On the Roads

WITH SARAH ATTAR

This season, we’re sitting down with athletes to find out more about their relationship with the roads and racing. First up is Sarah Attar, a runner and an artist based in Mammoth Lakes, CA. She joined our training camp in Arizona after a PR at the Houston Half Marathon. Her spring racing goals are part of a larger project: to become the first Saudi Arabian female athlete to qualify for the Olympics (Sarah, who made history competing for Saudi Arabia in 2012 and 2016, but did so under special invitation from the International Olympic Committee). With the 2020 Olympic marathon in her sights, we spoke about how the roads inspire both her athletic and creative pursuits.

Tracksmith: Where will you be racing this spring?

S.A: We’re still fleshing out the spring racing plan. But it will likely be some California races: a road 5k, a track 10k maybe and then probably another half.

Tracksmith: What are your goals for the season?

S.A.: After my PR at Houston, I really want to continue on that momentum. Definitely still working on my speed with some shorter workouts and races, while still keeping a fall marathon in mind. It's been fun to see what I can do at the shorter distances. I really dived into the marathon early on in my running, which meant less speed development. The new stimulus now has been really fun and encouraging, a lot of progress is being made, and I feel like I am able to access and maintain paces like never before. The PR in Houston was a testament to this new evolution. 

Tracksmith:You’re definitely more of a road racer than track-focused. Can you talk about what draws you to one versus the other?

S.A.: I’ve always been more drawn to the road. In college I started training for spring marathons on my own. It was very much a time of exploration and discovery for me, and these marathon buildups definitely fueled this. I fell in love with the long runs from campus and how much I could see on a twenty mile morning. There's something about our passage on the land that speaks deeply to me and I feel connected to that when I am out racing on a course. 

Tracksmith: Is there a road racing moment that stands out for you?

S.A.: My first marathon in Big Sur 2012 was something special. I'd dreamt of being in Big Sur for a long time, and running highway one was unlike anything else. It was a total dream. I actually ran it before I ever drove it, and I love that when I drive it now I know I covered that stretch on my own two feet. I even documented this first marathon experience here.

Another moment that really stands out is Boston 2014. I'd run it the year prior, the year of the bombings, and knew I had to return. The spirit on the course that day was incredibly powerful. Everyone came together, and you could really feel that energy on the course and the community element that’s unique to road racing. That day really was profound and I was grateful to be part of it.

Tracksmith: You’re both a runner and an artist. Can you talk about that balance and how it impacts your approach to training?

S.A. I studied art in college. At the same time, I was also picking up marathoning. The passions for those two developed in sync and have always felt connected.

I’ve reflected a lot about the fact that our most creative hours are in the early morning. But I’m usually running then, so what does that mean for me creatively? It seems that it allows my creative mind to engage with the land and movement more, which I see reflected in my work. I’ve found that running in Mammoth has really expanded my creative mind. Runs are beautiful meditations on the landscape, and my creative work is connected to that. Being able to run in beautiful areas inspires me both athletically and creatively. My senior thesis actually melded art and athletics: observing our literal and figurative traces on landscapes. There’s a lot I think on when I’m running, that ultimately influences what I am working on creatively, and vice versa.

Lately photography has been a great outlet for me. I discover a lot of places I end up shooting through running. 

Ultimately, I am always thinking about creating, whether I’m running or not. They fuel each other. Recently I’ve been reflecting on where I am spending my time. In college running never had my full attention, but now I have this unique opportunity to give it everything. What level can I bring my running to? What if running is my medium right now? Running is my creative pursuit. Running is my project.

Follow Sarah’s journey on Instagram at @SarahAttar. For more from Sarah, check out her Journal story or our Spring 18 Lookbook.