2017 could mark Molly Huddle's final year on the track. After breaking the 10K American record at the Olympic Games, Huddle is attacking her marathon debut in New York City with the hope of eventually "becoming a marathoner."

With 26 days to go until the TCS New York City Marathon, Huddle shared her aspirations for the debut and how it will impact the next steps in what has already been a storied career.  

"I hope to one day run the 2020 Olympic Trials for the marathon. That process starts now. That being said, I'm really excited to get back to the track next year for the world championships in London. That's my goal for next year. I'd love to run the 10K there," Huddle said in a teleconference on Tuesday. 

"That may be my last track season. We'll see how this goes. We'll see what I think after the race, see if this is where my strength lies and what direction I'll go in the next few years. It's possible that I'll want to go back to the track. I'll let the race play out and decide."

Two months ago, Huddle competed in the fastest women's 10K race in history. Ethiopia's Almaz Ayana broke the world record by running 29:17 on her way to winning Olympic gold. Vivian Cheruiyot, Tirunesh Dibaba, and Alice Nawowuna followed in the No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 fastest marks all-time. Huddle closed for sixth overall in a new American record of 30:13, which broke the previous record of 30:22 set by Shalane Flanagan on her way to earning Olympic bronze in 2008. 

The Rio performance was Huddle's best Olympic finish of her career. FloTrack's Ryan Fenton caught up with Huddle after she returned home from Rio. 



In June, Huddle announced her intention to debut in New York after the Olympics. She follows several professional women who also chose New York for a debut and had success running in the five boroughs. Two-time Olympian Kara Goucher made her debut in 2008 with a third-place finish in 2:25:53. Olympic bronze medalist Denna Kastor made her marathon debut in 2001 with a seventh-place finish in 2:26:58. 

In preparation for the new challenge, Huddle has been doing her research by speaking to other athletes who had success in New York, including her training partner and New Zealand Olympian Kim Smith. 

"I have been picking everyone's brain about the marathon," Huddle said. "I'm really curious about the aspects of fueling and how to race that distance. I've gotten some pretty cool feedback actually. Obviously I've asked Kim Smith and Amy Hastings about the marathon, and Kim specifically I think has run New York five or six times.

"When I saw Des [Linden] and Meb [Keflezighi] at the White House with the USOC Olympic visit, I got a chance to ask them a few questions. I even emailed Joan Benoit Samuelson, and I bumped into Providence native Geoff Smith, who won the 1984 Boston Marathon, so I've gotten generations of advice. The only thing left for me to do is race it."


A three-time Olympian, Smith trains with Huddle in Providence, Rhode Island, under the guidance of Providence head coach Ray Treacy. Smith recently made a remarkable comeback to racing after giving birth and recovering from a life-threatening pulmonary embolism last year. Smith has raced New York four times and holds a lifetime best of 2:25:46 on the course. 

"Kim was telling me to not really overthink the nutrition side of things and to not overcook myself in the build-up," Huddle said. "Obviously, she and Ray are on the same page. I think I'll try and mirror what she's done."

Huddle will test her prowess at the marathon distance on Nov. 6 with the hope of ultimately learning how she can progress for the next challenge. 

"We haven't really pinpointed a hard time or place yet for what I would define as successful, but I want to feel like I paced myself appropriately, use my energy as efficiently as I can, not to hit that wall. Those are all things that I have to figure out," she said.  

"I think whether I'm finishing in the top five or the top-five Americans, I'll walk away knowing how I can do it better next time. That's goal number one, to pay attention, try and execute the best that we know how but know that afterwards there will be things I can use to make the race better for the next one. If I walk away doing that, that's all I can really ask for."