Elaine Estes
Women's Marathon
Qualifying Time: 2:36:08
Qualifying Race: 2023 California International Marathon
Date of Birth
05/10/97
Age on Race Day
26
Current Residence
Philadelphia, PA
Hometown
Oxford, PA
High School
Oxford Area High School
Current Affiliation
Philadelphia Runner Track Club
Profession
Spanish Teacher
Marathon PB
2:36:08
First Trials qualification
Yes
Number of attempts to qualify
1
College(s)
Saint Joseph's University
Career Highlights
2023 Philadelphia Runner Track Club Performance of the Year and Most Improved award; Atlantic 10 Academic All-Conference award; 12th, 2019 Atlantic 10 Conference Championships, 10,000m; 10th; 2019 ECAC All-East Championships, 5,000m; NCAA 2019-20 Woman of the Year nominee.
Family
My fiancé, Dave Garton (my "hawkmate" who I met running track and cross country at SJU), and I got engaged in the wee hours of January 1, 2024! It has been quite the month for me. He and his parents will be traveling to Orlando with me along with my parents and their partners and my best friend, Kaleigh Marr, and her husband.
Greatest Accomplishment
Probably this!
Interesting Story
I always say I have a "rags-to-riches" running story. I joined the cross country team at my high school on a whim after running one 5K with my mom (where I finished in over 30 minutes and she yelled at me to jog). By the end of my first season, my PR was 21:17. By the end of college, it was 17:03 and now it is dipping even lower. I ran more than three minutes faster than my first-ever PR per mile in my qualifying marathon for the Trials. My 15-year-old self would never have believed that if someone told me that is what I would accomplish.
Favorite Book
Little Women
Favorite Movie
50 First Dates
Favorite TV Show/Series
The Kardashians
Favorite Song
I'm more of a podcast girl
Favorite Post-race Indulgence
WaWa soft pretzels (2+) and a blue Gatorade
Favorite Breakfast
SEG on a bagel
Favorite Motivational Quote
"He who loves pleasure, shall become poor." - Proverbs 21:17
Favorite Running Memory
I will never forget one rainy, end-of-season 8x400m workout I did with my high school cross country team. We were so loopy and were SURE we were experiencing a runner's high. We all went to Saladworks and Starbucks after practice (a special treat in our town) and just had a blast being together that day.
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