FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IT WAS A MATTER OF TIME AND THE RIGHT DAY FOR LOCAL PVA MEMBER
June 20, 2011. - It was only a matter of time for local ultra-marathon,
Michael Wardian, age 37, of Arlington, Va., to achieve another milestone in
his running career. By profession, an International Ship Broker for the
company Potomac Maritime LLC out of Georgetown (Washington, DC). In
addition to the full employment he has a family, wife Jennifer and sons
Pierce and Grant who fits into his daily schedule. Anyone in this sport
knows the challenges of balancing a lifestyle with work, family and the
passion for the sport of running.
On Saturday, June 18, 2011 at the 35th running of Grandma's Marathon in
Duluth, MN, Wardian was going to tow the line and run with the best. The
goal was to achieve the Olympic Marathon standard of 2:19:00 to qualify for
the trials. Until the first foot strike anything was possible. Wardian
shows no fear in the face of competition and accepts each event as an
opportunity to test himself and to learn from the experience.
Wardian dialed up the 2:19:00 and he clocked 2:17:49 and by all accounts
that was success. The following are some of the stats
Average pace: 5:16, Overall Place 13 out of 6,336
Gender place 13 out of 3,658 males, Age Group 4th out of 485 in the 35-39
Splits:10K-32:04, 13.1 miles - 1:08:06, 20 miles - 1:44:10, 25 miles -
2:11:02.
On January 14, 2012, Wardian will be standing with America's finest male
marathons at the 40th Houston Marathon for the Olympic Marathon Trials.
Each person on the starting will have earned a right to be there.
At the age of 22 after having ran a 3:06:54 at the 1996 Marine Corps
Marathon who would have guessed that Wardian would collect numerous awards
along the way which have included IAU Ultra Runner of the Year 2010, USATF
Ultra Runner of the Year 2008, 2009, and 2010. Also, USATF National
Champion at the 50K, 50 mile and 100K distances. The accomplishments can
fill up several pages.
Wardian is sponsored by MarathonGuide.com, The North Face, and PowerBar.
Athletes know the values which sponsors contribute to the athlete's
success.
Wardian is a visible runner within the Potomac Valley Association and
competes in numerous area races of all distances. Wardian goes for the good
fight and he never backs down.
Wardian is a great spokesperson for the sport of running and just being in
his presence you can feel the passion which he has for the sport.
The Potomac Valley Association extends our congratulations to Wardian for
the outstanding performance in making the cut. The best wishes will be
there in January 2012. Anything is possible and until you try you will
never know the outcome.
Go Michael Wardian!
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