Carrie chats with Lauren Hagans! They break down her winning performance at the 2023 Grandma’s Marathon, and also chat about her journey into the sport, her time in Flagstaff, her switch from the track to longer distances, and so much more!
Recorded June 23, 2023
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Lauren Hagans
Bio courtesy HOKA NAZ Elite
After graduating from Baylor University in 2008, Lauren chose to focus on the 800 and 1500, eventually setting personal bests of 2:02.97 and 4:09.86. In 2016, she switched her focus to the 3,000 and 5,000 meters, and has had an enormous amount of success in those events. She qualified for the 2016 Olympic Trials in the 5,000. In 2017, she finished third at the Cork City Sports meet in the 3,000 meters, running a then best of 8:56.99. In 2018, she finished fourth at the USATF Championships in the 5,000 and ran an outdoor personal best of 8:48.65 in the 3,000 at the London Anniversary Games. In 2019, she came within two tenths of a second of her best at 5,000 meters, running 15:14.64. Lauren joined HOKA NAZ Elite in January of 2020, but due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, was unable to race until July. She finished third at the KT Tape St. George Showdown over 5,000 meters in her first competition as a member of the team. Then, in late August, she won the Sunset Tour 5,000 in a new PB of 15:10.01 and followed that up with a 31:53.72 over 10,000 meters at the HOKA Distance Carnival.
Lauren’s 2021 got off to a rough start with a hamstring injury that derailed her spring but she still gutted out a seventh-place finish at the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 5,000 meters. Her fall included a fifth-place finish at the USATF 5k Championships, a fantastic leg on HOKA NAZ Elite’s second place finish at the Michigan Pro Ekiden and a stellar half marathon debut time of 1:09:46–via a fourth-place finish at the USATF Half Marathon Championships. During that run she set team records for 15k and 10 miles en route.
After a difficult 2022, Lauren kicked off her 2023 campaign with a win, and a course record, at the Cardiff Kook Run in 31:53. Two weeks later she blasted out of the gates and eventually finished second at the USATF Half Marathon Championships to teammate Aliphine Tuliamuk. Then in June, in her marathon debut, she won the Grandma’s Marathon in 2:25:55–the fourth-fastest U.S. debut of all time.
Show Notes:
Lauren Hagans on Instagram
HOKA NAZ Elite – Northern Arizona Elite
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