Sprague's Daly runs in Olympic Trials
Former gymnast juggles running, work as a doctor
By Reid English
Special to the Statesman Journal
April 20, 2008
When Megan Daly runs in the U.S. Olympic trials marathon today, she'll likely be in the middle or near the back of the 162-woman field.
Daly doesn't expect to have a chance at making the Olympic team or finishing near the front. In fact, she qualified by a mere seven seconds.
The real story about the 1997 Sprague High School graduate is her energy and dedication to running considering her heavy work schedule. And how difficult it is to to qualify for her second straight trials marathon given her late start at competitive running.
Daly, who finished 53rd in the 2004 trials, is one of eight runners with Oregon connections scheduled to run today in Boston. Two-time Olympian Marla Runyan of Eugene, who had the fourth-fastest qualifying time, has scratched.
The group includes Corvallis runners Johanna Olson, Meghan Arbogast and Penny McDermott.
But Daly is the lone entrant from Marion or Polk counties. To just qualify for the trials marathon is an amazing feat because of her limited running background and current lifestyle.
Daly, 29, is a resident physician in radiation oncology at Stanford Hospital. A typical work day runs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. She usually runs by herself in the evenings on the Stanford track or around campus.
"It would be nice to run before work, but I'm not that much of a morning person," she said earlier this week from her home in Menlo Park, Calif. "I'd have to get up at 4. So I run after work."
On weekends, she often trains with members of the Impala Racing Team under the guidance of coach Tony Coffey.
Daly said she averages 60 to 65 miles per week and sometimes has the time and energy for 80 miles.
"It's a stress relief for me. It's relaxing," she said. "It helps me be balanced, and it's a competitive outlet. It's made me more motivated. If I can do this now, it will make me stronger, especially if I haven't had sleep, like a few years ago."
In training for the 2004 trials, Daly had a busy schedule of work and studying for her master's degree from Stanford's School of Medicine.
Daly's training habits and vigorous work schedule are likely much different than most runners in the trials. Also, it's a safe bet that a majority of the entrants have been running for a longer time than Daly.
When Daly was at Sprague in the late 1990s, she competed in gymnastics at the YMCA.
Ed Daly, Megan's father, said she began running while at Stanford to stay in shape and for fun. She ran her first marathon during her sophomore year.
"When I was a junior, I ran a sub-three hour marathon; that's when I got hooked," she said.
Daly's last marathon was in October 2006, in Chicago, when she ran a personal best of 2:46:53 to just beat the "B" trials qualifying standard time of 2:47.
"I knew I was close. The first half I felt was going great," she said. "I thought maybe I would be within 20 to 30 seconds. I was checking my watch the last 400 meters."
That also was the year she was an intern working 30-hour shifts at the hospital, which resulted in rough workouts.
She said she is excited about today's race because she feels good from her workouts and hopes to run a personal record time.
"It's something I've been working towards for the last year," she said. "I don't have huge expectations. I'm a solid 160 with my qualifying time. I'd like to run in the 2:40s. I'll be running a 2:45 pace. I want to have the feeling that I had fulfilled my goals."
The women won't run the same course as the Boston Marathon, which is Monday. They will run a course specially designed for the trials. It's flatter and includes six loops.
Daly also will have friends and family at the race, including her parents Sally and Ed of Salem. She is one of six members of the Impala Racing Team in the field.
Ed Daly is excited just to be around such an elite field of runners and to see Megan run.
"When we saw her at the Portland Marathon (2003), we had no idea she had a chance to win," he said. "We're surprised she is able to compete at that level with her work schedule. We are incredibly proud of her academically and athletically."
Regardless of her finish today, Megan has future plans for running.
"I totally enjoy running," she said. "I enjoy competition and I'm a competitive person. A lot of women distance runners last through their mid-30s. I want to cut my time down a lot. I think I can run a sub-2:40.
"And it's a huge part of my social life with meeting so many new people in the club through running."