Laura Nelson - 2004 USATF 100K Team Member: Reaching a Goal

September 2004

2004 USATF 100K team member, Laura Nelson, began running to avoid being overweight and was pulled to ultrarunning because it “burns lots of calories. Nelson has burned a lot of calories in her ultrarunning career beginning with her first 50-mile race at JFK that lingers in her memory because she thought she was “going to die.”  She overcame that unpleasant sensation from her first 50-mile race and has gone on to achieve many pleasant and significant ultrarunning accomplishments including wins at some of the most competitive trail ultras in the country including the JFK 50 in 1991, 1992, 2000, 2001 and the Umstead 100 Mile in 2003.  Laura has also won the Atlanitic City Marathon three times in a row from 1993-1995.  In 2004 Laura set out to make the USATF 100K team and with her 100K road PR of 8:43 at the AUA 100K in April she reached her goal.

Nelson, 38, of Woodstock, Virginia is running on the all-rookie USATF Women’s 100K team.  She has been motivated to train hard and try her best since being selected for the USATF 100K team.  When Nelson isn’t running, she is an accounting clerk and bookkeeper and tracks her PRs as follows:

·         5:15 for the mile

·         17:29 for 5K

·         35:25 for 10K

·         2:51:05 for the marathon

·         3:59 for 50K

·         8:43 for 100K

                                                                  Laura Nelson has run to success on both trails and roads.

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Last updated: 09/14/05
Web Author: Lorraine Gersitz