L-R: Alexa Hoeltermann, Stacy Cline, Macala Donnelly. Photo provided by Macala Donnelly
Hampton-Dumont alumni Alexa Hoeltermann and sister Macala Donnelly have qualified for one of the most prestigious races in the United States. They’ll compete at Monday’s Boston Marathon.
After Donnelly competed in last year’s race, Hoeltermann has also qualified this year.
“It’s so fun to see how you can go from point A to point B and just watch your body change from a commitment and a good plan and being dedicated to something,” Hoeltermann says. “And so I think it’s just been really, really rewarding. I stay home with my kids. And so it’s a little bit more of a long time goal with children. You don’t necessarily get to reap the benefits of your time spent with them daily, we’re looking long term as they grow in hopes for them to become successful. So I think this was just something that was a little quicker and getting that instant reward just by being dedicated to something.”
She began running recreationally nine years ago, but has been training professionally for the last two and a half years. Having qualified by running 3:19 in a previous race, she says training for the Boston Marathon has been taking place for several months.
“I started about 20 weeks ago, and that was already with somewhat of a base obviously, and then you just attack it with a plan. Tuesdays we’re doing speed work at the track or on hills and then you have like a midweek long run Thursdays we’re doing tempo or threshold paces. These are all running specific words that we’ve had to educate ourselves with, specifically me because I did not do track in high school. This all has been just a new season of life with learning. And I mean, there’s tons of information out there. And then thankfully, I am surrounded just by very wise people. And like I said, I’ve got a really good friend who has coached me these last couple of years.”
Hoeltermann describes her goals for the race.
“We always have, and I say we because Macala and I kind of function as one brain these days, just in attacking this race. But personally for me, you start off with like a plan A. And so I have a time specific goal. I am trying to run my fastest that I’ve run. And I think it’s realistic, and just being smart to know I have to have some other plans in there as well, just depending on how your body feels. It is such a big race, and it’s dependent on so many things. How you’re feeling that day, obviously injuries, weather, and running. You just can’t necessarily say a hundred percent you’re going to come out with your best day. You can put forth your best effort and have the best training block of your life, and it owes you nothing. So having a couple different ideas there for time goals. Ideally, it’s our hope to qualify for Chicago. And so that’s a 3:30 entry. And so. The biggest goal I have is just to run under that so that in 2027, we could run that together.”
The Boston Marathon will begin Monday morning with racing taking place throughout the day.
