"I faded badly"- Sara Hall expresses her disappointment after tough start but leaves content after top 20 finish at the Chicago Marathon

Sara Hall reflected on the tough race that earned her a place in the top 20 at the 2024 Chicago Marathon. She also hoped for a better run next time and thanked her team for putting in as much effort as she did.

Hall, the third-fastest American woman in marathon history, made waves at the World Marathon Majors, having won the silver and bronze at the 2020 London and 2021 Chicago editions, respectively. At the 2020 Marathon Project, she recorded her personal best time of 2:20.32. Hall also clinched the 1500m title at the Millrose Games and competed in the 3000m at the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships.

At the 2024 Chicago Marathon, Hall finished in the top twenty, the ninth American to finish behind Lindsay Sullivan, Lindsay Flanagan, Emma Bates, Gabby Rooker, Lauren Hagans, Annie Frisbie, Amy Davis-Green and Anne Marie-Blaney in 2:30.12s. After her race, she reflected on her disappointing finish since she and her team worked tirelessly for a podium spot. However, she also didn't let the same dim her spirits and promised to mark a better comeback in the next race, as noted in her Instagram post.

"Man, that was tough. Went out in what I thought would be a conservative start (1:11) on a humid morning but despite fighting oh so hard I faded badly to 2:30:12. A little baffled as though this buildup got off to a tough start, was really happy with where we ended up. Poured a lot into this one as did my team, so it stings. But I know from an infinity times in my career, it’s all never wasted and will build into what’s next."

She also gave a shout-out to Mitch Klinger and Mo'ath Alkhawaldeh for their performances and expressed gratitude to fans for cheering on her.

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Sara Hall wished to help the women of Ethiopia by raising money through her run at the 2024 Boston Marathon

MARATHON: APR 14 Boston Marathon - John Hancock Professional Athlete Press Conference - Source: Getty

Sara Hall turned 41 on April 15, 2024, the same day she ran the Boston Marathon and finished 15th overall in 2:27.58. Before her race, she expressed her wish to raise $50,000 to help women in Ethiopia establish small businesses and bring their families out of poverty.

In a video posted on X on April 10, 2024, the marathoner shared the noble cause behind her Boston Marathon participation.

"[The loans] give people the dignity to provide for their own families and work their way out of poverty. Just a small loan can help someone be able to start a small business that they then repay and it gets donated or lended to the next person, which they then repay and it just keeps getting paid forward," she said in the video.

Besides the marathon, Sara Hall also ran the 3000m steeplechase, earning the gold medal at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara.