The winner of the 2016 Little Rock Marathon is my dear friend and teammate, Tia Stone. Even though Tia is fiercely competitive, she is humble about her accomplishments and the first to encourage and support others.  She has been instrumental in reviving the Searcy Rush running club and creating a track night series for kids. Spend even a small amount of time with her and you know that running takes third place to her love for the Lord and her family.

Tia, like me, ran track and cross country for Harding University, though we were not there at the same time. She took several years off from racing competitively after getting married and starting a family. Interestingly, she credits the Little Rock Marathon for inspiring her to return to competitive running.

I sat down with Tia the week after her Little Rock Marathon victory to get her perspective on winning the race and the training it took to get there.

Me: This is not your first marathon victory, you won the Mid-South Marathon (Wynne, AR) last October and the 3 Bridges Marathon (Little Rock) last December. What makes this victory so special?

Tia: In 2009 John (her husband) and I ran the half marathon at Little Rock together. For John it was a one time thing, a bucket list item. But for me, it was my inspiration to start racing competitively again. I knew I wanted to eventually run the full (at Little Rock). So this race is like the beginning of my running career as an adult. Also, it was the first time after a race that I had been surrounded by reporters. The kids ate up the celebrity attention it brought to our family. 

Me: Let’s talk about the mental vs. physical challenges of the race, because let’s face it this course has both!

Tia: It helps having done it before. (She placed 8th in 2012 and 4th in 2013.) The first year I was undertrained for the hills. I remember thinking that year when I got to the Dillard’s hill, “You have got to be kidding me!” Typically in a marathon I break the race down into sections by mileage: the first 10 miles, 20 miles and then the (remaining) 10K. For Little Rock I broke the race into sections of town and terrain like running in North Little Rock, it’s my favorite so glad they added that back this year. Then the new turn around at about the 10K mark. I really loved this new part of the course. Then the stretch with Central High. Then there was the climb up Kavanaugh and knowing John and the kids would be there around the 16 mile marker made the hill a little easier. Then there’s the downhill part which I really enjoyed. Then the flat stretch along the river which was the hardest part for me I think because your legs are spent from the hills. Then the final 4 miles back to the finish.

Me: After the half marathoners split off, you ran without any female competition. How was that for you? Would you have preferred to have someone pushing you?

Tia: I was ok with running this race by myself. In hindsight I think (having competition) it would have stressed me out.

Me: What is it like riding with a bicycle escort? At what point did they join you?

Tia: They picked me up at the first mile. They would radio in at each mile to let them (Little Rock Marathon officials) know where I was on the course. They can’t give you any strategy or tell you where you are in relation to other runners. They warn others to move so that I could pass through. This was especially helpful during the half marathon.

Me: Did you prepare differently for this marathon that the three marathons you ran last fall?

Tia: For Chicago I trained in the summer so it was hot and (my training) was mostly flat. For Mid-South and 3 Bridges I just piggy backed off my Chicago training and didn’t really do anything special. For Little Rock I ran lots of hills.  It was my first time to run hill repeats in over a year and a half. My long runs were on a loop that started with big hills near my house, had hills in the middle section and then finished back on the hills in my neighborhood. They were more about effort and not necessarily time. They (the hills) helped my prepare both mentally and physically. 

Me: Is there anything you wished you would have done differently in training and/or the race itself?

Tia: Not in training, but in the race I wished I would have know I only needed 23 seconds to break 3 hours. I think I could have pushed somewhere to make it up. I really thought my estimated finish time was  3:01, 3:02 or even 3:03. I didn’t realize that I was that close to 3 hours. I stayed with 2 guys (for awhile) that passed me on the Dillard’s hill. They both ran sub 3s. Still it was a 7 minute course PR for me and only 2 minutes off my marathon PR so I’m pretty happy considering how challenging the course is.

Me: Do you have plans for another marathon in 2016?

Tia: I just entered Hogeye Marathon this week. It’s 4 weeks away. I wasn’t planning on this one, but it’s on the Grand Prix Series and it will help us field a team. I’m feeling pretty good and this has been the easiest marathon recovery week I can remember. It’s also a hilly course so I think I can do well there since I’ve been doing so much hill training. I’m thinking about a late fall marathon. Maybe St. Jude’s or 3 Bridges again. Whatever I race this year will either here in Arkansas or nearby.

Me: What do you like most about the marathon?

Tia: The training and the effort that you put into it. You work so long with something as your goal and it all comes down to 3 hours in one day. I also like the effort of staying with it mentally and the strategy involved. If run right it can be the most rewarding race. I also feel like I am stronger at the longer distances.

Me: What is your biggest takeaway from winning the Little Rock Marathon?

Tia: You know, Leah (Thorlivson) told me that Arkansas loves a hometown runner and she is right. The local love and support has been great! Also mentally getting through the last 10K by focussing on one mile at a time (of running with one of the male runners) was big for me because I didn’t think I could do it. In my last 3 marathons I fell apart in the last 10K.

Me: Any final thoughts you’d like to share?

Tia: When I first started running competitively as an adult, I never dreamed I could win the Little Rock Marathon. My advice to others would be don’t discount yourself or your efforts!

Pretty good advice Tia! You can follow Tia on her blog ArkansasRunnerMom. Check out her race recap of the Little Rock Marathon where she talks more in depth about her strategy in that final 10K here!

Did you enjoy hearing from Tia? Make sure to congratulate her in the comments below!