MORE THAN JUST MILES – Emily Venters’ marathon debut
Running your first marathon is intimidating. Anxiety inducing. But when Emily Venters lines up on the Chicago Marathon start line, the 26-year-old will be safe in the knowledge she has already overcome her toughest battle. For the Utah-based runner is a survivor of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
At three-years-old, Venters underwent two years of chemotherapy. Happily, the cancer has not returned, and there are no major lasting impacts on Venters, but it has provided her with the mental fortitude to tackle one of running’s biggest challenges, as she tells Olivia Franks.
Chatting to Emily Venters the day before she flies to Chicago, she said: “I’m like, wow, you went through something way harder than a marathon, so you can get through anything.”
Not only will Venters be taking the step up to the marathon distance for the first time, but she is also fundraising for Blood Cancer United. The charity, created in 1949, funds research and provides resources for over 100 types of blood cancers.
She said: “I’ve never been able to do anything to give back to the Leukaemia Lymphoma Society, which is now Blood Cancer United, because when I was little, I hated saying that I had cancer. I just wanted to fit in and be normal.”
“I’ve actually had a couple of people who have kids going through treatment reach out and just say that my story touched them. And, yeah, it’s cool. That’s who I want it to touch.”
“My parents say, if they would have heard the story when I was in the hospital, it would have made them feel really, really good to know that their daughter could be okay and could still do incredible things after having cancer.”
Sporting Salvation
As a child in Lawrence, Kansas, Venters found an outlet in sport. Originally a competitive swimmer, her parents pushed Venters towards running in middle school. She decided to stick with it. Winning five state titles at high school across track and cross country, it was clear Kansas had a real runner on their hands.
Venters excelled at college level, too. She became a three-time First-Team All-American for the University of Utah, finishing third in the 5000m at the NCAAs and 7th in the 10k at the USATF outdoor Championships in her final year.
Since signing with Nike, her professional career has steadily improved in performance and distance – Venters has been running half marathons this year, recording a PB of 1:08:48 at the Aramco Houston Half Marathon in January. But that was with an eye on the horizon.
“I think marathoning is the next phase of my career. I’ve increased my mileage, so I have hit 100 miles a couple times, I would say four times in this whole build, and then pretty close to 100 several times.”
There is no better time to start, as LA 2028 looms large on the calendar. In fact, enticing as a home Olympics is to an athlete, Venters decided to get a ‘head start’ on her marathon career an autumn earlier than planned.
“My plan was to do my first marathon next fall, and then I was just like, I feel it in my heart that I’m ready to just try it. So yeah, why not?” Despite anticipating a 4am wake up, she’ll be looking forward to the crowd’s infectious energy. When 53,000 people take to the streets of Chicago on Sunday, over 1.7 million spectators are expected to line the route.
Perfect Day?
Venters said: “I feed off the energy and the crowds. All the cheering just boosts your adrenaline so much.” With five entries capable of running under 2:20, including Megertu Alemu’s 2:16:34, Venters is less focused on an exact time, wanting to soak in the marathon experience.
Despite this, with the help of two pacers, including Olympian Jared Ward who is instructed to provide her with “positive affirmations” when they meet at mile 13, and Chicago’s notoriously fast course, Emily Venters still has an eye on the stopwatch.
Venters said: “If it were a perfect day, and everything went amazing, I think I could run 2:23, maybe even faster than that.”
“My speed has gotten very good with this strength work that I’ve been doing. Today my coach, he’s like, ‘All right, we’re gonna have a really good marathon’. And I was like, I’m ready for a 5k too.”
Ejgayehu Taye (Ethiopia) and Loice Chemnung (Kenya) will also be debuting in the marathon distance on Sunday, while sadly, British hope Phily Bowden pulled out this week with a broken knee.
The women’s and men’s professional races start at 13:30 BST on Sunday 12 October
Photos: Emily Venters on Instagram @ventersemily
