U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials Experience Leaves DeProsperis Wanting More

After being the lone Illinois-based female representative at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials Jan. 14 in Houston, Kate (Reicher) DeProsperis was asked later that month to attend a promotional event for the 2012 Chicago Marathon in October.

Registration was opened to the public Feb. 1, and the 45,0000 spots were filled in a record six days.

“It didn’t surprise me,” said DeProsperis, a 1997 Lyons Township graduate and Downers Grove resident. “I think the big marathons and running is becoming so huge, let alone marathons. I think everyone and their mother wants to say they’ve run a marathon.

“(Chicago) gets a big draw not just locally and nationally but internationally. Chicago is known as one of the fastest (marathons). Every person of any kind of level wants to run that race. I love Chicago. I love it aside from having hot weather the last couple of years.”

If anyone personifies that passion for running, DeProsperis does. After achieving her greatest running moment by competing at the U.S. Olympic Trials for the first time, she’s already contemplating about making another run in 2016.

DeProsperis covered the 26.2 miles in 2 hours, 53 minutes, 29 seconds (6:37 pace per mile) and was 134th among the 152 finishers after qualifying with the 166th seed time. The women’s and proceeding men’s races were broadcast by NBC.

Although she missed her goal of challenging her career-best time of 2:45.16, that occurred in her last reasonable chance to make the qualifying cut at the California International Marathon Dec. 4 in Sacramento, only six weeks prior to the trials.

“I didn’t feel great most of the way after the first couple of miles. (I thought), ‘It’s not my day, but I’m here. I might as well as finish and do my best.’ As bad as I felt, it was not half bad. I just hoped for more,” DeProsperis said.

“It didn’t go as planned. Let’s just say that, but I ran my best. I couldn’t have run any faster. I’m just kind of proud for that and being there. My body was feeling good, but mentally I was ready more than physically. I pushed as hard as I could. It was a good experience. It makes me want to get back there, though.”

DeProsperis was far from alone at the trials. Her mother, Denise Reicher, husband Ryan and twin sister Carrie Assell, who now lives in California, were among 27 well wishers. More than half were from the Lake Forest-based Jenny Spangler Racing team where DeProsperis trains, including Spangler, her husband and daughter. Spangler competed for the U.S. in the women’s marathon at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

“It started with two people. Some even booked their flight before (I did). I never thought that many people would spend that time and money to watch,” DeProsperis said.

“Being there was the goal, and having so many people there was really fun.
It was a great experience, aside from the race. Everything else was fun, seeing the runners in the hotel. They had great amenities (at the hotel). They treated everyone like top runners – massages, a hospitality room. It really made you feel like, ‘I’m pretty good.’ I’ll have those memories for a really long time.”

Earning the three women’s U.S. Olympic berths based on their finishes at the trials were Shalene Flanagan (women's Olympic trials-record 2:25.38), Desiree Davila (2:25.55) and Kara Goucher (2:26.06), who was 1:11 ahead of the No. 4 finisher.

The race started with a 2.2-mile loop through downtown Houston followed by three times around an outer 8-mile loop.

DeProsperis felt that part of her CIM success was pack running with other women striving for the qualifying cut. She hoped for the same situation at the trials, but as the race progressed into the larger loop, runners began breaking away. DeProsperis ran the final 20 to 21 miles alone.

DeProsperis also began feeling ill as the race progressed and began to slow. She stopped looking at her stopwatch “because it was depressing,” but she was determined to finish.

One reason was because runners had to complete the race to receive a commemorative medal. Another motivation was all of the people that came to support her.

“I had teammates all over the course, especially in the far loop where there’s not a lot of crowd support. They really got me though it. Knowing I’d see them and my family every four, five miles kept me going,” DeProsperis said.

“My legs were heavy, my stomach was cramping, but the thing that I kept thinking about was the hard effort I put in to get there and all of the girls that had not qualified, my sister and the other Illinois girls who didn’t have this opportunity.”

The urge to press on also reaped another award – television time. DeProsperis knew she eventually would be passed by the lead pack of men’s runners who had started afterwards. She stayed to the left side, attempting not to interfere, but when the men kept left and passed within inches of DeProsperis, the cameras captured her.

“I was on TV for a good 30 seconds. They were focusing on me as the guys were coming behind me,” DeProsperis said. “It was kind of cool to see them go through. They gave me a thumbs up. Just the camaraderie out there and knowing I was running the same race as people going to the Olympics was an amazing feeling, even though I felt horrible.”

DeProsperis currently is pondering what to do with her trials memorabilia. Besides her medal, Saucony shoes gave special red, blue and gold uniforms for its sponsored runners to wear specifically for that race.

DeProsperis was among 75 runners nationwide selected this season to represent Saucony, which provides her with shoes and gear. She also is part of PowerBar’s TeamElite program, receiving gear and nutritional products. DeProsperis was a member of Dick Pond Racing the previous five years.

On Valentine’s Day, Ryan surprised Kate with a U.S. Olympic Trials street banner in mint condition that he secured while in Houston. It hangs in the couple’s home gym downstairs.

“It’s like 5 feet tall.  It’s next to the treadmill so I see it when I’m working out,” DeProsperis said.

“I’m thinking of taking the medal and maybe the jersey in some type of commemorative box. (And) the bib is really cool. It’s really special, all of the little things I’m picking up from the trials.”

Whether she will earn more memorabilia in 2016 remains to be seen. DeProsperis said she will take some time off and is considering starting a family. The determining factor probably will be what the next qualifying standard. Assell, who has one child, might also try for 2016.

“I think I’m capable of running a 2:42ish. If (the trials cut is) anything like that or slower, I want to give it a try,” DeProsperis said. “I’m feeling like I have a little bit of unfinished business because I didn’t run as well as I would have liked. If I never run faster, I’m happy with being in the Olympic trials, but if I can do it again, there’s no harm in trying.”