Sutton's Jessie Cardin boosts budding pro career with great showing at Chicago Marathon
During her week home back in Sutton last week, Jessie Cardin continued to glow from what she accomplished the week before. Her first marathon was a shining success in Chicago, and now her foray into professional running is as promising as she ever could have imagined.
"I'm still grinning from ear to ear," said the 26-year-old Cardin, who on Oct. 9 finished the Chicago Marathon in 2 hours, 33 minutes, 34 seconds, placing 14th among women and 191st overall among thousands of finishers at the Abbott World Marathon Major. "Like I would as a teacher, I would probably grade myself as an A-minus."
Hmm, maybe she's a tougher grader than we thought, the Westfield State graduate who formerly taught at Eagle Hill School in Hardwick. After all, Cardin qualified for the 2024 Olympic Marathon Trials with her successful debut at 26.2 miles.
"There was no craziness, it all went smoothly," she said. "It all came down to how confident and fit I was, so that helped."
In other words, she entered the Windy City classic the same way she went about 5K high school cross-country races in the Blackstone Valley — with the same confidence knowing she was well prepared for the event, without any excessive nerves, with a calm anticipation for the start.
“About a week ahead, I was so ready to race," she added. "I was healthy, and the fitness was there. I showed up 100 percent healthy. I took care of my body and put in the work. I had just been waiting for this for so long — it had been a 3½-month buildup.”
Cardin's prime tune-up for Chicago came Sept. 18 at the Philadelphia Distance Run, where she finished the half marathon 10th among 1,300 women in 1:13:44. The plan there was run the 5:48 marathon pace for first 10 miles, then let it go for final 5K, during which she churned out low 5:20s. “We didn’t change anything,” she said.
Helping Cardin in her marathon debut was that she'd start the race with Hansons-Brooks Original Distance Project teammate Olivia Pratt, who starred at Butler University and had marathon experience.
“Olivia was helpful in that regard," Cardin said. "She’s like a metronome. Everything (in the marathon) is about fluids and pace.
“The horn went off, and we just took off, and settled into our pace of 5:48s (per mile).”
Back in April, when Cardin was considering joining Hanson-Brooks, which is based in Rochester Hills, Michigan, coach Kevin Hanson discussed objectives with the former Sutton High standout.
“I thought it might seem like a silly goal, but I said to qualify for the Olympic Trials," Cardin said. "I think that’s a big deal.
“Kevin did not joke around when we talked about goals," she added. "He expressed that I could be a low 2:20 runner, that’s where you’ll thrive, he said, in the marathon.”
Cardin's goal for Chicago was established at 2:32 — the Olympic Trials' qualifying time was 2:36. A challenging goal for a debut, but worthy of a gallant chase.
She maintained the metronome pace over the early miles, but at about the halfway point, Cardin realized she was no longer running with Pratt. Just after that at mile 14, Hanson reassured Cardin, though the teammates were no longer together. "It's your race now," he shouted.
Cardin continued to run her race, though there were a couple of potential hiccups along the way. Her composure prevailed in those situations.
“At mile 18, I started to have pains in the stomach, kind of crampy," she recalled. "It’s easy to freak out, but I’m proud of the way I handled it. I thought to myself, how can I fix this? I just kept my nerves and didn’t drink that whole water bottle."
And at mile 20, “I started to feel heavy in the legs, but knew I’ve still got six miles to go," she said. "Again, just figured don’t freak out, and by mile 21, I was fine."
By this time, her pace slipped a little behind that of a 2:32 finish, though she couldn’t help but maintain confidence late. “I was still passing people in droves.
“The last 2K, I did all I could to keep pace. It was still slower than I want, but I’m still passing people.”
With about 400 meters to go, Cardin heard her family cheering her on.
“Once I crossed the line, I was pretty proud of myself," she said. "I came in with a pretty big-time goal. I’m proud of how I handled those fatigue moments.
“Running 2:33, it’s really cool to check off that (Olympic Trials) box.”
And Cardin is wholly appreciative of the professional opportunity that helped her to this point, and of the hard work it took beforehand.
“Some people never get to reach this, while putting in all that hard work," she said. "I'll never take it for granted.”
Cardin expects to take part in cross-country events with her team this fall ("I love my teammates"), then prepare for the Houston Half Marathon in January, another building block while training for her first Boston Marathon, where she will be entered as an elite competitor in April.
“Now I want to attack the half marathon,” she says of Houston, where former Wachusett Regional standout Colin Bennie first qualified for 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials.
During her time home, Cardin visited Eagle Hill School, where she saw about 30 of her former students. "I do miss teaching," said Cardin, who keeping her hand in education while doing some tutoring online. "I miss the routine (of teaching while also training extensively) … but there was probably going to be a breaking point."
Cardin also was able to talk with current Holy Cross cross-country coach Stephanie Reilly, who lives just a half mile up the street over the town line in Northbridge. Cardin was coached by Reilly, the former Irish Olympian, before turning pro.
“She’s not this overwhelming personality, she’s just matter of fact," said Cardin, who also babysat the Reilly children, including emerging milers Marcus and Dylan. "It’s great having been around someone who has been at so many different levels. She served as a third party that was totally unbiased. She built my confidence more than I can imagine. She helped me in more ways that I realized.”
For now, Cardin is basking in the joy of running, of competing at the highest of levels.
“Love it, it’s my dream," she said. "If I die tomorrow, I’ll be a happy woman.”
Great things come in threes
Call it a trifecta, call it a Triple Crown, whatever ...
Last Sunday at the Baystate Marathon and Half Marathon in Lowell, Central Mass Striders runners cleaned up in three men's divisions, all in course record times.
Dan Vassallo, a veteran of Olympic Trials competition and a past winner of the Philiadelphia Marathon, came out of his "retirement" at age 37 to win the race in a 2:19:45. His performance came on the heels of a 2:21 at the Maine Marathon two weeks earlier.
Scott Leslie of Rutland finished fifth, and at age 41 was the top masters finisher in 2:32:17. And Arthur Besse of Templeton, who just turned 50, set the senior course record in the half marathon, in 1:15:49.
Brian Amaral, 28, of Baldwinville finished fifth overall in the marathon in 2:33:09.
WFD 6K benefit successful at Polar Park
The Paragus Firehouse Cook Off Sept. 29 at Polar Park raised $13,000 for the charities of the Worcester Firefighters 6K, with more than 250 tickets sold.
Firehouses from around the city created dishes that included French dip sandwiches, street tacos, orange chicken, mofongo, paella, and more.
The Judge’s Prize went to the Columbian Hot Dog, created by the South Division Group 3 firehouse. Webster Square Group 2 took home the People’s Choice Prize with their Pulled Pork With Cornbread dish.
The event was emceed by local comic James Dorsey, and music was provided by the Worcester Fire Brigade Pipes & Drums band.
—Contact John Conceison at john.conceison@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @ConceisonJohn.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Sutton's Jessie Cardin boosts budding pro career at Chicago Marathon
