Meet Addi Zerrenner, The Trials Qualifier Who Taped a Picture of Shalane Flanagan on Her Wall in High School
by LetsRun.com (Sponsored by HOKA ONE ONE)
February 7, 2020
February is Marathon Month on LetsRun.com as the month ends with one of the greatest events on the athletics calendar, the 2020 US Olympic Marathon Trials, February 29 in Atlanta. From the contenders, to the dreamers, to the mountain men and women, HOKA ONE ONE has 17 athletes competing at the Trials, and LetsRun.com is partnering with HOKA to profile all of them. We hope these profiles not only show you the cool stories of the people running the Trials, but also help gets you pumped for the Trials, and gives you some advice for your own running.
Todya’s profile is with former University of Arizona runner Addi Zerrenner. Click here for all the HOKA Takes on the Trials coverage.
Addi Zerrenner
Name: Addi Zerrenner
Age: 23
Hometown: Santa Barbara
High school: Dos Pueblos High School/2014
College: University of Arizona/2018
Occupation: Personal Trainer/Coach
Training Group: HOKA Aggies/Terry Howell
How did you qualify for the Trials? 2:37:51 @ 2019 Grandma’s Marathon
High school claim to fame: 3200m: 10:13 (8th fastest in the nation in 2014), qualified individually for NXN, qualified individually for Brooks PR Track & Field Meet in the 3200.
College claim to fame: I placed in top 10 of PAC-12 Cross Country Championships two times, qualified individually for NCAA Nationals, 10K: 33:27 (Her 5k pb was 16:05).
Post college claim to fame: Still being written…
Training shoe: Clifton/Rincon/Bondi
Racing shoe: Carbon Rocket
One random fact about myself I want people to know: My favorite food is yams!
Family: I come from a very big extended family who all mean the world to me. My mother and brother are my two biggest heroes in life and I think of my sister-in-law as my very own sister. I am beyond ecstatic to become an aunt later this year!
Road to the Trials
How did you start running?
Addi & Aggies coach Terry Howell & Ramiro “Curly” Guillen
I started running track & field my freshman year of high school to stay in shape for soccer. Soccer was my passion and I thought I would follow in my brother’s footsteps and play in college at the Division 1 level. When I started track & field, I had the opportunity of a lifetime to be coached by the great Len Miller who believed in my abilities from the very first practice and I ultimately gave up soccer for running. In the first week of my running career, my assistant high school coach, Micks Purnell, told me I “ran like Shalane Flanagan” and gave me a picture of her that I taped to my wall. It was that day I decided I wanted to be a marathoner one day.
How long have you dreamed of the Trials/Olympics?
Since high school!
What does it mean to make the Trials?
It means so much. I have known I’ve wanted to be a marathoner since high school and to get to compete at the distance I feel like I was made for at this stage means so much!
What was your highest mileage week? Your average week?
Highest: 96 miles Average: 80-85
Addi and Howell after her marathon debut at Grandma’s
What is your favorite workout?
Long run with some fast stuff sprinkled in!
How much sleep do you get a night?
About 7-10 hours
Free Training Advice
What one piece of advice would you give to a high school/ younger runner?
Be that kid with dreams so big it makes your peers uncomfortable.
What one piece of advice would you give to a first-time marathoner?
Don’t overthink it. Also, stay off google!
What is the #1 piece of training advice you’d give another runner?
Things aren’t always going to be perfect and you will be a better runner if you can adapt easily.
What one piece of advice would you give to a runner pursuing their dreams?
As Desi Linden says, “just show up.” Show up each and every day and put one foot in front of the other on a consistent basis. Once you string along one good week of training, try to string along 2 good weeks..then 3…then 4…until you are living your dreams.
Addi and teammate Dani Moreno (a HOKA sponsored trail runner)
How do you balance training and working?
I keep an old school written calendar that goes with me EVERYWHERE so I can stay on top of things. I also pack 2 different food bags for my days to make sure I have enough energy to go throughout my day and that I’m fueling properly!
Why do you run?
I am absolutely in love with the sole act of putting one foot in front of the other through nature for as fast and long as I possibly can!
This content is sponsored content for HOKA, but not approved by them.
Previous HOKA ONE ONE Takes On The Trials Stories:
* HOKA NAZ Elite Coach Ben Rosario Talks 2020 Marathon Trials Expectations, Shoe Technology, Jim Walmsley, & Even Galen Rupp
*HOKA ONE ONE Trials Athlete Of The Day #2:
Former US Marathon Champ Sergio Reyes Ready to Excel at Possibly His Final Trials at Age 38
*HOKA ONE ONE Trials Athlete Of The Day #1: 2007 Foot Locker Champ Ashley Brasovan
*Introduction: HOKA ONE ONE Is Ready To Take On The Marathon Trials
*Complete HOKA ONE ONE Take on the Trials coverage can be found here