Photo credit: Lauren NemeroffRyan Jara celebrating with his son Walter
Gorham resident, Ryan Jara, does his training in Gorham, mostly running around town many miles a week in addition to his running club. He has also won a few of the turkey trot races hosted by Gorham Rec.
This past October, Jara qualified for the Olympic marathon team trials at McKirdy’s Marathon in New York. He ran a crazy fast time. Jara shared, “It was a marathon built for guys like me trying to hit the standard to qualify for the trials which was 2:18. My teammate Matt Rand, the other Mainer to qualify, also ran it that day as well.”
Both Jara and Rand run for Valor Track Club (the east coast branch), led by Founder and Coach Paige Mills. Mills works with college athletes while also training elite runners with sites set on Olympic trials for marathons. This was Jara’s 2nd attempt at the 2:18 mark, with the first being in the Spring of ‘23 at the Vermont City Marathon where he ran 2:20 in warmer weather.
The race in Orlando on Feb. 3 will determine who makes the US Olympic team, to represent team USA in Paris this summer. The runners will compete on a course in downtown, running through several neighborhoods and business districts. Jara added, “though I do not expect to qualify; just qualifying for the trials is a dream come true. I get to ‘toe the line’ with the best marathoners our country has to offer.” A total of 217 men and 173 women have qualified. Jara has competed in 14 marathons since 2011. Jara ran for his alma mater, Hope College; a small Division III school in Michigan. His college coach and about 6 of his college buddies will be there for support cheering him on.
Jara has three wonderful boys and his wife, Clair is a huge support system. The two of them both work full time in the medical field while raising three kids. Jara added, “balancing family, work, and my running which is a hobby can be a challenge at times but I feel we have done that well. My training is different from others as I fit my running in whenever I can; sometimes after the kids go to bed around 7:30 and the turnaround time can be as early as 4 a.m. before work and school.” The Jara’s are a strong family unit, doing many activities together outside of their hectic schedules and of course traveling to cheer on their dad.
Jara remarked, “I am quite excited for this opportunity as this is a goal I have had since graduating college.” The event will begin at 10 a.m. eastern time and can be viewed live on NBC. Orlando will be abuzz cheering and greeting these elite athletes racing in the sunshine state. Jara has nothing to lose and everything to gain.