By Melanie Davis
Two Blowing Rock women have run their way into the Olympic
marathon trials to take place in Boston on April 20.
Caroline Cretti and Zika Rea were set to compete against
an estimated 130 women in the marathon for the chance to
be on the Olympic team. The top three runners in the event
will earn the positions.
Zika Rea (left) and
Caroline Cretti sit in front of the ZAP Fitness sign.
Both have been training extensively to achieve a place
in the Olympic marathon trials, the second trip for
Rea. Photo
by Mark Mitchell |
In order to qualify for the trials, runners must complete
a sanctioned marathon event under the two hour 47 minute
mark within the two years prior to the trial year. A marathon
is 26.2 miles.
Rea completed the Twin Cities Marathon in Minneapolis, Minn.
in 2005 with a time of 2:41:06. This was to be her second
time at the Olympic trials. Rea qualified first in 2003
to compete in the 2004 trials.
Rea will unable to compete in the Boston event in two weeks
due to a hamstring injury sustained last month during training.
“This is a big disappointment. Over the last two years
I have sustained several injuries, but the thought of competing
in the trials has keep me running,” Rea said.
She does, however, anticipate a full recovery and hopes
to participate in the 2012 trials. “This year I will
be cheering from the side,” Rea said.
Cretti also participated in the Twin Cities Marathon, two
years later in 2007. She completed the marathon with a time
of 2:43:13. This was Cretti’s first sanctioned marathon
event.
She is looking forward to the Boston event. The women’s
event is a unique opportunity for Cretti and Rea. They explained
during most marathon runs, the men and women are running
side by side.
The Olympic trials is a event for the women’s team
only. The marathon is very different for the athletes in
that their competition is running next to them, rather than
intermingled amongst the crowd.
Both women have been avid runners since their college years.
Rea attended Emory University in Altanta, Ga. and was a
member of the track and field team. She participated in
the 5K, 10K and cross country events.
After college, Rea continued to live in Altanta with a partner
Andy Palmer. She worked as a coach and sports psychologists.
Palmer was also a runner and the pair saw a need to start
a running program to encourage distance runners.
“At that time, U.S. distance running was competing
poorly at the international level,” Rea said.
In 2000, Rea and Palmer traveled to visit Blowing Rock.
After a run at Moses Cone Park, the pair decided on a piece
of property in Watauga County, near the Caldwell County
line. ZAP Fitness was born.
Palmer died suddenly of a heart attack in February of 2002.
Rea went on with the dream and opened the facility only
a few months later in June. Pete Rea, a friend from Atlanta,
came to Blowing Rock to help Rea get the center up and,
well, running.
The Pete and Zika were married one and one years ago. Pete
is the coach of ZAP Fitness, helping all the athletes train
and prepare, including Zika and Cretti.
Cretti came to ZAP Fitness in the fall of 2006, shortly
after graduating Williams College in Massachusetts. She
competed in events similar to Zika during college, including
the 5K, 10K and cross country. “I knew I wanted to
continue running, and ZAP offers programs to help development
an athlete into a top runner,” she said.
Cretti came to ZAP Fitness and went through an interview
process in order to be hired by the Rea’s. Athletes
are provided a living stipend, room and board, health insurance
and coaching as payment for working for the center. ZAP
Fitness is a running retreat and training facility which
hosts adult groups, and teams from both the high school
and collegiate levels.
In addition to ZAP, Cretti is also sponsored in her Olympic
bid by Reebok and PowerBar.
Leading up the Boston Olympic trial, Cretti has been running
an estimated 90 to 110 miles per week. As the April 20 date
approaches, Cretti has become more focused on the ability
to run hard for a longer distance. She has been running
20 to 25 miles per run in preparation.
“Fortunately, this area provides a great setting for
marathon training,” Cretti said.
The running and strength training aspects are not the only
important factors in preparing for a marathon. Ensuring
your body receives the right amounts of rest, protein and
carbohydrates also plays a major role, according to Cretti.
Cretti will travel with Pete and Zika Rea to Boston on Friday,
April 18, two days before the event. She said only a short
run to help ease the anxiousness will be on the schedule
for Saturday.
Sunday will be a day of focus and planned running. Due to
the more than two hours of running, Cretti said all the
water breaks and gels are pre-planned. The gels are a Powerbar
product that contain 100 calories and a carbohydrate blend
to help a runner maintain the necessary energy level to
complete a 26-mile race. During the Boston event, Cretti
will likely take four to five of the small gel packs.
When asked what goes through your mind during a two-hour
run, Cretti responds with a smile, “Hopefully nothing.”
She explained she tries to maintain a clear mind and focus
on breaking the race down into mile time goals.
“You have to know your qualities and assets as a runner.
In such a long race, there are no guarantees. You can only
focus on yourself and what you’re capable of,”
Cretti said of the competition.
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