AMAM: A long year of running has finally come to an end — for now — and you’ve had time to look back on a 2024 that kicked off with you at marathon trials. Paris is now in the rear view. What was your takeaway from the experience?
EMILY SISSON: It was completely different from my last experience [in Tokyo].
I was at an exhibit earlier and there was a photographer that had photographed both Tokyo and Paris. And he had exhibition and he called “Silence to Sound.” And we just were kind of reflecting on how Tokyo was just almost a straight, like an eerie kind of environment.
We were competing on one of the biggest stages in the world in front of no crowds and no noise. And yeah we’re so thankful at the time the Olympics were happening [during the pandemic], but looking back, it’s like, wow, that actually was very odd.
AMAM: A very distinct difference from Paris, one could imagine.
SISSON: Paris felt like my first real Olympics, and for that reason it was really special because my family and friends got to be there and got to celebrate with the support team that’s helped me reach this stage. But in terms of my performance, I was definitely a bit disappointed with how the buildup went and I think the race went about as well as the training suggested it would go. I think I handled everything I could to the best of my abilities, but it just was one of those buildups where things just didn’t click.
And so that’s how it is, that’s how the sport is. You work so hard and you hope things come together when you want them to come together — but so much of it is hard work, but also timing.
AMAM: At trials in Orlando you were part of a new crew with you, Fiona O’Keeffe and Dakotah Lindwurm were all first timers in the marathon for Team USA on the Olympic stage. What seemed to work that day back in February?
SISSON: Going into the trials, I actually had a great buildup. I didn’t have any hiccups, no illness, nothing, and so I felt really good. The US Olympic Marathon trials is one of the most stressful, most exciting events, but most stressful as an athlete because it all comes down to one day and I did feel good about my preparation for it.
But it’s such a deep field right now, US women’s distance running, that there was like no givens, there’s no guarantees, you just have to do the work and make the best decisions you can to be prepared come race day to compete for one of those top three spots.
AMAM: But you’re a key part of that current depth and the immediate future of it.
SISSON: That was my third marathon in 10 months, and I thought, you know, I wanted more experience going into the Olympic Marathon trials. So I did a fall marathon the year prior, and in hindsight, maybe three marathons was a bit too much. But even as a professional, we’re still learning and it’s unfortunate to learn that lesson during the Olympic year.
And I’m still happy I like took some chances and training and push myself to try to prepare myself as well as I could for Paris, even though it didn’t work out this time, maybe it’ll work out for my next big marathon or next challenge.
AMAM: The sport has seen changes this year with new leagues on the horizon and even promised increases in prize at Diamond League. Your thoughts?
SISSON: It’s great people are trying new things and putting on new events. And it’s great seeing this because it is challenging the status quo and causing everyone else to step up their game.
