From 2024 Olympic Trials to BMW Dallas Half Three Peat Champion: A Conversation with Mimi Smith
In this engaging podcast episode, host Chris Detzel interviews elite runner Mimi Smith, who shares her journey through competitive running and recent accomplishments. The episode covers her experience at the 2024 Olympic Trials in Orlando, Florida, where she finished 65th overall despite challenging hot conditions. Smith discusses her qualifying time of 2:34 at the Chicago Marathon that earned her spot at the trials.
A significant focus is placed on Smith's dominance in the BMW Dallas Half Marathon, where she's won three consecutive years. She details her training approach for the most recent victory, maintaining 60-mile weeks while scaling back from her usual 80-mile marathon training weeks. Smith shares her race strategy, including how she mentally prepared for competition from other Olympic Trial qualifiers.
The conversation explores Smith's involvement in the Dallas running community, highlighting her participation in groups like Train Pegasus and Oak Cliff Run Crew. She emphasizes the importance of community in maintaining consistency with early morning workouts and training partnerships.
Looking ahead, Smith outlines her plans for 2024-2025, including the Boston Marathon and a half marathon in Miami. She discusses her long-term goals, particularly focusing on qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Trials, with plans to attempt the qualifying time in early 2026, possibly at the Houston Marathon.
The episode also includes a memorable anecdote about stealing track signs during her college racing days, adding a personal and humorous element to the conversation. Smith concludes with valuable advice for runners at all levels, emphasizing the importance of patience in training progression and building proper foundations before focusing on speed.
Throughout the interview, Smith demonstrates her expertise as both an elite athlete and a physical therapist, offering insights into proper training progression and the importance of building volume before intensity.
A significant focus is placed on Smith's dominance in the BMW Dallas Half Marathon, where she's won three consecutive years. She details her training approach for the most recent victory, maintaining 60-mile weeks while scaling back from her usual 80-mile marathon training weeks. Smith shares her race strategy, including how she mentally prepared for competition from other Olympic Trial qualifiers.
The conversation explores Smith's involvement in the Dallas running community, highlighting her participation in groups like Train Pegasus and Oak Cliff Run Crew. She emphasizes the importance of community in maintaining consistency with early morning workouts and training partnerships.
Looking ahead, Smith outlines her plans for 2024-2025, including the Boston Marathon and a half marathon in Miami. She discusses her long-term goals, particularly focusing on qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Trials, with plans to attempt the qualifying time in early 2026, possibly at the Houston Marathon.
The episode also includes a memorable anecdote about stealing track signs during her college racing days, adding a personal and humorous element to the conversation. Smith concludes with valuable advice for runners at all levels, emphasizing the importance of patience in training progression and building proper foundations before focusing on speed.
Throughout the interview, Smith demonstrates her expertise as both an elite athlete and a physical therapist, offering insights into proper training progression and the importance of building volume before intensity.
Creators and Guests
Host
Chris Detzel
As a seasoned technology leader with over 20 years of experience, I specialize in building and nurturing thriving communities both running and technical
Guest
Mimi Smith
From graduating undergrad at Wake Forest University in 2019 to moving to Dallas in 2022, I moved a total of eight times because of school/clinical rotations. It's lonely, constantly uprooting, and this was also the case moving to Dallas as I didn't know a soul in the city. I went to a local running store and asked about local running teams, desperate to meet people right away. I found a group of runners who adopted me immediately, even convincing me to sign up for Boston 2023 the first week I started running with them. What I like about this group is we are all very passionate about running, but we are also all very passionate about our professional careers. It was the perfect mix for me as I was completing a physical therapy residency. If it wasn't for having a network of runners who taught me the importance of consistency, teamwork and community, I would not even imagine running in the 2024 Trials.