Last month local athlete Courtney Olsen crushed the 50 mile world record (set by the the legendary Ann Trason) at Tunnel Hill in Vienna, Illinois with a time of 5:31:56. Courtney started her running career right here in Whatcom county, running for Squalicum High School and Western Washington University before starting the Bellingham Distance Project, a club for post-collegiate runners hoping to keep competing at a high level. We are grateful to her for taking time from her build up to the World 100k Championships in India and all of her other interview requests to answer the rapid fire round of questions that follows.
1.What did you want to be growing up?
Archaeologist or Writer
2.First Sport?
Basketball, Running, Gymnastics (lol)
3.First race you ever ran?
All Comers Meet at Civic; 100m & Jogger’s Mile
4.Proudest Squalicum Storm athletic accomplishment?
Winning State (3A) as a team in cross country multiple years in a row
5.Proudest WWU athletic accomplishment?
DMR School Record & Steeplechase race at Nationals, coached by Erik Bies, a talented athlete alum turned assistant coach
6.Five words or less on the Bellingham Distance Project?
Working. Passionate. Funny. Chaotic. Varied.
Pre-Race
7.What was your pre-race dinner?
Pre Tunnel Hill 50 Matthew (Courtney’s husband) and I had a Margherita pizza with aggressive dollops of ricotta ordered for takeout from a city in Illinois called Metropolis, and eaten on the foot of our bed back in Vienna, paired with Big Salt wine.
8.Any pre-race rituals you follow?
Distraction by either thrifting or listening to podcasts. Bottle prep. Race outfit flat lay. Not too ritualistic, but these are mainstays.
9.Who gave you the best “good luck”?
The Race Director, Steve Durbin, who built me up to believe I could do it prior to, without having met me, and then in person, and on that start line. It’s easy to take your loved ones and friends’ well wishes & belief in you for granted – it’s almost their job to offer such – but when a sorta-stranger believes in you, it’s like, What do they see? Do they see something I don’t?
10.What did you eat for breakfast morning of?
Baguette, peanut butter & banana. Iced coffee with brown sugar nut creamer. A most questionable tasting Maurten Bicarb.
11.Who did you meet on the start line?
Nicholas Thompson, CEO of the Atlantic, my two former 50K World Teammates (Andrea & Melissa) & one nice man hoping to run around the same time as I.
12.What did Matthew say to you pre-run?
“Run your race. Stay within yourself. You were made for this. Stick to the plan. Do you want another donut?”
13.What shoes were you wearing?
Hoka Rocket X2
14.Any accessories (lucky socks/ring)?
A beaded bracelet that says, “Faster.” A large assortment of rings: a few of my grandmothers’, a band with “2” on it, one inscribed with “Lucky $$$” on the interior, an amber one, my father’s wedding band, my wedding ring.
During
15.What watch do you use, and what metrics do you like to have on screen?
Coros Pace 2. Metrics are: overall distance, current mile values, HR, pace (current & overall).
16.Favorite outfit or thing you saw on the course?
I like the subtle flair of the ultra athlete, the cotton button up left open paired with spandex, the accoutrement. Favorite thing I saw on course – the RD’s face, and Matthew at each aid station shouting “OLSEN!”
17.Did you use a mantra or other mental techniques?
I was fortunate to feel good 99% of the race, and in so feeling, more easily accessed positive self-talk and mantras. For the first 30 miles I was in 2nd, and thus not technically on target for achieving my goal, which could have caused stress or anxiety, but because I felt good, I remained optimistic and played the long game, patiently reeling in the woman ahead. I utilized simple mantras like, “You’re doing so good,” “You got this,” or “You’re doing it.” I’m an over thinker, which can sabotage, so to “dumb down” is a good mental technique for me when racing.
18.How many gels/bottles did you consume?
I ended up consuming 12 gels, 5 packages of gummy bears or performance chews, 11 bottles of water, 2 bottles of water mixed with Tailwind Dauwaltermelon, and 2 ketone IQ shots.
19.At what mile did things get “hard” (or were you like the late Kelvin Kiptum who said he never felt pain in his record breaking marathon)?
Lol. I had more of a Kelvin Kiptum day over a got-hard day, which is a rare blessing from the running gods. I didn’t feel incredible on the 10 mile steady climb between miles 30-40, I did have a slight calf cramp that dictated my final 10 miles of pacing, and a blister on my toe exploded at mile 49, but these things were minor, and I’m grateful for that.
20.At what mile did you know you had it?
I think a part of me always believed from the start, that if I was smart, I could do it despite being in 2nd for 30 miles. I just had to bide my time. But, I didn’t feel safe until mile 30 when I overtook the lead woman, and reading her body language, I could tell I had it so long as nothing went wrong. It’s hard because even though I felt I had it, I still had to do it, and so much can go wrong – I had 20 miles left to run. Each mile closer I felt more sure. So the long made short – mile 30 with a caveat, mile 40 with a Hell Yeah We’re Doing It!
21.What was your worst thought during the race?
How it would feel if I didn’t get the record, win, or have any kind of a day to be proud of, and how I’d feel like my sponsor, who’d just dropped me, would be validated in their decision to.
22.What was your happiest thought during the race?
