Photo above by Drew: Samia Akbar won (1:16:31) the 2008 SunTrust National Half Marathon women's race in March.

Samia Akbar (26) of Herndon, VA produced noteworthy results during 2006, her second season as a full-time professional distance athlete chasing women with international racing credentials. She placed third (32:42) in the Women's 10,000m at the 2006 AT&T USA Track & Field Championships, and followed it up with a marathon debut twelfth place (2:34:14, third American) finish in the 2006 ING New York City Marathon women's race.

Samia and Alan Webb of Reston, VA signed autographs at Metro Run & Walk last August before flying to Osaka, Japan with Team USA for the 2007 IAAF World Championships in Track & Field. One month later, we met at Chesapeake Bagel in McLean, VA where she discussed her development as a long distance runner beginning in her freshman year on Oakton (VA) High School's track & field team.

Friends
Samia's father first introduced her as a young girl to running on a track. Her older sister ran long distance events for her high school track team in Fairfax, VA. During middle school, Samia had a brief exposure to running with one track meet at a neighboring school. A close friend, who had participated in youth track programs, persuaded Samia to join the track team at Oakton High School in Vienna, VA. It was a large team, and nobody was cut.

The Oakton High School track team was led by a different coach each year; that lack of continuity at the top was difficult. Some coaches knew the sport well but weren't good with people, and others were nice but lacked expertise in running. However, her track team did have a coach for one year, Scott Raczko, with both a friendly personality and expertise. She raced mostly the mile and two mile, and says that she lacked 400m speed; the longer the distance, the better she performed.

Samia's friends and coach urged her to try cross-country her sophomore year. But she was surprised to learn that cross- country practice started in August before the school year began, and involved running through fields. She quit the team, telling her parents that she didn't like cross-country. Her sophomore year of track went well; she gave cross-country a second try junior year. This time she enjoyed it and stuck with it. Her advice to others about new encounters in running: "Just Try It." You don't know how well you can do something until you test yourself. In life, one sometimes doesn't know which way to go. Trust your instincts, go with your strengths, and make informed decisions. There are many things you have to work toward, and develop skill in. But it becomes easier and enjoyable when one excels.

There were several outstanding Virginia female runners during her time (1996-99) in high school; races were exciting. Samia was one of Oakton's best distance runners (2 mile best of 11:02 or so), but several girls in the state were faster including Laura Heiner (now Turner, who ran for BYU; 18th female at the 2006 USA 25K Championships), Jackie Kerr, and Erin Swain (who races locally for Pacers Running Stores). The girls and boys practiced together with coaching by discipline, not gender. Fellow 2006 RRCA Roads Scholar recipient Jacob Frey, an Oakton classmate, became a close friend. Samia was able to keep up with some of the boys on runs, and enjoyed their great attitude and enthusiasm.

A Positive Experience
College racing was more intense with greater expectations. She chose American University during their first year with an intercollegiate track program (from club status); she and Sean O'Brien received the first full athletic scholarships. Everyone focused on doing well in studies and sport. Many of her teammates started when it was a club sport, so there was a variety of abilities. The small program nurtured her talent with individual attention from Coach Matt Centrowitz. She describes him as city guy with a loud, bright personality: he talks to everyone, makes friends easily, and yells at runners in front of the team if they do something wrong. But he does not threaten or intimidate; Coach Centrowitz communicates well most of the time. You feel his presence, he won't hold back; but Samia understood his personality from the start. He didn't change his style after recruiting her.

Samia told a story about running a 5000m track race and having an argument with Coach Centrowitz afterwards. "Why am I doing this long stuff? It's so long and so boring. So many laps. Spectators get up to buy pizza during my event, this is terrible." But Samia stopped complaining; she excelled at that distance. Coaches are important because they see the big picture, they offer insight and guidance. Coach Centrowitz is very knowledgeable (his son, Matt, recently graduated from high school with a boy's national record in the 2 mile), and an experienced national level coach (Olympic distance athlete Jen Rhines is one of his proteges).

Samia's achievements as a highly decorated college athlete included becoming American's second female All-American athlete in 2003 with a NCAA Championships 10,000m (33:38.55) ninth place; the first All-American was a field hockey player in 1996. She set a course record during the Patriot League Women's Cross Country Championships (21:54 in West Point, NY), and set several school records. Samia says that too often talented runners have a rough time in college at top programs with pressure that breeds eating disorders. Someone might be doing well, although that athlete eats very little, so teammates conclude that it works; eating disorders can spread like a virus. She felt blessed to have avoided stress, and graduated feeling fresh, without injury.

