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Jared Ward’s Rising Marathon Career Sets High Expectations In Boston

Jared Ward clicking the lap split on his watch at mile 21 at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials. Photo: Brian Metzler

The career path of most athletes, whatever their level, almost always resembles a roller coaster rather than a space shot, with at least a few downs following periods of steady progress or sudden breakthroughs.

This is not true for elite runner Jared Ward.

“I really can’t remember a time since high school where every season was better than the one before,” he said.

Ward, one of the longer shots to make the Olympic marathon squad in 2016, nonetheless continued to ride a steady climb that saw him win three USA road championships in the year leading up to the U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon in 2016 and finish a somewhat surprising third at the Trials behind Galen Rupp and Meb Keflezighi, two names in the running world who had garnered the lion’s share of pre-race publicity and prognostication.

In Los Angeles, Ward earned his ticket to Rio as part of the U.S. Olympic Marathon Team. Photo: Justin Britton

On Monday, Ward will take on a course that is literally a roller coaster, a far cry from the flat courses of the U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon in Los Angeles and the Rio Olympic Games.

“I think this will be a good course for me,” he said. “I’ve especially tried to prepare for the downhills, hit the weight room and did eccentric lifting to get my quads ready for the pounding. Training in Provo (Utah) it’s hard not to get in some pretty good hill training. That being said, for me the pattern has been to get really fit, be healthy, and trust your fitness on race day.”

VIDEO: Olympian Jared Ward Gives Pre-Race Advice For The Marathon

In comparing his current condition to where he was at before Rio, where he finished an impressive sixth, it’s a good news, bad news situation. “I had more impressive workouts going into Rio, but I’m healthier now than I was then. I had something off in my hips, and that led to tightness in my hamstrings, groin, psoas, and eventually a

stress on my pubic bone.

“I was blessed to keep things at bay through the race, thanks to some great trainers and PTs, but just like anything else there’s a day of reckoning when you have to pay for those things your trained through.”

Ward placed sixth in Rio, and will be racing against Olympic teammates Galen Rupp and Meb Keflezighi at this year’s Boston Marathon. Photo: Photorun.net

After some downtime to let the aches from training heal, Ward began his buildup

for Boston and only raced once at the NYC Half last month, where he was fourth American in 1:03:14.

“That was good to have a rust-buster, get out there and do some racing at sub-marathon pace,” he said. “So I’m excited to get out there Monday and see where I’m at.”

VIDEO: Jared Ward’s Tips On Pacing At The Boston Marathon

Ward has no specific time goal for his Boston debut. “I know the pace here is oftentimes very dependent on the weather,” he said. “Unless the pace feels too unrealistic I’ll just try to get in and race with these guys. If someone runs 2:04 pace I’m going to let them do that on their own. I want to be feeling good at the top at Heartbreak then get after it the last six miles.”

And while those Beacon Street miles are noticeably downhill, Ward is hoping the steady upward trend of his career continues apace here in Boston.

RELATED: The Top 23 Elite Athletes To Watch In The 2017 Boston Marathon

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Olympian Jared Ward Gives Pre-Race Advice For The Marathon

Olympian Jared Ward is getting ready to race on Monday at the 2017 Boston Marathon. Like many runners this will be his first Boston, but as an experienced marathoner he has a few tips for runners who are prepping for a big race (whether it’s Boston or another major marathon) in the days leading up to race day. In short, Ward says keep it normal, don’t go to bed too early the night before, and forget about the race until race morning.

RELATED: Jared Ward’s Tips On Pacing At The Boston Marathon

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Dave McGillivray On Tradition, Family and Giving at the Boston Marathon

Boston Marathon race director Dave McGillivray has a tradition of running the Boston Marathon course every year at night long after all the runners have crossed the finish line. This year will be his 30th time running the race at night, 45th overall. His 23-year-old son, Max, is also running the race for the first time this year, and together they’re running on behalf of the Martin Richard Foundation, a charitable foundation formed in memory of Martin Richard, the 8-year-old boy killed in the 2013 bombing of the race. So far, both Dave and Max have raised over $80,000 for the foundation. However, “it’s not about the amount of money, it’s more about the effort put in, to make a statement that we care and that we will never forget,” says Dave in this interview.

