On a warm morning in early August, Heather MacLean laced up her sneakers and did what she usually does: She went for a run. Her time at the Tokyo Olympics was winding down after she had fallen short of qualifying for the final of the womens 1,500 meters, and as she began to jog, she found herself coping with that hard reality all the way down to her toes.
My legs had never felt heavier in my life, she said.
For many athletes, competing at the Olympics is the stuff of dreams, the product of years of painstaking work. But there is not much of a road map for what comes next, in the days and weeks following the Games. MacLean had heard others describe a sort of post-Olympics crash.
But I dont think there was any way for me to prepare for actually experiencing it, she said in an interview this week.
On Saturday, MacLean will compete in the Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games, the prestigious indoor meet staged annually at The Armory in Washington Heights. The field for the womens mile also features Elle Purrier St. Pierre, who set a national record for the event in 2020, and Athing Mu, the reigning Olympic champion in the 800 meters.
It will be MacLeans first track meet since the Olympics. Mark Coogan, MacLeans coach with Team New Balance Boston, had advised her to be methodical with her approach back to competition.
Just because I lived it a little bit myself, said Coogan, a former Olympic marathoner. I know there can be a huge letdown after the Olympics, and I think it was important just to be supportive: What an incredible year. No one but us thought you were going to make the Olympic team, and now youre an Olympian. And once you recharge, well get back at it.
MacLean, 26, has had something of a meteoric rise. She did not start running until her junior year of high school in Peabody, Mass., outside of Boston. At the time, she was working at a grocery store with one of her best friends.
She was my ride to work, MacLean said. So when she joined the track team, I figured I might as well join, too, so we could car-pool to work and practice together.
MacLean quickly revealed herself to be a natural talent who embraced hard work. After breaking a host of records at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School, she battled through injuries and adversity at the University of Massachusetts to become an all-American. But it was not until she was a fifth-year senior that she considered the possibility of running professionally.
Armed with a masters degree and liberated from academic demands, she joined Team New Balance Boston and made steady progress. At the U.S. Olympic track and field trials last June, she made her first national team by placing third in the 1,500 meters behind Purrier St. Pierre and Cory McGee.
MacLean was still riding the high from that experience when, on a flight home from a pre-Olympic meet in Monaco, she watched The Weight of Gold, an HBO Sports documentary that details the mental health challenges that some Olympic athletes face: their sacrifices, the outsize expectations they internalize and the inevitable uncertainties that confront them after the Olympics: What now?
She recalled dealing with immense pressure even before she arrived in Tokyo.
I was trying to hold onto my routine for dear life, she said, because Im obviously incredibly excited and so thrilled with everything thats going on, and I want to talk to everybody. But at the same time, I want to protect my own energy, and I definitely let a lot of people be in my space. So that was hard to navigate.
At the Olympics, she advanced through her opening heat in 4 minutes 2.4 seconds, just off her personal best, before fading to a 12th-place finish in her semifinal.
She had been planning to compete in a few more races after returning home, she said, but felt drained. She had to remind herself that she did not have anything to prove.
I made the best decision for myself, she said.
Before she officially pulled the plug on her season, though, she made a trip out to Cape Cod to run in the Falmouth Road Race with Molly Seidel, who had won the bronze medal in the womens marathon at the Olympics, and Dana Giordano, a close friend and fellow pro runner. Seidel had entered the race for charity: She would start at the back of the field and raise $1 for each runner she passed.
Seidel had assured MacLean that she was going to jog the seven-mile course, so MacLean took the liberty of meeting up with friends the night before the race. She was not feeling particularly spry at the start line.
Im running on three hours of sleep or whatever, and then they just started sprinting, MacLean said. And Im like, Why are we going so fast? But it was so much fun.
Seidel and her crew wound up passing nearly 5,000 runners. For MacLean, Falmouth was a fitting way to close out an extraordinary year. She could not fathom boarding another airplane. She also had some nagging injuries that she needed to address.
I hadnt felt fluid in a while, she said. So I just wanted to be able to go out for a run and have my body feel good and mentally feel good, and it just took a bit of time for that to happen.
During her self-imposed hiatus, MacLean moved into a new apartment in the Boston area. She celebrated her birthday. She took long walks and listened to podcasts. She went roller skating. She joined the Peloton craze. She became a regular at The Breakfast Club, her favorite diner. (She loves breakfast.) She made coffee runs for her brother Shawn. And she was the guest of honor at Heather MacLean Day, when the mayor of Peabody presented her with a key to the city.
