Elena Hayday
Women's Marathon
Qualifying Time: 2:30:51
Qualifying Race: 2023 Grandma's Marathon
Date of Birth
11/01/99
Age on Race Day
24
Current Residence
Washington, D.C.
Hometown
Bloomington, MN
High School
Thomas Jefferson High School
Current Affiliation
Oiselle, Georgetown Running Club
Profession
Researcher/Postbacclaureate IRTA, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Marathon PB
2:30:51
First Trials qualification
Yes
Number of attempts to qualify
1
College(s)
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Career Highlights
10th, 2022 Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile; 15th, 2023 Aramco Houston Half Marathon; 7th; 2023 Grandma's Marathon 2023
Family
My dad played collegiate tennis at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and University of Minnesota and now runs a tennis department at Lifetime Fitness, and my mom ran track in high school and works in HIV research at the University of Minnesota. My oldest sister, Marissa, is a pharmacist in Minneapolis and my middle sister, Karina, is a family law attorney in Chicago. My partner, Sebastian, played D I tennis and is the graduate assistant coach at the University of Alabama's tennis program.
Greatest Accomplishment
Managing training while working full-time at the National Institutes of Health. I haven't had to choose between my passions for running and research, and that's really special!
Interesting Story
I was a 17:10 track 5,000m runner in college and never ran a Big 10, sectional or NCAA race. I actually left my collegiate team in 2021 with eligibility left and planned to be done with competitive running. That didn't last long, and I fell in love with longer distances on the roads and have since run a half marathon at that 5K pace! I've been really enjoying running over the past few years and never imagined I would be running at the Olympic Trials. I'm just getting started with the marathon distance and I'm excited to see what running has in store for me!
Favorite Book
A Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson
Favorite Movie
The Goonies
Favorite TV Show/Series
New Girl
Favorite Song
Almost (Sweet Music) - Hozier
Favorite Post-race Indulgence
French Fries
Favorite Breakfast
Bagel with cashew cream cheese
Favorite Running Memory
Crossing the finish line at Houston in 2023 with an OTQ in the half marathon! It felt like a long shot that I would qualify, but I did it by almost 30 seconds. I had gone down to Houston alone to run, but I jogged back to my hotel room and found lots of missed texts and calls from family, friends, teammates and my coach congratulating me. It was a great reminder that although I'm not in a place to bring family or my coach to every race, I have a lot of support behind me as I navigate post-collegiate running.
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