RELATED: When The Boston Marathon Runs In The Family

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Sights From a Fast Morning at the 2017 B.A.A. 5K

Fast times prevailed at this morning’s 9th annual B.A.A. 5K. Sunny spring weather in the 60s with hardly any wind set the stage for the race, which took place on Charles Street between the Boston Public Garden and Boston Common, and kicked off Boston Marathon weekend. The race started at 9:30 a.m. EST with the elites setting off first and roughly 10,000 runners trailing behind them. Highlights of the race include: a new American 5K record of 13:20 set by the four-time winner of the men’s elite race, Ben True, and a close yet exciting battle for first between American Molly Huddle (2nd place, 14:56) and Ethiopian Buze Diriba (1st place, 14:54).

RELATED: Ben True Claims Victory and Breaks American Record at B.A.A. 5K

Photos: Steve Godwin

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2017 B.A.A. 5K Post-Race Interview With Molly Huddle

Photo: Steve Godwin

A three-time winner of the B.A.A. 5K, Molly Huddle came back this year in hopes of claiming a “four-peat” victory. However, slower men in the final meters of the women’s race made the timing of her kick and finding a straight line of attack a bit more challenging as she came in a close second (14:56) behind winner Buze Diriba of Ethiopia. In her post-race interview, Huddle describes what happened in the final stretch of the race and her thoughts on a close second-place finish.

RELATED: Ben True Claims Victory and Breaks American Record at B.A.A. 5K

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2017 B.A.A. 5K Post-Race Interview With Ben True

Perfect 60-degree spring weather with sunny skies and hardly any wind made way for a fast and record-breaking race at the 2017 B.A.A. 5K. Ben True not only won his fourth B.A.A. 5K event, but also broke the American 5K and event record for the second time. The clock read 13:20 as he broke the finish line tape—beating the previous American record, which he set in 2015, by two seconds. In his post-race interview True gives a play-by-play of the final sprint to the finish, and how changing up his racing strategy has helped him win this year.

RELATED: Ben True Claims Victory and Breaks American Record at B.A.A. 5K

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Ben True Claims Victory and Breaks American Record at B.A.A. 5K

Photo: Steve Godwin

Ben True breaks the tape for his fourth B.A.A. 5K win. Photo: Steve Godwin

(c) 2017 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved

Boston Marathon weekend started off with a bang as Maine native Ben True broke his own American record in the 9th annual B.A.A. 5K. True, 31, of West Lebanon, N.H., prevailed in a two-man sprint against his key rival Stephen Sambu of Kenya, breaking the tape on Charles Street between the Boston Public Garden and Boston Common in 13:20, two seconds better than his previous record set in 2015. It was also an event record and True’s fourth victory in the event.

“It’s great,” said True speaking with reporters after the race on a brilliant New England spring day. “Today was beautiful weather, no real wind at all, crowds were great, cheering my name the whole way. It’s awesome.”

VIDEO: Post-Race Interview With Ben True

A terrific elite field put together by the Boston Athletic Association’s Mike Pieroni contributed to True’s success today. Dejen Gebremeskel, the 2012 Olympic 5000m silver medalist from Ethiopia, was the key player in the opening kilometers, taking a lead pack of six through the first mile in a snappy 4:19. True stayed tucked in the pack behind Gebremeskel and was joined by Kenyans Sambu, James Kibet, and Philip Langat, plus Scotland’s Chris O’Hare. True, a powerful closer, was happy to let the Ethiopian do the work.

“Dejen Gebremeskel took it out pretty quick for the first mile,” True explained. He added, “I think people know my racing strategy pretty well by now.”

O’Hare was the first to fall off the lead pack about three minutes later, then Kibet took to the front. Again, True tucked in and bided his time as the second mile went down in 4:23.

“I usually like to sit and hide for most of the race,” True quipped.

On the long straightaway on Boylston Street in the fourth kilometer, the leaders passed through the marathon finish line. True gathered himself and with about 600 meters left, he stepped on the gas. Only Sambu was strong enough to respond and challenge the two-time Manchester Road Race champion.

“This year I tried to change things up a bit and put my nose in it up in the front a little bit more,” True said about the final 200 meters of the race.

As he and Sambu made the left-hand turn on to Charles Street for the final sprint to the line, True realized that his record was within reach. He gritted his teeth, pumped his arms, and bolted for the bright blue finish tape which awaited him.

“It was in the back of my mind, definitely,” True said of possibly breaking his record. “It wasn’t something that I was actually aiming for at the start of the race. I definitely knew when I was coming down the homestretch and I saw the clock at 13:10, I definitely dug a little bit deeper to try to make sure I got another record and it worked out well.”