By early December, she was easing her way back with some slow jogs. She spent recent weeks training with her teammates at altitude in Arizona.
Shes looking really good, Coogan said.
MacLean has learned to prioritize her mental health, she said, which has only helped her as an athlete. She reads books about mindfulness. She practices yoga. She does a guided meditation before bed. She has worked to detach herself from her phone and limit her time on social media. Her friends are aware of her various routines.
I think people think Im sitting in bed with all of these crystals around me, she said. Which, OK, I do have some crystals. But its not like that!
Now, ahead of her first track meet in months, she feels like herself again, she said. She is ready to run.
View original post here:
Heather MacLean is Back on Track at the Millrose Games - The New York Times
- Olympic Games athletes to get 220,000 condoms and anti-sex beds in Paris - New Zealand Herald - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Canadian volleyball player Alexa Gray hopeful of memorable year one that might include Olympics - CBC.ca - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Simone Biles isnt holding back with Paris Olympics approaching - The Washington Post - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Simone Biles looks ready for the moment as she starts her Paris Olympics build-up - The New York Times - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- A different type of Olympics - Southern Standard - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Who will join Simone Biles on US gymnastics team at 2024 Olympics? - USA TODAY - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Simone Biles dominates field at U.S. Classic ahead of Olympic return in Paris this summer - Yahoo Sports - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Simone Biles Kicks Off Olympic Year With Easy Win at U.S. Classic - The Daily Beast - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- VIDEO: Will Levis meets with every athlete at Tennessee Special Olympics Summer Games - On3.com - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- As Summer McIntosh wins at the Canadian Olympic trials, the noise around her grows louder - The Globe and Mail - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- 12 Years Later, Air Jordan Is Finally Re-Releasing a Legendary Olympic Sneaker - GQ - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- St. Clair Shores native and 1980 Olympics hockey gold medalist Wells dies at 66 - Detroit News - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Olympics to provide 7-11bn boost for Paris region, says independent report - Insidethegames.biz - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- What does Gabby Douglas' comeback mean to the sport? - ESPN - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Satwik-Chirag peel off rust to claim Thailand Open silverware ahead of Paris Olympics - ESPN India - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Penguins' Mike Sullivan to coach Team USA for 2026 Olympics - The Athletic - The New York Times - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Score one for the little guys in fending off Boston's Olympic bid - The Boston Globe - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Simone Biles wins Core Hydration Classic with top score ahead of 2024 Paris Olympics - Good Morning America - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Megan Keith seals Olympic selection in Night of the 10,000m PBs thriller - AW - Athletics Weekly - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Montana Special Olympics begins three years of family and friends in Billings - Q2 News - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Fears Paris Olympics can't cope with threat of hostile drone attack - Express - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Hong Kong triathlon hopeful Ng down to wire in race for last ticket to Olympics - South China Morning Post - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Johnston Special Olympics recognized for inclusiveness - Turn to 10 - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Top-ranked golfer Scottie Scheffler 'definitely' wants to represent Team USA at Paris Olympics - USA TODAY - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Business People: Fredrikson attorney Travis J. Anderson to be Special Olympics general counsel - St. Paul Pioneer Press - May 19th, 2024 [May 19th, 2024]
- Shawn Johnson excited for Simone Biles' return at Paris Olympics following 2021 twisties: 'The best forever' - Fox News - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Pride House on Seine River barge is inaugurated by Paris Olympics organizers - Newsday - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Zelensky and Putin react to Paris Olympics ceasefire proposal - Yahoo! Voices - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- 'Anti-sex' beds have arrived at Paris Olympics after horny athletes admit to orgies amid competition - New York Post - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Law enforcement torch run in Kinston for the Special Olympics - WITN - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Will decision about Caitlin Clark and Olympics be more about money or basketball? - KPRC Click2Houston - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Jon Urbanchek, Who Led Swimmers to Olympic Glory, Dies at 87 - The New York Times - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Paris beyond the Olympics: 17 things to do in the French capital - National Geographic - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Spain's plans with Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubars & Fermn Lpez for the Euros and Olympic Games - Barca Blaugranes - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Gabby Douglas Paris Olympics 2024 comeback but why did she take time off? - Style - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Jackovich To Make Olympics Debut - Stanford University Athletics - Stanford Athletics - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Pride House on Seine River barge is inaugurated by Paris Olympics organizers - The San Diego Union-Tribune - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Injured