Reed Fischer Answers Questions In Advance of U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon

By Adam Kopet

Reed Fischer is new to the marathon, but he has been building toward this moment for years. An injury forced him out of the 2019 Chicago Marathon, but coming off a personal best at the 2020 Houston Half Marathon (1:01:37), Fischer could be a contender to make Team USA.

Fischer took the time to answer a few questions last week via email as he began his final preparations for Saturday's race in Atlanta.

Adam Kopet: What led to your decision to race the marathon?

Reed Fischer: I've been drawn to the marathon since my freshman year at Drake University. My coach, Dan Hostager, told me in one of our first meetings on campus that I was made for the marathon and I took that to heart. In the past couple of years since graduating from Drake, that's been reaffirmed as I've fallen in love with the longer road races. I feel comfortable with the Half now, and Coach Tom Schwartz and I decided that the timing was right for me to make my debut this year with the Trials.

AK: An injury three weeks out from the 2019 Chicago Marathon prevented you from making your marathon debut. What had been your goal for Chicago?

RF: That was definitely a heartbreaker for me. That was the first injury I'd ever faced as a runner so it was a tough decision to make, especially since I was feeling fitter than I ever had before. I was definitely feeling confident that I could run under 2:11:30 and compete with the top Americans in the field, but it wasn't meant to be! It was equal parts awesome and devastating to see so many of my friends and competitors set huge PBs in Chicago.

AK: After your breakout half marathon performance at the 2019 Houston Half Marathon (1:02:06, top-American), you returned this year to run 1:01:37.  What does that race represent in your build-up toward the Olympic Trials?

RF: Houston's been good to me. I think this year's race was proof that I'd only gotten stronger physically and mentally after the injury this past fall, and that I belong in the conversation to make the team in Atlanta. 1:01:37 is a great time that puts me 20th all-time for an American, but I'm looking for much more than that next weekend and before my career wraps up.

AK: With this being your marathon debut, does that change your mental approach to the race? What have you done to mentally prepare yourself for the race?

RF: Having the Trials be my debut is a double-edged sword, for sure. It's exciting, because I won't really have to focus too much on pace as it's all about competing. I also think going in blind to a course like Atlanta can be helpful, I've just been doing most of my work on the hills of Boulder, but I'm not too psyched out about the course like others may be. There's definitely some naivety at play there, but I'm hoping it works to my advantage. As for mental prep, I've spent a lot of time visualizing race scenarios and how I can react in the best way for myself. I don't think anyone really knows what to expect when the gun goes off, but I'm hoping it'll look like one of the images I've played out in my head.

AK: What would a perfect Olympic Trials race look like for you and what do you believe you will need to do to achieve it?

RF: Everyone on that starting line believes, in some capacity, that they have a chance to make the Olympic Team. I'm no different. What's exciting about the potential for upsets on race day is knowing that I can be one of those guys who isn't a 'lock' for the team, but stands a respectable chance at being in the hunt at 35K. To me, I think I'll need to stay patient and remind myself that 26.2 is a long way, and there's always room to ask yourself for more.

Watch Fischer race Saturday, February 29 at 12pm ET in Atlanta, as he attempts to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games. View the race live on NBC and NBC Sports Gold.