Mastery
A group of local athletes, calling themselves DC Elite, train full-time and race professionally with the guidance of two coaches. Julie Henner (with a position as assistant track coach at George Mason University) coaches Sam Burley (800m), Chris Lukezic (1500m), Anne Shadle (3000m/5000m), and Kevin Sullivan (via e-mail or phone). Coach Scott Raczko (who works for Metro Run & Walk) guides 2004 Olympic & 2005/2007 World Championship finalist Alan Webb (1500m), Samia Akbar, Nikeya Green (800m), Keira Carlstrom (5000m), and Alyssa Aiken. They first met each other during high school, and close relationships have developed within the training group. The local flavor and high level of motivation is great for morale. Keira also attended Oakton and American (graduating with All-American honors), three years after Samia; they are very close friends.

Originally, Samia planned to pursue a masters degree in psychology with full funding as a teaching assistant required to take a full class load. She also worked a second job and trained with the intention of reaching the next level in her running. The student athlete is common among undergraduates; Samia had taken summer school classes to give herself flexibility for running during the school year. But as a graduate student, she had a very busy schedule; her academic and athletic performance deteriorated. She felt like a jack-of- all-trades and master of none. She discussed the miserable situation with Coach Centrowitz, who reassured her that she was talented and bright. He suggested it was unnecessary to take everything to the next level simultaneously. Samia agreed upon reflection, and resolved to find a better way to do things. She cut back her activities, and chose to focus on running. School and a work career could be postponed, but reaching her full athletic potential had to be now or never.

The Right Choice
Samia moved back home with her parents in Herndon; they had always been supportive and never pushed her. In 2004, 22-year- old Samia had no money and no coach; her Father's Day present was racing a local road race, the Metro Run & Walk Run with Dad 5K. She won the women's division in 17:16 with her dad watching; she was surprised to see her former coach, Scott Raczko, there scoring the race. Samia had kept in touch with him during her college days; on that day, he made an open-ended offer to help her turn pro by supplying her with workouts. Samia had found her coach.

Everything has been fantastic with "Coach Scott." Samia got onto a training schedule, like Alan Webb; the runners meet several times a week, and Scott gives them individualized workouts. They utilize area parks and trails such as the W&OD Trail, Lake Fairfax, and Burke Lake, for distance runs, fartlek, and hill work. They do track workouts and weight room conditioning at George Mason University. Scott is great to work with because he makes his athletes a top priority, and the face- to-face contact eliminates guesswork. He travels with them often, even when he has athletes racing in several locations. Samia notes that he manages with little sleep while drinking Coca Cola as if it were water. Success as a long distance athlete requires talent, hard work, and the patience to invest in a career for several years before expecting big gains. Peak achievements in distance running tend to occur during an athlete's late 20s or early 30s and beyond. For example, Deena Kastor of Team Running USA won her 2004 Olympic Women's Marathon bronze medal at age 31 with eight years of professional experience. Samia says the key to her success has been consistent training that paid off in 2006. She has qualified and entered the 2008 USA Olympic Trials-Women's Marathon to be held on Sunday, April 20 in Boston, MA.

A Few Racing Highlights
During 2005, Samia entered local road races and performed brilliantly, placing tenth (57:40) among women at the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile, and winning the women's division at the Harris Teeter Leesburg 20K (1:17:32) and Veterans Day 10K (34:05). In 2006, she posted several top ten finishes at USA Championship women's races: third in 10,000m track; fourth in the Tufts 10K road race (33:56); ninth in the Women's Cross Country 8K (27:42); and ninth in the Gate River 15K road race (52:33). During 2007, she ran personal bests at the USA (Gate River) 15K (51:56, 10th) Road Championships in March, and an international 5000m track (16:09) race in Brasschaat, Belgium during July.

Samia had to alter her training during May/June 2007 and received chiropractic and massage therapy. She didn't feel 100%; there were problems with her hamstrings, calves, etc. It was more difficult to stay positive when she couldn't go full- speed in training. She spent July in Belgium with 40 runners represented by Ray Flynn. They were based at a Catholic university in a very charming town with miles of trails, summer concerts, and places to hang out. It was an exciting experience that allowed athletes to focus on training. She felt recharged, running with women she admired. Osaka, Japan in late August was fun; her father traveled with her, and she visited family in Japan. It was an amazing experience to represent the USA. Samia placed 49th (2:56:27) in the 2007 World Championships Women's Marathon on September 2 in Japan, passing through 25K (1:37:02) with three Team USA women.

Samia Akbar will continue to seek improvements on the track (5000m and 10,000m), and wants to run a great marathon race sometime during her career. Coach Scott Raczko has given her a few distance options; he nudged her toward the marathon by asking her to try the half marathon (2006 Philadelphia Distance Run, 1:13:13, 9th female.) She is always excited about racing opportunities; every competition gives her an edge to reach her goals. She doesn't get very excited about a race performance; she looks forward to continued progress. Samia Akbar feels very fortunate to do something every day that she loves--running.