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“So, maybe after class we can chat and laugh about how inflexible I am.”

This last line of Claudia Becque’s Facebook message seemed a little absurd. True, runners aren’t known for their flexibility.  But this particular runner, whose athletic prowess recently led her to the 2008 Women’s Olympic Marathon Trials, couldn’t possibly doubt her ability to handle a yoga class.

By the end of class, Becque’s assertion seemed even more absurd as she launched up onto her head and tucked her knees onto her elbows, successfully forming the feared tripod position that most of the regular yoga students still struggled with after months of practice.

And yet, mastering the tripod is not enough for Becque.

“Even in yoga, I get so competitive,” Becque remarked after class.  “I think, why can’t I do a headstand?”

Inflexible?  Indefatigable is a more accurate way to describe a woman who hit two major running milestones in 2008.  In addition to earning a place at the Olympic Marathon Trials, she also won Chicago Athlete Magazine’s Clif Bar Athlete of the Year Award.  Incredibly, Becque, 32, achieved all of this while maintaining a full-time job in medical device sales and preparing for her wedding.

Becque, a former Marquette University cross-country runner, caught the marathon bug during a self-imposed post-college running hiatus.  By training with the Chicago Area Runners Association, she ran her first marathon in Chicago and qualified for the coveted 2003 Boston Marathon.

After experiencing a painful stress fracture at the 2005 New York Marathon, Becque took a break from the marathon scene.  However, a conversation with champion marathoner Dana Coons soon pushed Becque towards the ultimate athlete’s dream – the Olympics.

Becque worked toward her Olympic marathon goal by training nearly 95 miles per week and running multiple races during 2007.  Highlights that year included finishing first among American women at both the Park Forest 10 Mile race (1:02:20) and the Berlin Marathon (2:58:25).  But to qualify for the Olympic trials, Becque needed to run a marathon at under 2:47:00.

Becque chose the Napa Valley Marathon as her qualifying race.  In an effort to avoid the exhaustion that plagued her during the Berlin race, she cut her training mileage to 80 per week.

“Once my mileage was in the eighties, it was more manageable,” said Becque.  “My job is pretty flexible, so I would just bring my running gear along on the road.”

Her fiancé, Paul Johnston, also a runner, provided a lot of support during the hard training months by making nightly dinners and providing constant encouragement.  And even though weekends were often consumed with running, Becque made time to socialize with friends.

“Everyone understood that this was short-term and I had a goal,” said Becque.  “I had a good support system.”

The support and hard work paid off for Becque. In March 2008, she finished the Napa Valley Marathon in 2:44:52.  Seven weeks later, she traveled to Boston for the Marathon Trials and ran alongside her running idols.

“I was completely star-struck,” Becque remembered.  “While lacing up at the starting line, I remember looking over and seeing these little Asics shoes.  I looked up and realized Deena Kastor was lacing up right next to me!  Just being around these women who are the top marathoners in the U.S. was amazing. Everyone was really respectful and nice. Even though I had a lower finishing time, I felt like I belonged there.”

Chicagoans also thought she belonged there.  Thanks to a successful voting campaign spearheaded by her husband and fellow runners Robert Wiegand and Michael Martineau, Chicago Athlete Magazine readers voted Becque as the female Clif Bar Athlete of the Year.  (Jeff Jonaitis won the award in the male category).

While Becque appreciates the accolades from her peers, she appreciates even more the personal benefits gained from running.  In addition to increasing her confidence and physical health, Becque believes running enhances her professional life as well.

“In sales, the competitive spirit helps,” said Becque.  “Also, running with a team is a reflection of team situations at work.”

Becque intends to make it to the Olympic trials in 2012.  But in the meantime, she is focusing on improving her running time in shorter races and wants to reach a few goals outside of the running world as well.

“I’m interested in working with organizations that deal with childhood obesity.  Also,” she added, “I really want to take piano lessons!”