New Boulder Resident Seeks to Continue Success at Payton Jordan

By Scott Bush

Making the jump from training with the Hansons-Brooks team to living in the thin air of Boulder, Neely Spence Gracey continues to eye new personal bests across a variety of distances. Coming off a solid 15:25 5,000m personal best at the Stanford Invitational, Spence Gracey now seeks to not only improve her 10,000m PR (set in 2012) at this weekend's Payton Jordan Invitational, but hit the Olympic A standard. 

We caught up with Spence Gracey this week, chatting about her move to Boulder, the big race on Saturday and much more.

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Scott Bush (SB): Payton Jordan is this weekend, where you're part of a tough 10,000m field. How's training been of late and how are you feeling heading into this weekend?

Neely Spence Gracey (NSG): Training has been going very well. I've gone back to doing lesser intensity like I did in college and my body  responded immediately. I've only had 1 10k specific workout because the goal is to have a lot more to give at USA's which is still a good distance away. 

SB: While you are very experienced over many different distances, the 10k on the track is still a fairly new event for you. What's your plan of attack for the 25 laps that lie in front of you?

NSG: I have only raced one 10k on the track (Zatopek 10K in 2012) where I ran 32:16. My goal for Payton Jordan is to negative split while taking down this previous PR and gaining experience along the way. The great thing about this weekend is that there are many other runners who are working toward that Olympic A mark and I hope to find a pack of women to work together with to achieve this goal.  

SB: You ran a new PR over 5,000m (15:25) earlier this month at Stanford. That had to give you a nice confidence boost, right?

NSG: A PR is ALWAYS something to celebrate. In the past six months, I have run five PRs from the mile to the half marathon. It's been very reaffirming. 

SB: You moved out to Colorado a number of months ago now. How's the transition been to living/training at altitude and what is your current training situation? 

NSG: When I was growing up, we spent summers in Boulder while my dad was training. In college, I started coming back and each time it was more difficult to leave. I have always responded well to altitude training, and this time was no different.

Things fell into place, my husband was transferred out here for work, and we jumped on the opportunity to move to our favorite place in the world. We bought a condo, and are establishing a life together since we have lived apart since our wedding over two years ago.

Steve Magness is coaching me, my husband Dillon is his eyes, and with the wisdom of my dad, the support system has worked very well. The focus is on long-term development, which is exciting because I still have so much to gain.  I consider myself "Team Boulder" as I have been welcomed to train with all the local groups (Hudson, Troop, Jones, Wetmore) as well as the individuals. I have a devoted male training partner who helps me in workouts. The tight knit running community is amazing, and most days I have more than one person asking to meet for a run. This is truly a runners Mecca!

SB: You've run cross country, road races and are now on the track. What are your goals for the 2015 season?

NSG: The main goal is to have continuous training without having to take significant time off. Nothing I am doing this year is going to be riding that red line. 2016 is on the horizon and that is the main focus. I plan to continue with 5k/10k on the track, but my heart is definitely on the road racing scene and I am super excited to test myself at the longer distances on the USA road circuit this fall. 

SB: Since moving on from the Hansons-Brooks team, you are running in a Lace Locker singlet. Can you explain their support and what it's like being part of their team?

NSG: LaceLocker has been supporting me since 2012, and right now I am in between sponsorship and they offered their support to provide travel for me. It has been a wonderful partnership, the company is growing, and I feel so blessed to be a part of it.

I am now represented by Global Athletics, and my main focus this spring has been to regain consistent performance and let that speak for itself. There has been interest, and I believe there will be some news over the next month regarding a new sponsor. Stay tuned!