidence and mentality.
“This has been my best build up for a marathon thus far,” she said. “And it really is, because of the team that I’m on. And the coach that I have – they make it so much fun, they’re so supportive. And every day going to practice and working hard is honestly such a fun time that it’s not serious ever. I used to get so bogged down by, you know, just the daunting task of running really hard for workouts and long runs. But I’m just excited to get out there and see what I can do now and having that kind of support system. And along the way, with me, every single step is such a big difference in just like my mentality and just, you know, showing up every day, just wanting to be there and give my all just 100% all the time.”
The Boston Marathon is unique in its own right, from the race’s history, to the challenge of the course. But the moment won’t intimidate Bates in any way shape or form. Bates enjoys the opportunity to challenge herself to reach her full potential, and she’s grateful for the opportunity to run in the marathon, surrounded by the people that she loves the most.
“This will be my eighth marathon now,” she said. “So I kind of feel like I got a good handle on it. But I think me moving from track races and shorter races into the marathon has been a big difference, just because I just love going to races now. I love going to marathons because of the atmosphere, it’s so much more fun and light. And there’s so many more people that are in the race with you. I mean, there’s thousands of people that are going after similar goals, or just want to be there just sort of finishing a marathon or just to celebrate life. And I think that has made me just kind of slow things down and really enjoy where I am. And like just having this great gift of running and just being in this environment, and really just soaking it all in in that way. So that kind of takes the pressure off, just like knowing that.
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I’m just so lucky to be here and be in this position to not only run, but run for a career run for certain goals that I have. And I’m also just knowing that nobody cares how I do at the end of the day. I care, but everybody else is going to love me and support me, regardless of my performance. And I can take last in the race and there’s still going to be people that care about me. And I think that, you know, that realization just comes with you as you run more and the most. Like, the biggest things that stick out in my mind from like races are when I have failed, and I still keep coming back for more because there’s those people supporting me and surrounding me that keep me coming back. And I just want to see what I can do. And it’s not about performance at that level. It’s more just like challenging myself and seeing what I can get out of myself.”
Her grateful heart helps her live in the moment, even one as big as the Boston Marathon. The hidden treasures that the marathon brings, such as the cheering fans who gather to watch the race. That’s what Bates plans to do as she toes the line on Monday.
“I think it’s just trying to be in the moment as much as possible,” she said. “So the marathon there’s, I mean, thousands of spectators out there. So slowing down, taking the moment to really take in your surroundings and the people that are out there just screaming their heads off and doing goofy things. And I try to really pay attention to like the signs that people make, because they’re really funny out there and just try to smile as much as I can. So I mean, it kind of turns more into a grimace at most times. But I mean, that really does help is just appreciating everything that I’ve worked so hard for and all the gifts that I have to be here, it’s just really letting that soak in as much as possible.”
Some of the best American female distance runners have run the Boston Marathon, and will be running in the Marathon on Monday. Bates believes that she has the ability to take American female distance running to the next level, and inspire a new generation of little girls to keep following their dreams.
”It’s such an amazing time to be an American female distance runner right now, just because we have so many amazing athletes and you know, women breaking the American record in the marathon, left and right,” she said. “And I definitely see myself as somebody that can break that American record, if not, this year, next year or the year after. “I’m not quite at the peak of my career yet. And so I still know that I have that potential, and I will get to accomplish some pretty big things. So hopefully, I can kind of change the face of it. But also, I don’t want just my performances to be the factor in changing the way people feel about marathon running. I want to make people feel good about themselves and inspire other people. And I think that’s the biggest legacy that I want to leave – leaving that impact of wanting people to reach new heights because I went after my goals or just little girls seeing that an American can compete with the best in the world, and I really want to be up there doing that for them.”
