Boston profile #8: Sue Gallup — from ski racer to speed chaser



Powerful and billy-goat strong — that’s how Sue Gallup, 52, of Fort Collins, Colorado, is running these days.

That’s not too shabby considering Gallup only took up more mileage and marathoning about five years ago — starting in her mid-40s and into her 50s.

Above is a picture of Gallup crossing the finish line at the Big Sur International Marathon in 2009.

She completed Big Sur in 3:57 to qualify for Boston.

“I’m basically competitive with myself. I didn’t have it as a formal goal in my mind to qualify for Boston but I hoped for it,” Gallup admitted, “When I planned for Big Sur I thought about how to run it well, at a realistic pace, going up and down the hills, and it worked out. I was very happy.”

Big Sur, described as a “moderately difficult course” with a six-hour cutoff, according to its web site, was only her second marathon.

Her first was the Jungfrau Marathon in Switzerland — a breathtaking course in Alps that requires true billy-goat stamina.



Here’s a picture of runners from the Jungfrau race.

Gallup said she loves mountaineering and scenic courses. A native of Washington state she grew up competing in ski racing. She used to run for fitness as part of her dry-land training.

She’s lived in Colorado for several years, works for Hewlett-Packard as an engineer, and enjoys trail running and living in the Rocky Mountains.

“I used to run a couple of times a week for fitness, but I really got into more serious running about five and a half years ago,” she said. “My sister wanted to do the Nike Women’s Half Marathon (in San Francisco) and I wanted to do it, too, but I didn’t want to get injured so I hired a coach.”

Gallup trains with Kent Oglesby, the head track coach at Rocky Mountain High School in Fort Collins and a himself seasoned national runner.

“He’s an awesome coach and so encouraging. He pushed me harder than I thought I could go and made me so much stronger,” she said.

Gallup planned to run the Boston Marathon in April 2010 but got side-lined by a case of plantar fascitis. She took three months off, but got her entry deferred. She will run the Boston Marathon instead this year.


“I’m really look forward to being there and being part of the tradition of the race,” she said. “I think it’s going to be fun.”

During her recovery time she cross-trained by rowing at a local reservoir. During the last several months she’s gradually returned to running.

“Dealing with the injury was a really humbling experience,” she explained.

Her goal is to finish Boston healthy. “I’m just thankful to be running again.”


She’s also planning to run the Steamboat Half Marathon in June.

As you get older you can succeed at staying fit, but it takes more vigilance, she said. You have to stretch more often, stay limber, listen to your body, get good sleep and eat better.

“When you are running well it feels so great and it’s wonderful,” she said. “It’s a great way to keep in shape and a wonderful sport. It takes you places you would not normally go.”


Gallup said she’s also made many great friendships because of the sport.  “My hope is to be able to run the rest of my life. That would be really great and what it’s about for me.”

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Aging is inevitable, but growing old is a choice. Lace up your shoes, and let’s go!

Mileage yesterday: 7.5, mileage today: 6; Denver to Boston miles logged: 1,131.5; Miles left to go: 638.5.

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