How To Dig Deeper With 2-Time Olympian Kim Conley

2021-06-01

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Making a third Olympic team isn't easy. Add in a pandemic and a yearlong Olympic delay and it creates challenges for Olympians like Kim Conley. Conley represented Team USA in distance running at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. The UC Davis grad and New Balance-sponsored athlete was on track to qualify for her third Olympic team in the 5000m when COVID-19 struck. Runners were fortunate when the lockdown started since running wasn't canceled and doesn't require a practice facility in...

Making a third Olympic team isn't easy.

Add in a pandemic and a yearlong Olympic delay and it creates challenges for Olympians like Kim Conley.

Conley represented Team USA in distance running at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

The UC Davis grad and New Balance-sponsored athlete was on track to qualify for her third Olympic team in the 5000m when COVID-19 struck.

Runners were fortunate when the lockdown started since running wasn't canceled and doesn't require a practice facility in proximity to other people for training.

But distance running in your 30s isn't always easy. Recovery takes long. Injuries can happen at any time.

But Kim was feeling healthy and made the decision to double down on her commitment to making that third Olympic team.

That led to a major life decision to leave Northern California and relocate to Flagstaff, Arizona.

And she's reaped both physical and mental benefits ever since.

On this Dying to Ask:

How Kim made the call to leave her support system in Northern California and move to Flagstaff, Arizona
How athletes avoided COVID-19 this past year
What Kim feared might happen to her career if she tested positive for coronavirus
And how to fine-tune your own grit when your life plan goes sideways

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