Ben True beat the previous American 5K record, which he set in 2015, by 2 seconds. Photo: Steve Godwin



Sambu, who was also second to True here in 2015, finished two seconds adrift in 13:22, just one second off of his personal best. Kibet’s efforts in the middle of the race were rewarded with a third place finish in 13:28, followed by Langat in 13:30 and Gebremeskel in 13:35. O’Hare, a miler, finished eighth in 13:46.

In the women’s contest, three-time winner Molly Huddle of Providence, R.I., was hoping for the “four-peat” as she described it at yesterday’s press conference. She nearly got the win again, but was edged out by Ethiopia’s Buze Diriba in the final sprint, 14:54 to 14:56. Both women were in contention for the win in the homestretch, but running through some of the slower men in the final meters made timing their final kicks to the line more challenging.

“Buze and I were shoulder-to-shoulder coming around the turn, 200 (meters) to go, but there were a few men in our way,” Huddle explained. “So, I was trying to follow her. My legs are really tired so I thought, ‘Stay behind her. Don’t make a move yet,’ and we kind of got scattered by a couple of the guys.”

VIDEO: Post-Race Interview With Molly Huddle

In the final 50 meters, Diriba was in the center of the roadway, while Huddle was on the right. When the blue finish tape was stretched across the road, Diriba clearly had the better line, running straight ahead for the win. Huddle had to angle over to finish behind her.

“I, maybe in hindsight should have just tried to go for it (from 200 meters out) right on that inside line to see if that was any better,” Huddle explained. “She had more left in her legs; I was just dying.”

Kalkidan Gezahegne, also of Ethiopia, finished third in 15:04, followed by USA Olympian Marielle Hall in 15:08. Britain’s Lauren Howarth was a distant fifth in 15:39.

Both True and Diriba earned $7,500 in prize money out of a $40,000 purse.

PHOTOS: Sights From a Fast Morning at the 2017 B.A.A. 5K

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17 Shirts To Express Your Boston Marathon Spirit

We walked around the 2017 Boston Marathon Expo and found these rad T-shirts, tanks and sweaters to rock your Boston pride. There’s so many unique designs, it’s hard to choose our favorite!

Photos: Kevin LaClaire

RELATED: 8 Special-Edition Boston Marathon Shoes

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From Refugee To The Boston Marathon

Photo: CBS Boston

Most runners have worked through difficult times to earn their spot on the starting line at the Boston Marathon. However few have preserved through the hardships that Saint Cyr Dimanche has faced throughout his life.

Dimanche was born in a small village in the Central African Republic. He lost both of his parents; his mother passed during childbirth and his father was killed by rebels. After fleeing to Cameroon at 14 years old, he found work in construction. The 12-hour days wore on Dimanche’s body. He eventually ended up in the hospital for six months with a kidney infection.

During his hospital stay, he met Anne and Bob Bureau, who were on a service mission through their church. The Worchester, Mass., couple decided to adopt him. So at 17, Dimanche arrived in the United States, only able to communicate with his new guardians through iPhone translation apps.

Through the support of his new family, Dimanche thrived. He graduated high school and enrolled in Brandeis University, where he is currently in his third year. He also began to run, setting his sights on the marathon while fundraising along the way. His desire to help others fueled his goals.

“It’s one simple reason,” he said. “People helped me to become well now, and I want to give help to others. Without the help of others, I wouldn’t be here.”

RELATED: When Boston Runs In The Family

Dimanche tried to qualify for Boston at the Lehigh Valley Marathon. Unfortunately he was among a group of runners who were stopped for almost 10 minutes due to a slow-moving train crossing the race course. The delay caused him to miss out on running a Boston Qualifier.

His Boston Marathon dreams were not dashed though. An anonymous friend from Brandeis donated $5,000 to earn Dimanche a spot on the Red Cross charity team. He is excited to run for a cause he believes in. “I had to give something back. Even though I don’t have enough to repay the people who have helped me, I am hoping to give to others.”

Dimanche still has big goals beyond Boston. He hopes to graduate with a degree in international studies so he can pursue a career in global politics. Another dream is to go back to C.A.R. to locate his family, especially his half sister he left behind.

After the adversity faced in his life, Dimanche will have more than enough strength to make it through 26.2 miles in his new home state. “I never worry,” said Dimanche to CBS Boston. “I just look forward.”

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Jared Ward’s Tips On Pacing At The Boston Marathon

Olympian Jared Ward is “excited to race” in his first Boston Marathon on Monday. Also a statistics professor at Brigham Young University who wrote his thesis on marathon pacing, Ward shares how that plays into his strategy for Boston and why this marathon is so unique and special.

RELATED: The 23 Elite Athletes To Watch In The 2017 Boston Marathon

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