Erichsen Wins Shamrock Marathon in Olympic Trials Qualifying Time

For Chris Erichsen, 25, of St. Paul, winning the Shamrock Marathon on Sunday in Virginia Beach, VA was secondary to his goal of breaking 2:19:00 and qualifying for the 2012 US Olympic Marathon Trials. That he did both makes it only sweeter.

Erichsen felt he had been in shape to qualify for at least a year. Last year at the Fargo Marathon he ran 2:19:50 for first place and $2,000 in prize money. For recent Olympics that would have been enough, but the USATF changed the 2012 qualifying standards from 2:20:00 (‘A’ standard) or 2:22:00 (‘B’ standard) to only one, a stringent 2:19:00, but with an alternate qualifier of sub-1:05:00 in the half marathon. In January Erichsen tried the USATF Half Marathon Championships in Houston (site of the 2012 Marathon Trials). Again close but no cigar, as he ran a 1:05:40.

For Shamrock, he was averaging over 100 miles per week, with a maximum of 140 miles during February, and up to 26-mile long runs. This during what he called the “worst winter for running that I can remember,” in Minnesota, featuring the collapse of the Metrodome/Mall of America Field roof.

Erichsen works full time as a business analyst and sourcing at Target headquarters in the Twin Cities. He ran at either 5 a.m. or 6 p.m., saying “I don’t see the light, ever,” during those bleak months. Much of his running was on the treadmill, but you do what’s necessary for your goals.

At Shamrock he felt ready to not only break 2:19, but also to win the race. The first five miles went in 5:13 pace, but for the next five miles the lead pack had to endure strong headwinds, and the 10 mile average mile pace dropped to 5:18. Erichsen decided to break away from the pack at 11 miles, saying: “I thought it was a little risky, but if I wanted to run 2:19, that’s what I had to do.”

He had a 13-second lead at the half-marathon and ran solo for the final 15 miles of the race, overcoming the wind and the competition to win in 2:18:24, He was followed by three other runners under 2:25—Bryan Morseman of Addison, NY (2:22:39), Michael Wardian of Arlington, VA (2:23:27) and Scott Mindel of Ballston Lake, NY (2:24:47). The Shamrock win earned him $2,000 for first place, and a $500 bonus for the Trials qualifier.

Erichsen was a standout at St. John’s with best times of 3:52 (1,500 meters), 9:01 (3,000-meter steeplechase) and 14:25 (5,000 meters). He ran 29:50 for the 10,000 meters after graduation. Erichsen was runner-up to Peter Kosgei of Hamilton (NY)--in the 2007 and ’08 steeplechase and in the ’08 5,000 meters. He was also third in the ’07 D3 cross country championships.

On the roads, he had a 49:50 for 10 miles, low 30’s for 10K, and in the 14:20’s for 5K. Upcoming will be the 2011 Grandma’s Half Marathon in June in Duluth, and the Trials next January. Other than those two races, he hasn’t given much thought to additional competition, saying “I’ve been so focused on getting there.”
By Rick Platt