Sky Brown hopes to recover for Paris Olympics - BBC - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Video: Afghan taekwondo champion's remarkable journey to the Olympics - The National - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Olympic champion Gabby Douglas' takes another important step in her comeback bid - NBC DFW - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Two American cyclists conquer streets of Charleston and clinch Olympic team berth - West Virginia MetroNews - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Rain forces cancellation of Special Olympics events in Stillwater - KOCO Oklahoma City - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- The 'anti-sex' beds to stop Paris Olympic athletes jumping into sack but will they work? - Yahoo Singapore News - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Ahead of Olympics, World Anti-Doping Agency Faces a Trust Crisis - The New York Times - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Skateboarder Sky Brown to miss Olympic Qualifier Series event due to knee injury - Thetford & Brandon Times - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Victor Wembanyama Named To France's Preliminary Roster For Olympics - RealGM.com - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Taylor Knibb wins U.S. Time Trial Championship, earning *2nd* Olympic spot - Trek Race Shop - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Everything you need to know about the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris - WPSD Local 6 - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Olympic triathlete Taylor Knibb wins US cycling time trial to earn spot in Paris in a second sport - Iron Mountain Daily News - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Will decision about Caitlin Clark and Olympics be more about money or basketball? - WKMG News 6 & ClickOrlando - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Over 500 athletes competing in SD Special Olympics - KELOLAND.com - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- Road to Paris 2024: Relive the Olympic qualifiers in an epic 48-hour livestreaming marathon - Olympics - May 17th, 2024 [May 17th, 2024]
- The weight of gold - Anna Kiesenhofer on managing expectations after Tokyo Olympics shock victory - Cyclingnews - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Climate Crisis Forces the IOC to Rethink Winter Olympics - Greek Reporter - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Macron: "If there are security problems, the inauguration could be reconsidered" - Insidethegames.biz - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Its not only the Olympics that could be coming to Utah in 2034 - Deseret News - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Jesse Mendes Says He Wont Pursue Olympics After Switching From Brazil to Italy - The Inertia - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- British teen Sky Brown targets medals in two sports at Paris Olympics - The Telegraph - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- From Stanford to Team USA, a water polo dynasty eyes an Olympic four-peat - The Athletic - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- 'Boys in the Boat' gives Hollywood treatment to rowing during an Olympic year - Denver 7 Colorado News - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- USSS Nominates Stellar Teams for 2024 Youth Olympic Winter Games in Gangwon, South Korea - SkiRacing.com - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Mohamad Aniq chasing fourth ranking in Olympic qualification for Paris - theSun - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Olympic Hurdler Michelle Jenneke Brought the Vibes to Las Vegas - Yahoo Life - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- France could move Paris Olympics opening ceremony over security concerns - The Hill - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Aaron Picos unknown Bellator-PFL future has him thinking Olympics - MMA Junkie - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Paris 2024: Will they regret it? >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News - Scuttlebutt Sailing News - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Winter Olympics 2034: Blocks of Park City-area hotel rooms already essentially booked - The Park Record - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- 'Freezin' for a Reason': Special Olympics Polar Plunge to return to Buckhannon in February 2024 - My Buckhannon - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- How Suni Lee Refused to Let "Really Scary" Kidney Illness Stop Her From Returning For the 2024 Olympics - E! Online - E! NEWS - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Exclusive: Special Olympics New York calls on Hochul to increase funding ahead of program cuts - WXXI News - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Gabby Douglas, Simone Biles, and Sunisa Lee: Can USA Gymnastics have its own 'Dream Team' at Paris 2024? - Olympics - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Olympics 2024: Event rider Ros Canter aiming for glory in Paris - BBC.com - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Jamaica's surf healer Imani Wilmot taps into ocean forces to empower women - Olympics - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Usain Bolt: My 200m world record will be broken before 100m - Olympics - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- USA Basketball womens and mens 33 programs qualify for 2024 Olympics - The Athletic - November 4th, 2023 [November 4th, 2023]
- IOC says its Olympic ban on Russia cannot be compared with Israel situation - Japan Today - November 4th, 2023 [November 4th, 2023]
- Diosdado and Jimnez win gold and secure their spot at the Paris 2024 Olympics - Insidethegames.biz - November 4th, 2023 [November 4th, 2023]
- LeBron James and Anthony Davis should forget about the 2024 Olympics - LeBron Wire - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]
- What could Team USA look like at the 2024 Olympics? - Hoops Hype - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]
- Team USA: LeBron James' Olympics recruitment has fans going wild - ClutchPoints - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]