RUNNING

Beginner's pluck: Newcomer Mark finds racing success

By Brom Hoban
AMERICAN-STATESMAN CORRESPONDENT
Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Two years ago, Sarah Mark had never run a competitive 5K. Now she is emerging as a top contender in the Austin road racing scene.

While majoring in kinesiology at the University of Texas, Mark was in the marching band and played tennis for a year or two, but never thought about running for Texas.

"I wish I knew I had the potential," Mark said. "I would have competed."

Mark, 23, graduated last December with plans for teaching and coaching, but a sluggish economy put that on hold. She decided to work for RunTex in the meantime, and that's when her focus turned to running.

Turns out she's pretty good at it.

Mark had been somewhat of a recreational runner until her boyfriend, Scott Kimbell — who ran at Adams State in Colorado — advised her to run the Statesman Capitol 10,000. She ran it in 44 minutes.

"Scott started sending me workouts," she said.

Mark responded quickly, making a remarkable jump — an 18:46 at the Schlotzsky's Bun Run last April. She followed that with a swift 5:10 at the Congress Avenue Mile.

Her first wins came this summer at the Watermelon Thump 5K in Luling, and the Freedom 5,000, which she ran in 18:57. Then she won the Taco Shack overall, in 18:23, setting a personal best in the process.

Now coached by Justin Gabriel, another former Adams State runner, Mark is beginning to train methodically and is eager to compete at a variety of distances.

"Since I'm so new at it, I just want to see my potential, see where it starts to level off," she said. "Justin thinks I can get under 17 minutes for the 5K. Long-term, maybe I'll move up to the marathon, try to qualify for Boston."

Mark's training right now revolves around a weekly total of about 40-50 miles, which includes one track workout, one or two tempo runs, and a long run. The rest are just easy runs.

Last week, Mark did 1,000-meter repeats at a 3:35-3:40 pace, and will move up to mile repeats at 5:35 pace or so to see how she responds. For the tempo run, she likes to start slowly at about eight minute-per-mile pace, and progress down to 6:15 pace, running under seven-minute pace for at least half of the run. Her long run is only 10 miles right now, but she'll increase that for the San Antonio Half-Marathon on Nov. 15.

"I want to help Sarah build power and speed right now. We're not concerned about times right now," Gabriel said. "It's more important for her to learn pace. The workouts are unfamiliar to her — I'm putting her through Running 101. Her background consists of just running around the lake a few times a week. So I'm introducing her to track work, tempo runs, and stuff like that. I think eventually she'll go under 17 minutes for the 5K.

"She's so motivated right now, I have to make sure she doesn't get injured," he said. "She wants to run every race on the calendar. I have to hold her back right now."

Upcoming races

Zilker Relays, 6:30 p.m. Friday at Zilker Park soccer fields. Go to www.zilkerrelays.com.

Run at the Ridge 4K XC Race, 8 a.m. Saturday at Vista Ridge High School in Cedar Park. Call 963-9897.

Austin Triathlon, 7 a.m. Monday at Auditorium Shores. Go to www.theaustintriathlon.com.

bhoban@earthlink.net