Roberta Groner 2:29:06 PR AGE 41

Great race!

How does she compare with sinead diver?

Roberta is the real deal. On top of working full time and running at such a high level, she has three or four kids and is also in school pursuing a masters in nursing too. She's really down to earth and humble too. Doesn't put on airs and act like she's better than anyone or try to cultivate some social media personality for followers and money (don't get me wrong, I get why pros do this but I still find it annoying). I don't know how she does it but she's the dark horse I am rooting for at the trials.

Roberta has really made her mark on the road distance scene and as said above, she's so down to earth and carries herself in such a respectable manner! Congrats to her on that IAAF standard!

Where did she do this? Is there a link to her race?

5th at Rotterdam

Also, her instagram is bad_boys104 and she hardly has any followers and clearly has little ego around running. Very refreshing “hobby pro” - an inspiring throwback runner

Impressed wrote:

5th at Rotterdam

Also, her instagram is bad_boys104 and she hardly has any followers and clearly has little ego around running. Very refreshing “hobby pro” - an inspiring throwback runner

It’s very cool to see. It also explains why this post got such little traction. Our posters clearly love the drama and there isn’t anything dramatic to say about her. Just a hard worker running great and not making a big deal over it.

Just saying, you're not a hobby runner if you're flying out to Rotterdam with a family, job, etc., that's close to a $3000 expense.

kjl wrote:

Just saying, you're not a hobby runner if you're flying out to Rotterdam with a family, job, etc., that's close to a $3000 expense.

Agreed, though I think the poster meant that running isn’t her job or main gig given that she works a full time job and is still pursuing higher education for this career. I would imagine that Rotterdam paid her travel and lodging fees since even though she isn’t a sponsored pro, she was still in the pro field. I know much slower runners who have had their travel and lodging paid for by races in an effort to get some depth in the field. I think at this point the only money Roberta makes off running are prize money and maybe some travel stipends. Doesn’t look like she is sponsored. I hope that changes if she’s interested.

Well, confirmed on her IG that she is definitely a pro with a professional coach, and two professional agents,

https://www.instagram.com/bad_boys104/p/Bv_E13ehcF-/?utm_source=ig_twitter_share&igshid=jmwgldphqayw

Wow, where in the heck did this come from? She only missed Colleen De Reuck’s US Master’s record by 29 seconds. Amazing!

I see that it only took a few posts for her to go from badass blue collar runner who shuns social media to white collar doper who needs to find something better to do with her time and money. Stay classy letsrun!

That is a crazy fast time for a masters female runner. 2:29 for a masters male would already be a very fast time contending for an age group award at large (even Major) marathons. Major props to her!

Bruin1996 wrote:

That is a crazy fast time for a masters female runner. 2:29 for a masters male would already be a very fast time contending for an age group award at large (even Major) marathons. Major props to her!

And her doctor?

Stark contrast to those insecure weaklings who post photos and videos of their damn training runs, recovery protocol, strength sessions, meditation practice, so much navel gazing and self-fellatio. Do the work, get it done and people will talk about you "in hushed tones" whether they follow you on social media or not. Achievers are what people admire most, they are the true "influencers."

Looks like she's on Hare AC by her apparel. No reason that should change through the end of the year.

She was an OK collegiate runner, but didn't return to running until her 30s. Ran several marathons using Hansens to get under 2:40. No magic formula... stay healthy, increase volume, improve quality.

Gotta so an article on her!!!

She's been steadily improving for years. and was second to Sara Hall in the 2017 US Marathon champs in 2:30:38. She's really nice and down to earth. I would love to see her break Deena Kastor's american masters record of 2:27:47.

https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a20864223/at-age-39-a-nurse-and-mom-of-three-has-huge-marathon-breakthrough/

?? wrote:

it's suspicious that somebody who ran from middle school through college and didn't train for a huge chunk of her adult life suddenly had a breakthrough a few years ago and is now nearly as good as Deena Kastor as a master's runner--and Deena trained for nearly her entire adult life.

That's not suspicious at all. If you have talent and fresh legs you get good quickly and catch up to those who ran consistently and are now fading.

Deena would be doing the same if she'd missed her prime years.