Colleen De Reuck is a four-time Olympian, marathon runner, busy mom, and part-time personal trainer. Between training runs and play dates, she slowed down just enough to give us a peek into her busy life and provide insights from her decades of experience as one of the top distance runners in the world.
Snapshot
- Age: 46
- Home base: Boulder, Colorado
- Family: Husband/coach (Darren); two daughters (Tasmin and Tara)
- Occupations: Distance runner and part-time personal trainer
- PRs: 10,000 meters (31:16); half marathon (1:08:38); marathon (2:26:35)
- Favorite PowerBar® product: PowerBar Harvest Energy bar, Double Chocolate Crisp
Notable Accomplishments
- Four-time Olympian: for South Africa in 1992, 1996, and 2000; for the United States in 2004
- 2004 United States Olympic Trials marathon champion (2:28:25)
- Two-time United States cross country 8 km champion, in 2004 and 2005
- Former world-record holder at 10 miles (51:16) and 20 km (1:05:11)
- Won the Honolulu Marathon in 1995 and the Berlin Marathon in 2006
- Took second at the New York City Marathon and third at the Boston Marathon in 1997
Q: Considering all that you've accomplished in your extensive running career, what stands out to you?
Colleen: I'm very proud of having made four Olympic teams — three for South Africa, and in 2004 for the United States. In 2002, I competed for Team USA in the World Cross Country Championships in Dublin, Ireland, earning a bronze medal. And in 2003, I helped lead Team USA to the silver medal. Achieving world-record times at 10 miles and 20 km was special. And I have to say that winning the 2004 United States Olympic Trials marathon just a week away from my 40th birthday was an accomplishment.
Q: How and at what age did you get into the sport?
Colleen: I started running when I was in the 8th grade. We all had to do sports after school. So I ran cross country in the fall and track in the spring. My father was also a runner, so I ran with him as well.
Q: Describe working your way up the rankings and winning at the elite level.
Colleen: I ran my first half marathon when I was 16, and ended up beating the top runners at that race. So I knew I had the ability to run. But I ran for many years pretty much in isolation. I made South Africa's national team numerous times, but we could not compete internationally. After years of doing that, I was going to retire, but then South Africa got included back into the international arena. And then, when I came to the United States in 1993, I had success here and abroad, and slowly made a name for myself.
Q: With four Olympic Games, and scores of victories at a number of different distances, what was your most satisfying performance?
Colleen: Winning the 2004 United States Olympic Trials marathon. My whole focus at the time was just to make the team. I needed to be in the top three and I thought that my time was over. So winning was incredible and the cherry on top of the cake!
Q: You've been a top runner for so long — what has enabled you to be so successful?
Colleen: I have wonderful support from Darren, who is both my husband and coach. Plus I really enjoy running and racing. I probably like racing a bit more than training, so when I get tired I take a break from training, and that always gets my motivation up again. Taking scheduled breaks from hard training throughout the year helps me a lot.
Q: What do you love about the sport?
Colleen: I've met so many wonderful people and made great friends. I love running with them and just catching up. I also love the feeling of being healthy and fit, and I’m hoping to be able to do this for many years to come. Plus I love chocolate, and running allows me to eat it without gaining weight!
Q: Describe a typical training day when gearing up for a big race.
Colleen: After Tasmin goes to school, I go for a run and either push Tara in the jogger or she plays in the kid's corner at the athletic club where I'm a part-time personal trainer. Right now I'm training for a marathon, so in between play dates, lunch, chores, Tara's naps, working with clients, picking up Tasmin from volleyball practice, and cooking dinner, I try to get in a second run somehow. Sometimes finding the time and energy to train can be a challenge, and at times I'm a bit depleted for training runs. But I just give it all that I can.
Q: After having taken a break from running when you were pregnant with Tara, and then for a few months afterwards, how did you get back into running shape?
Colleen: When I came back after that long break, I started running three days a week, then four days, and slowly just built it up. But it sure did take a long time. The most important thing was patience, and Darren was always on me to take it slowly.
Q: How are nutrition and hydration important to your ability to train?
Colleen: I always drink
Ironman PERFORM™ sports drink — the lemon-lime flavor — on my long runs during the week and on weekends. It helps me prepare for running, and I use it afterwards to rehydrate and help with recovery. I also carry chocolate-flavor
PowerBar Harvest® Energy bars in my car and bag so I always have something to munch on. I've definitely learned the hard way on some of my afternoon runs where I've bonked due to not snacking.
On a typical training day, I'll have toast in the morning and munch on a
Harvest Energy bar before running. After my early run, I always have a glass of chocolate milk and a bowl of cereal. I normally make a panini for lunch along with fruit. Dinner is simple — some protein, carbs, and a salad or vegetable. Then of course I fit a chocolate bar in there somewhere!
Q: How about for an actual race — what's your typical eating and hydration regimen before and during?
Colleen: I'm nervous before a race and tend not to feel hungry. That's okay for a 10 km, but not a marathon, so I force myself to eat. I'll have toast with peanut butter and jam and a
PowerBar® Performance Energy bar. And then right up until race time, I'll sip my lemon-lime
Ironman PERFORM sports drink.
Q: Do you do anything in particular after a race to promote recovery or reward yourself?
Colleen: I admit I'm not too professional with that. I probably should take an ice bath. But after a marathon, I soak in a lukewarm bath and drink chocolate milk or a root beer. At that point, no more sports drink! Later I just eat what my body feels like, and normally that's a steak at dinner.
Q: What are your favorite PowerBar® products?
Colleen: The
chocolate-flavor Harvest Energy bars are great for a snack. Even Tara loves them — she must be my child, as she eats the chocolate off the bottom! Tasmin takes the
Harvest Energy bars to school so she has something to eat before practice. They're easy to eat and she doesn't get side aches from them when she's playing. Before a race, I like to eat a
Performance Energy bar — of course the chocolate flavor! During a marathon when I need extra carbs, I use
PowerBar® Energy Gels, both the vanilla and strawberry flavors. I've been a member of PowerBar
® Team Elite™ for two years now, and it's been great to have the opportunity to try the different products and find ones that work for me.
Q: How do you cope nutritionally with travel to an event?
Colleen: I never want to be empty handed, so I keep some
Harvest Energy bars in my hand luggage in case I get stranded. Otherwise, I just make sure to drink plenty of water and I try to eat as normally as possible.
Q: What do you know now that you wish you knew earlier in your running career?
Colleen: That drinking once on a long run is not good enough, and just drinking water isn't sufficient, especially if you're in a hot and humid climate. You also need to replace electrolytes like sodium!
Q: What words of advice do you have for up-and-coming endurance runners?
Colleen: Practice it all during training. In preparing for a race, hold to the routine that you follow when training. Don't try anything new just because it's a race. You'll see other runners do things differently, but what works for someone else may not work for you. Stick to what you've practiced.
Follow Colleen as she competes for yet another marathon victory in October. Also, if you're interested in learning about PowerBar® Team Elite™ athletes or how you can join the ranks, click on the Team Elite link at PowerBar.com.
Topics:
General, Hydration, Competition, Endurance, Events, Family, Nutrition, Nutrition advice, Performance, PowerBar, Sports nutrition, Team Elite, Training
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