3 minute read
NO SPEED LIMITS
PHOTO COURTESY OF EMMA BATES
Boise State Alum Emma Bates Isn't Slowing Down
BY ARIANNA CRETEAU
A Minnesota native, 31-year-old Emma Bates began running in middle school and she hasn’t stopped since. She came to Boise on a college tour, and after one run, knew that Idaho was the place for her, although she’d envisioned herself as a golden gopher at the University of Minnesota. Bates found a home as a Boise State Bronco, and competed across the U.S. in marathons. Eventually, she hopes running will lead her to the Olympics.
This year, that goal is within reach. Bates made national headlines as the second fastest American woman in Boston Marathon history, where she placed fifth among women from all countries.
Bates began running—and competing—as a college athlete as an outlet, but ended up pushing herself beyond what she believed capable. “It was amazing to have people believe in me and I’m so incredibly grateful for the opportunity Boise State gave to me,” she said.
Her first NCAA title in 2014 for a 10,000 meter run served as a turning point. The possibility of becoming a professional runner was within her grasp, and coaches were excited about her potential. Finishing college, Bates signed with the Boston Athletic Association and was one step closer to achieving her dream.
When Bates began her professional career, people were less familiar with the term “professional runner.” “I would say I was a professional athlete, then people would ask what sport,” she said. But social media has allowed more people to watch races and follow athletes more closely than ever before, which includes processional runners. Marathon runners are popular online and in person, and draw thousands of fans—lucky for Bates, who says that running is 90 percent mental and only 10 percent physical, and relies on the people that uplift her to sustain her momentum.
I have such fond memories of running in the streets of Boise, like the North End and foothills. I can’t think of a place in Boise that I hadn’t run.
“When I was in Boston, I was focusing on track and things just weren’t coming very easily for me,” Bates said. After three years, she packed up and moved from Boston city life back to Boise, where she lived off-grid in the mountains. Still running, she kept adding more miles and quickly became a long distance runner. “I have such fond memories of running in the streets of Boise, like the North End and foothills. I can’t think of a place in Boise that I hadn’t run,” Bates said.
Bates says she’s happy to have a supportive network now, which wasn’t always the case, and was one of the reasons she contemplated leaving competition. “I took a step back because the people guiding me didn’t really help me. They pointed out all my flaws and weaknesses,” she said. “I don’t think coaches quite realize how much weight their words can have on an athlete, especially one transitioning out of college.”
But, running 100 miles and working up to 60 hours a week, Bates decided to return to competition and sought sponsorship. She and others began the Idaho Distance Project, a group of elite athletes dedicated to supporting each other in an effort to reach the highest level of athletics in the U.S. and beyond.
So far, five members have made the Olympic trials. “It was nice to be surrounded by people that had like-minded goals,” Bates said. “It was great creating an environment where people got excited about running. In high school or college, you feel like you have to do it. Post-college, there’s no scholarship and a lot of runners aren’t getting paid but they enjoy what they do.”
In 2018, Bates won the 2018 U.S. Women’s Marathon Championships in two hours, 28 minutes, and 19 seconds. “And the rest is history,” she said.
And, although her performance was stellar, the public’s response shocked Bates a bit because she didn’t feel like it was her best run to date. “It was just on such a big stage so people got really amped up about it,” Bates said. “But Boston was a great stepping stone because, during other races, I’ve run my own race and finished wherever I ended up. In Boston, I took control and competed in a way that I had never done before.”
While you can follow her on social media, where she posts race updates, photographs, and personal anecdotes, you won’t find her obsessing over the race outcomes of other athletes—she doesn’t read, watch, or keep up with race routines or times. For Bates, the act of showing up to race—despite life’s hurdles or what other athletes are up to—is what it’s all about.
Now based in Boulder, Colorado, Bates and her team are excited about the future. She aims to break the American record in a marathon and make an Olympic team. “That’s what’s exciting about this sport, there is always something to improve on,” Bates said.
