2022 Bank of America Chicago Marathon: Emily Sisson runs AR of 2:18.29!

In the Windy City today, 41,000 runners had near-perfect conditions, and one of them was Emily Sisson.

Emily Sisson set a new American record for the marathon today at the 2022 Bank of America Chicago Marathon in 2:18.29 with a fine display of focused running!

This is our story on the new American record holder!

Last January, at the 2022 Houston Marathon, Keira D’Amato ran a 2:19.12, breaking the AR of one Deena Kastor, the 2004 Olympic bronze medalist in the marathon. Way back in 2006, Deena Kastor ran a 2:19.36 in a rainy London day, setting a new AR. Deena had broken the AR of one Joan Benoit Samuelson back in 2003 at London with her 2;21.16, who had run 2:21.21 at Chicago 1985 in a battle with WR holder Ingrid Kristiansen. Deena broke Joan’s record eighteen years later.

Emily Sisson is a prodigy.

As a high school runner, Emily Sisson shook up high school running. After a red-shirt year at Wisconsin, Emily transferred to Providence, where she began to be coached by the great coach, Ray Treacy. Emily had made the cover of our publication, Missouri Runner & Triathlete as a high schooler, and in 2015, she became our SARBR TV athlete of the month with her win at the Tufts 10k. 

Her time at Providence was instructive and successful, and then, she went pro, being sponsored by New Balance. Since that time, Emily has continued to be coached by Ray Treacy, an old-school coach who has helped Emily develop into one of our finest American distance runners. During this decade-long relationship with Coach Treacy, Emily also began training with Molly Huddle.

In 2019, in London, Emily Sisson ran 2:23 and showed her talent at the distance. In 2020, at the US Olympic Trials, Emily DNFed, saving herself for the Olympic Trials 10,000m. With the Olympics moving to 2021, Emily focused on the 10,000m, winning the Olympic Trials at 10,000m and competing well at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

Running a personal best in a marathon requires focus. Emily Sisson’s training at altitude did not work out as planned. Moving back to Providence and spending daily time with Ray Treacy seemed to work, and her build-up to Chicago went very well.

If one were to describe Emily Sisson’s race, it was focused. Her pace was thoughtful, hitting the halfway in 1:09.26 and then running the second half as a negative split of 1:09:03.

The strain of a great race could be seen over the last couple of miles on Emily’s face. Running 26.2 miles at an American record pace takes its toll!

Emily Sisson ran a near-perfect race, with an AR of 2:18.29. It was a tremendous effort. But the joy on Emily’s face in the photos tells the stories.

Check @em_sisson‘s splits on her AR today at @chimarathon!16:23 for 5k, 32:54 at 10k, 46:19 for 15k, 20k at 65:49, HM in 1:09.26, 1;22.09 at 25k, 1:38.37 at 30k, 1;55.10 at 35k, 2:11.29 for 40k, 2:18.29 for the finish, and unofficially, the AR! photo #Chicagomarathon/@kevmofoto pic.twitter.com/BB6S0ePXuC

— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) October 10, 2022

What does this portend with Emily Sisson’s future?

This writer believes that Emily Sisson has a great future in front of her. The marathon is obviously her distance, and this AR is the exciting result of training that has gone well and a successful Coach/ Athlete relationship.

Congrats, Emily Sisson, and thank you for giving so much of yourself in your racing!

Today, October 9, 2022, Emily Sisson made history. Her 2:18.29 set a new American record for the marathon at the 2022 Bank of America Chicago Marathon on a near-perfect day, which made many smiles.

Rest up, Emily Sisson.

We can not wait to see where you race next!

To view our interview, #SocialingtheDistance with Emily Sisson, click here;

Socialing the Distance with Emily Sisson 

https://www.runblogrun.com/2020/11/socialing-the-distance-featuring-new-balance-sponsored-athlete-emily-sisson.html