CENTRAL TEXAS RUNNING

Ayala-Troncoso regains form after injuries

By Brom Hoban
Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Carmen Ayala-Troncoso likes to set goals, and more often than not she achieves them.

With personal bests of 15:50 for the 5K, 33:20 for the 10K and 1:14:42 for the half-marathon, she has made a name for herself as a consistently high-performing athlete, not just in Texas but nationally.

Many of her biggest achievements have come as a masters runner. A few months after turning 40 in April 1999, Ayala-Troncoso ran a 16:02 5K, a national masters record. From there, she realized she had arrived at age 40 in pretty good shape and was a force to reckon with in masters running.

"I knew that whatever I ran would have more impact at that point," she said.

She made the Olympic trials at 5,000 meters in 2000 at age 41 and also made the World Cross-Country Team, competing in Ireland in 1999 and Portugal in 2000. She won Statesman Capitol 10,000 titles in 2003 and 2004.

After turning 45, she decided to go for the 45-49 records and quickly set a national mark for the 8K in New York, posting a 27:45 for the five-mile distance. Her success there inspired her to go to the World Championship masters event, where she won the 5,000 in track and the 8K cross-country event.

Along the way, she became a genuine legend at the Friehofer's 5K Run for Women, one of the most prestigious races in the country, stringing together a remarkable set of five wins as a master, the last in 2006. That year, she ran a 16:50 at the equally competitive Carlsbad 5,000, setting a 45-49 record.

But shortly after that, Ayala-Troncoso developed some persistent injuries that would test her belief in herself and her running.

"I had had some calf and hamstring injuries, but beginning in 2006, I began having foot problems," she said. "That went on for two years. Really up until the past few months, I have not been able to train consistently."

Ayala-Troncoso, an exercise physiologist who also coaches other runners, eventually learned that her stride was off and that she needed to work on her core strength to correct it. Once she addressed the root problem, things began to improve.

On Nov. 9, Ayala-Troncoso lined up on the start of the Keller Williams Run for the Water 10 Miler to test herself. She had been working hard on her form and core strength and felt ready for a comeback race.

"My goal was to average a 6:15 pace," she said, "without developing any foot pain."

Taking off at about 6:06, Ayala-Troncoso began working through the field.

"I had memorized the course, but I was a bit afraid of the distance," she said. "I'm only running 35 miles a week right now. I will go higher, but not yet."

After four miles, Ayala-Troncoso realized she was having a good run and cruised home for the win in 62:29. Bernard Manirakiza took the men's title in 52:54.

"I felt good the whole way," said Troncoso, who turns 50 next April. "I have my eye on the 50-55 records, and I'm optimistic about 2009."

bhoban@earthlink.net

Upcoming races

Thankful Turkey 5K Run & Walk: 8 a.m. Saturday at River Ridge Business Park, San Marcos, (512) 753-6920.

Dirty Du: 9 a.m. Sunday at Rocky Hill Ranch in Smithville, dirtydu.com.

Thundercloud Subs Turkey Trot: 9:30 a.m. Nov. 27 at Waterloo Park, thundercloud.com/turkeytrot.