Becoming a Miler Helped This Brooklyn Marathoner Qualify for the Trials

Training for shorter distances helped Leigh Anne Sharek finally achieve her goal of going sub-3:00 in the marathon. [ view in [browser](. add runnersworld@newsletter.runnersworld.com to your address book ] [RunnersWorld.com]( FOLLOW US [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [You Tube]( It all started with a bet. When Leigh Anne Sharek was fresh out of college, a friend bet that she could beat her in a 5K. While Sharek had run a bit as an undergrad at Pace University—and was naturally fit from a decade of competing in gymnastics—she had never gone more than a few miles at a time, let alone raced them. Still, that bet ignited a fire. "I was't about to let her beat me," Sharek, now 30, told Runner's World. Sharek prepared for the 5K by doing out-and-backs at night on the Brooklyn Bridge, which sat a stone's throw from her campus dorm. The view of the Manhattan skyline always stopped her in her tracks (figuratively, at least), and made her proud to call the Big Apple home, she said. When race day arrived, Sharek surprised herself by placing 4th overall in 20 minutes and change. Her friend ended up getting a bloody nose two miles in, then dropping out. Bragging rights aside, Sharek gained something else that day: a sense of accomplishment. From then on, she craved the feeling of running really, really hard. [READ ON]( [RunnersWorld.com]( [This Lululemon Short Has a 10-Inch Inseam to Guard Against Chafing]( It’s a love story—these long shorts will be your new go-to for keeping cool and avoiding chafing during sweaty runs. [Read On]( [RunnersWorld.com]( [The Garmin Forerunner 45 Made Me Reassess How I Live My Life]( Or at least enlightened me on why I’m tired all of the time, and when I should push myself more—or take a rest day. [Read On]( [RunnersWorld.com]( [How Stephanie Bruce Ran a 27-Second 5K Personal Best at 35]( After a 3-year racing break following the birth of her two boys, Bruce has been racking up personal bests and national titles. [Read On]( [RunnersWorld.com]( [Chip Gaines Says Half Marathon Helped Him Appreciate the Race Experience]( The former Fixer Upper star was able to “process and really see the amazing people crossing the finish line” in Waco. [Read On]( [RunnersWorld.com]( [Training for Your First Marathon Can Reverse Aging of Your Blood Vessels]( Researchers found that the benefits were greatest in runners who were older and slower. [Read On]( [runnersworld.com]( ©2019 Hearst Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Hearst Email Privacy, 300 W 57th St., Fl. 19 (sta 1-1), New York, NY 10019 [Unsubscribe]( [Privacy Notice](