Run by Women #2: Molly Seidel, the millennial marathon mastermind

When anyone is 27 years old, it would be an impressive feat for them to have finished three marathons in their lifetime. Molly Seidel, Wisconsin native and the University of Notre Dame alumna, has taken that accomplishment one step further.

Seidel finished third at the Tokyo Games in the women's marathon, which was just her third marathon ever. She clocked in at 2 hours, 27 minutes and 46 seconds - a lightning quick 5:38 per mile average for the long distance racer.

"I had no idea what this was going to be like," Seidel said after the Olympic Trials race in Atlanta.

She ran two marathons prior to Tokyo in 2021, finishing second in her first ever marathon at the U.S. Marathon Olympic Trials as well as competing in elite-only London Marathon around Buckingham Palace.

"I qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in 2 hours, 27 minutes, 31 seconds. Ever since I was a little girl, I've had this dream," Seidel shared about her finish at the Olympic Trials.

Seidel wants people to know that there's more to her than just running though. Outside of training for the Olympics and other professional events, she works two day jobs in her current hometown of Boston.

It has also been noted that Seidel will make an appearance at an annual Thanksgiving Turkey Trot dressed up in a full-blown turkey costume.

Seidel first found extreme success in running during her collegiate career as a Fighting Irish runner for Notre Dame. She earned national titles in the 5,000 meter and 3,000 meter outdoor races in 2016 along with many indoor national and Atlantic Coastal Conference (ACC) titles.

There is certainly more to come for her marathon season as she is planning on competing in the New York City Marathon on November 7th of this year.

"Doing a point-to-point is going to be wild for me!" she said in reference to the NYC Marathon course which starts at the top of Staten Island closest to Manhattan and finishes in the middle of Central Park.

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