This is a BIG WEEK in Heartbreak world and in American distance running. The 2024 USATF Olympic Marathon Trials will be held in Orlando, FL and we have TWO Flyers in the game: Mimi Smith and Jonny Phillips. Mimi holds it down for us in Texas. She ran an incredible race repping HB in Chicago this year clocking a 2:34:24, good enough for 21st place among the women. Cool, confident, fierce, and enthusiastic, Mimi is an athlete who deserves all the love you can muster when you see her on course (or on TV) this weekend. Jonny Phillips is a founding member of the Flyers. He's a gamer - he always meets the moment. When it was 78 and humid at 6:00 AM in Chicago, 2021, he steadied himself and embraced the pain with gratitude landing himself an 18th place finish overall. In the 2020 Olympic trials, he worked closely with notable athletes Lou Serafini of Tracksmith (formerly of HB) and Julian Heninger (Bowerman TC). When the trio made the 5th and final pass by Heartbreak's cheer squad in Atlanta that morning, it was Jonny ahead by a good margin who secured 40th place for himself and the Heartbreakers. He's channeled his wisdom into the team too. He coaches many of the Flyers and wrote our elite marathon. Jonny wants to make the opportunity to race mean even more by supporting former teammate Rosa Moriello's LQBTQIA+ fundraiser (link & details below).
I always seek to apply the principles of elite training to all of us. I have to say, it's a point of pride and something that makes our team really special, that elite athletes like Mimi and Jonny support, embrace, and choose to represent our spirit in this race. I hope you'll watch and support them this weekend. We will have watch parties in Chicago and Newton along with the long runs this weekend.
- Dan
Rosa's Orlando Fundraiser: gofundme.com/f/make-a-difference-marathon-orlandos-lgbtq-youth