When it comes to the Olympic Trials, there’s always a sense of urgency and a pressure that’s attached with the event, as some of the most talented athletes in the country compete to be one of the three athletes who will make the Olympic Team.
Makenna Myler stepped to the startline of the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando in early February in front of an estimated 100,000 fans in attendance. However, she didn’t feel any pressure or any added stress. Instead, she was filled with a sense of thanksgiving, which led her to run a new personal best time of 2:26:14, which was good enough for seventh place overall.
“It is so fun to show up to the line with a sense of gratitude, rather than pressure, where you get more control, because you get to enjoy everything that’s happening,” she said. “And that’s really fun to reap those benefits of all the training, and having kind of that magical feeling on marathon days, because I know what it feels like to not feel that magical feeling on marathon days.”
Gratitude is not just a race-day ritual for Myler. It’s a way of life, and it’s something that she practices every day. Myler, who runs professionally for Asics and trains under Ryan Hall, believes that the more grateful you are in all things, the more you’re given.
“I feel really grateful to be healthy,” she said. ”And I’ve seen that cycle continue in my training where I feel grateful for what I have. And then I’m able to expand a little bit more and have more gratitude for what I have. And that circle just keeps getting bigger, which is cool.”
One of the things that Myler said that she was the most grateful for was the other women in the race who pushed her to be at her best during the race. The competition from the other women in the talented field, mixed with her determination helped her shave off five minutes off of her personal best time in the marathon.
“On race day, I was feeling so fortunate that I had those girls,” she said. “I think in my mind, I wouldn’t be able to run as fast as I want to and dig and ask something from myself without the women I’m competing against, and you can’t do that by yourself. And so I was also feeling a deep sense of gratitude for them and the talent that was there.”
Myler was able to draw strength from herself and those around her throughout the race, especially during the tougher times. She said that she recalled the things she overcame in preparation for the Trials, as well as the discipline that it took for her to train and to do the things needed for her to toe the line in Orlando.
“Instead of searching outward, you’re searching inward,” she said. “I’m the one who did this. You can do this right now, you can succeed.“
Another place that Myler drew strength from was the other moms who were competing in the race. Myler, who is 10 months postpartum, said she understands being in the trenches of trying to balance being a parent, a runner and doing your very best in the process.
“When I see other women and what they’ve sacrificed, and knowing we’re on the same page of understanding the sacrifice, of being a mom, and trying to be an athlete, or trying to just balance it all and what is required of your body mentally, emotionally, I definitely draw strength on seeing women who just understand,” she said. “Women who are just trying their best.“
Has the thrill of a great marathon performance worn off for Myler? She said it has. However, it hasn’t changed how grateful she is for the experience and how eager she is for what’s next.
“I guess it’s more I still have a really deep sense of gratitude for it, but I’m not feeling any fluffy excitement about it,” she said. “It’s more like alright, so now where do we go from here?”
Myler’s understanding of gratitude allows her to view accomplishments and shortcomings differently. She doesn’t find her value in her performances, but she goes into races with what she describes as a “let’s see what happens” mindset. This perspective allows her to run with pure joy and unlimited gratitude.
“Our successes and failures don’t necessarily make us,” she said. “It’s more what we’re making of ourselves on the way and what we’re becoming. I feel like that’s always just reiterated to me every cycle before the race.”
