10 Hours to Victory
Author(s)
Jon Stone
Media Relations Manager
Molly Smith, a 成人AV alumna, staff member, current student and adjunct, wins Ironman race
Most of us would say that we live pretty busy lives. Between work, family, friends and other activities, there is rarely extra time in a day. Saying that Molly Smith has a busy schedule might be a big understatement. She works with adjunct faculty in听听by helping them apply their expertise to lessons in the classroom. When she鈥檚 not doing that, you might find her teaching a class as an adjunct faculty member; in Ruffatto Hall, working on her dissertation; or perhaps at the Ritchie Center for one of two daily workouts training for her next Ironman.
The 成人AV has become like a second home for Smith. As a Boettcher Scholar, she came to 成人AV as an undergrad and received her degree in human communications with a minor in business. She received her MBA from the听听before deciding to work for the Boettcher Foundation.
鈥淚 had a great sense of gratitude for the educational opportunities they had made possible for me, so I wanted to give back,鈥 Smith says.
After several years, Smith felt her true passion might be in teaching. She received a second master鈥檚, this time in education, from Colorado State University, and then decided to come back to 成人AV to work in her current position and pursue a PhD from the听.
鈥湷扇薃V is a really special place,鈥 Smith says about the opportunity to work for her alma mater. 鈥淚 had this amazing experience here as a student, so I thought, 鈥榞osh, wouldn鈥檛 it be neat if I could come back and provide the same experience for other students?鈥欌
While teaching might be her passion, her biggest enjoyment comes in competing as a triathlete. Smith says racing in her household is a family affair. Her husband, Matt, is her trainer and also a triathlete.
In 2015, Smith competed in the half Ironman world championships in Austria. She missed the podium by only 32 seconds, a finish that haunted and motivated her to compete in September鈥檚 world championships in Chattanooga, Tenn.
A half Ironman is a total of 70.3 miles. It consists of a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run. Approximately 2,000 women compete in the world championships, and Smith鈥檚 goal this year was to make the podium.
鈥淚 was hungry for this,鈥 Smith says. 鈥淚t was something that I had thought about for basically two years.鈥
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鈥淚 was really at peak fitness,鈥 she says. 鈥淭his was the best-prepared I have ever been to compete at this distance.鈥
Smith achieved her goal. She was the second woman in her division to cross the finish line and recorded the fifth best time among all amateur females. But Smith was just getting started with her racing success. The very next weekend she competed in a half Ironman in Colorado and finished second overall to a professional runner. Four days later, she ran in 成人AV鈥檚 Crimson Classic, finishing with the second-best female time.
鈥淭hat one was more for fun,鈥 she says. 鈥淚f I had fresh legs, I鈥檇 like to think I could have done better.鈥
Smith thought that was the end of her racing season, but then she decided to add one more. Her husband was guiding a visually impaired athlete for Ironman Maryland. She was planning to make the trip, but didn鈥檛 intend to compete since it was a full Ironman and she had just completed back-to-back races.
鈥淚 was really fit, I was coming off of a really great season and I鈥檝e already done a lot of the training so I thought, 鈥榤aybe I should give this a try,鈥欌 Smith says.
She made the right decision. It took her just under 10 hours to complete the 140.6-mile course. She had the top time of any female competitor and finished nearly 13 minutes ahead of second place. It was the first time she had ever competed in a full Ironman.
鈥淕oing into the race and not having any expectations was a gift,鈥 Smith says. 鈥淪ometimes I feel like I go into races with high expectations, but to have the day turn out the way that it did was truly surreal.鈥
Smith plans to continue training and racing in 2018. This summer she will complete her dissertation, but she is still undecided on what she will do next.
鈥淭he world has a way of introducing opportunities that sometimes you are just supposed to walk through the door, take a risk and say, 鈥業鈥檒l give it a try.鈥欌