How cool it must have felt for Ann Trason to have accomplished this and so much more 30 years ago – all that power, talent, hard work and magic pre super shoes and sponsorships and better nutritional options.
23.What was the scenery like?
An incredibly beautiful quintessential fall. A myriad of autumnal colors against off-white crushed limestone. An endless stream of trees curving the trail; trees growing from within bogs, emerging from the water. Old tunnels, and the infamous tunnel-as-namesake 200 meters long and blacker than black to run within.
Post
24.Who was waiting for you at the finish line?
Matthew, the RD, photographers, support crew of other competitors, and racers who had paused to watch.
25.Can you attempt to describe the feeling of breaking a world record in three words or less?
Awe. Gratitude. Relief.
26.What did you win?
Some really cool stuff – an inscribed railroad tie, a belt buckle, a sick hoodie, $4,000 for the record, $750 for 1st, and a trip to give a urine sample to USADA (that she had to organize and pay for herself!).
27.First bite and first sip post record?
A gallon of water to try to get hydrated for the urine sample, a Pedialyte from a gas station, slices of the leftover Margherita ricotta pizza.
28.Favorite person you met at the event?
Too many good personalities and quality humans there to name just one – The Canadian, Adam T., who coaches his wife who won the 100 Mile, setting the Canadian record en route. FleetFeetPhil (Phil Young), who I spent the first 18 miles with. Gavin Prior, a really cool, talented kid who was just ahead of me in 3rd place (OA), and who has become a fast friend, and the RD, Steve Durbin.
29.First call or text congratulating you?
I just fact checked – via text it was Thomas Kean. My beloved running partner, teammate and friend. Via voicemail – Devon Yanko, a wonderful friend who I have a tattoo of on my back.
30.First person you called or texted?
Honestly, it was the USADA agent, making plans to meet in the middle of nowhere for urine.
This or That:
31.High or low socks?
High
32.Gels or chews?
Chews
33.Spankies or shorts?
Spankies; but like high-cut, high-waisted 70s style.
34.Outside or Treadmill?
Outside
35.Road or Trail?
Road, but I do appreciate trail
Random Extras:
36.What’s next, plus your goal there in three words?
First up – the IAU 100K World Championships in Bengaluru, India on 12/7. Then, if I can manage a jog, I might attempt to help my BDP teammates at the USATF Club Cross Country Championships on 12/13. After that, the only thing I have locked in is Comrades.
Goal in 3 words for the next race (IAU 100K World Champs) – Repeat Team Gold.
37.Favorite city you’ve experienced because of a race?
Durban, South Africa or Brasov, Romania
38.Is Croissant (her cat)proud?
No, sadly
39.Favorite local race?
Thanksgiving Day XC World Championships. Other notables: Chuckanut Footrace, Chuckanut 50K or BBM.
40)Favorite local place to run?
Lake Samish loops, but the multi-year bridge project is killing my vibes.
41)Best running buddy?
Lauren Osborn, Thomas Kean, or Derek Thornton/Pete-Rack Ellis for our 6@6’s.
42)Who did you last say I love you to?
The BDP women post their 2nd Place Team result at the USATF NW Regional meet at Chambers Bay.
43)Current favorite tattoo out of how many?
The one of my friend, Devon Yanko’s eye. Or, the one of lips on my butt that is a lipstick print blend of 3 of my friends’ lips as one. Or my ee cummings’, “so comes love.” These out of like 25ish?
44)If you could transport yourself to the finish line of any race (past, present, future) what would it be?
I think I’ll relive the finish lines of Comrades & Tunnel Hill my whole life.
45)Who are you crushing on/who inspires you right now?
Crushing on good quality service and fair pricing, affordable housing & nice drivers who stop at crosswalks. Inspired by those fighting an uphill battle and who still have faith.
46)Last thrift shop find?
A vintage mini purse from the 1984 LA Olympics.
47)Favorite medium for the art you create?
Painting on canvas, or watercolor with ink outlining.
48)Are you more proud of this world record or your 3rd place finish at Comrades earlier this year?
Ohhh, tough call. They felt different. Comrades felt like magic. A magnum of champagne popped and shared, TV interviews, impromptu photo shoots at the airport, a real gold medal, big paper checks, a bigger eventual payday, a new cell phone, hot gossip. The world record felt subtle, soft, done in private in the woods, was immediately followed by a several hundred mile drive to USADA and back to the airport. I’m so proud of and grateful for both. I’d say Comrades for how it felt, and the World Record for what it means.
49)One piece of advice for a beginner dreaming of big goals?
Momentum is everything. It’s hard to begin and to stick it out when it gets tough, but one day it will become ingrained, and the momentum will help carry you through the hard days. It might sound exhausting, and it is, but it took me 37 years to achieve something I felt proud of. It could take you your whole life, but it will be worth it. Curate several “smaller” goals en route towards the big ones, they will help with the momentum.
50)What is one question you wish we asked (and answer it)?
I wish you would have asked, “What’s your dream job?” I would have answered – to stop working, give running a full go in these last years of my prime, and thus, a real shot at seeing what I’m made of when not balancing a full time job with full time training. And, to write a book of poetry.
Follow Courtney and her journey here:
Websites: BDP, Instagram, Stra
Link for Info on the IAU 100K World Championships in Bengaluru, India on December 7th.
