Allie Kieffer has a new coach and renewed love for running

In 2017, Allie Kieffer took the running world by surprise when she finished fifth overall and second American woman across the finish line at the TCS New York City Marathon. From there, she would go on to run several strong marathons, including her 2:28:12 at the 2018 NYC Marathon.

But, Kieffer had a difficult year in 2019, dropping out of several races, as well as the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in February 2020. On October 2, she ran a 5K personal best at a low-key meet in New Jersey. She’s got a new coach and a new outlook, and she’s ready to return to the world of elite running. 

DyeStat.com reports that Keiffer ran a 15:41.4 5,000m this week in her first race since March. She wrote on Instagram post-race, “I left the track feeling both disappointed for not running what I think I’m capable of and simultaneously grateful for where I’ve gotten myself to. After a tough year and a half, I’ve learned to celebrate each step of progress and use disappointment as motivation.”

Overcoming burnout 

Keiffer told reporters that by the Olympic trials, she was physically in shape but mentally struggling. Since then, she’s joined forces with Olympic 10,000m silver medallist Liz McColgan as her coach and resumed chasing her Olympic dream.

She posted to Instagram this week, “I’m still here running my way into another Olympic Trials because of the people that helped pick me up. I’ve been lucky to have had far more good coaches than bad ones – thank you!”

While she can’t qualify for the Olympics in the marathon (that team was decided at Trials), she may qualify on the track. Her next race is a 10K on October 23. 

posted Friday October 9th
by Madeleine Kelly