Caroline Williams
Women's Marathon
Qualifying Time: 2:36:57
Qualifying Race: 2022 California International Marathon
Date of Birth
07/17/92
Age on Race Day
31
Current Residence
Boston, MA
Hometown
Westfield, NJ
High School
Mount Saint Mary Academy
Current Affiliation
Green Racing Project
Profession
Director of HR, Flagship Pioneering
Marathon PB
2:36:57
First Trials qualification
Yes
Number of attempts to qualify
2
College(s)
Columbia University
Family
My husband, Eddie Mulder, ran for Emory University and is competing in the Trials as well. One of the topics on our first date was a shared goal to qualify for the Olympic Trials one day - 6 years later, here we are! I am also excited to have my family coming to support me in Orlando - my mom, dad, sister (Amanda), and her fiancé (John) - who have been there every step of the way cheering me on.
Greatest Accomplishment
My ability to balance a professional career and running at a high level for the past 10 years. I started my career in management consulting in New York and continued training while traveling for work four days each week. I moved to Boston in 2019 to be closer to the biotech industry and now work for Flagship Pioneering, a venture creation fund that incubates biotech companies. I currently serve as the head of HR for several of these startups.
Interesting Story
My journey to the start line of the 2024 Trials has been a 7-year endeavor, full of near-misses and unfortunate setbacks. During the 2016 cycle, I narrowly missed the qualifying time in the half marathon by 35 seconds, running 1:15:35. I then ran 2:45:26 in my first marathon in 2018, missing the qualifying mark again, by 26 seconds. Injury and illness thwarted other attempts in the lead-up to 2020. Finally, after 18 months of healthy running, I hit my OTQ at CIM in 2022, qualifying by just 3 seconds in a nail-biting finish. All this to say, keep showing up!
Favorite Movie
The Devil Wears Prada
Favorite Song
Don't Stop Me Now by Queen
Favorite Post-race Indulgence
Cheeseburger and an IPA
Favorite Breakfast
Taylor ham, egg, and cheese on an everything bagel
Favorite Motivational Quote
"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." - Epicurus
Favorite Running Memory
Finding out I qualified for the Trials by 3 seconds after crossing the finish line at CIM and going "viral" on Instagram
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