Studying the Form: With a Different Mentality, Jared Ward Believes This Is His Time to Shine
With the first Sunday in November fast approaching, the eyes of the running world are firmly fixed on New York City. On November 3, the 2019 TCS New York City Marathon will take center stage after an exhilarating few months of fall marathon running.
Since New York Road Runners last spoke to Jared Ward in August, Ward competed in the Great North Run in England in September (more on that later). Two Abbott World Marathon Majors races—the BMW Berlin Marathon and the Bank of America Chicago Marathon—have come and gone, with a near-world record at the former (Kenenisa Bekele recorded an astonishing 2:01:41) and a dramatic lowering of the world mark at the latter as Brigid Kosgei recorded a mind-boggling 2:14:04. Eliud Kipchoge captivated the imagination of running diehards—and casual fans—with his INEOS 1:59 Challenge. And at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, Lelisa Desisa, the defending TCS New York City Marathon champion, won gold in the marathon in a time of 2:10:40.
As a fan of the sport, Ward was fascinated by all the events, but as a competitor, he paid particular attention to Desisa’s win. Much of the conversation following that race—in humid conditions—focused on how he would recover as he attempts to defend his title in the Big Apple.
Studying the Field
“His win and recovery is at the back of my mind,” said Ward. “Ultimately, I will run my own race, but I thrive on the opportunity to run with guys who have faster personal records than me and try to keep up with them. This year I’ve been looking at who is in the race and trying to figure out what I need to do to be able to finish on the podium.”
Ward’s dream is a podium spot, and in chasing that medal, he has kept a close eye on what his competitors are doing in addition to Desisa. “I watched [2017 TCS New York City Marathon champion Geoffrey] Kamworor set a new world record at the Copenhagen Half-Marathon (58:01) and watched Desisa’s recent win,” he said. “I'm taking it all in and preparing for it, so I can put myself in the best position possible to be with those guys at the end of the race.”
So, the Great North Run? Let’s just say it “didn’t go as planned,” Ward said. Throwing a little too much caution to the wind, he ran with the handbrake off too early, which cost him in the end as he finished 11th in a time of 1:03:18. As casual runners know, sometimes during marathon training, a long run or a tempo run can go terribly, which leads to fear and doubts about fitness and ability levels. Coaches often say it’s better to get that dreadful run out of the way in training, rather than in the race. A smiling Ward agreed with that sentiment, saying that the learning curve was a reminder, but also a “fun experience.”
“You never know what to expect in marathon training,” he added. “You’re running on loaded legs, but the biggest thing that I get out of a tune-up race is going through that mental state of racing again. It’s good to be reminded that it's going to be hard and the good ones don't come for free. It doesn't matter how fit I am, come marathon day, I'm going to have to be tough.”
A Different Mentality
If anything, the Great North Run reinforced Ward’s belief that he can run fast and hang with the best when needed. The lead pack went out in under 4:30 for the first mile, with the second mile coming close to 4:30. After breaking through some mental and physical barriers at the Boston Marathon earlier this year, Ward said this was another step in the right direction.
“I think I've been intimidated to run that fast, certainly in some road race distances, and it was exciting to see that I could run that pace and feel okay doing it for a period of time,” Ward explained. “It gave me confidence that if there's a fast mile in New York or a surge, I can run that pace. I’m a calculated runner and I think about paces a lot, but it is important every now and again to just go for it and see what happens.”
In addition to being a pro athlete, Ward is an adjunct statistics professor at Brigham Young University and an entrepreneur. He uses his other interests to help him switch off from training when he needs to. Along with the cofounders of MyoStorm, Ward will also appear on ABC’s Shark Tank on Sunday, October 27, pitching a product he helped invent, the Meteor.
At time of publishing, the TCS New York City Marathon is just 11 days away. Ward will arrive in New York early next week for some promotional work, but the final 24 hours are when he enters “race mode.”
An easy jog in Central Park is followed by some studying as Ward pulls out his training log, seeing where things went right and when he needed to push through the barriers. This year, he says he’ll reflect on the 2017 and 2018 TCS New York City Marathons he ran before deciding on a mantra to get him through those tough moments on course. His family will arrive that evening to break up the intensity before he tries to get some sleep for race day.
“Fear and Anxiety Live in the Future”
“Last year in New York, I actually slept pretty well the night before. Any sleep you get the night before a race is great. Some nights before races, you feel like you don’t get any,” he said. “It’s good to have some nerves as they show you care. Sometimes they translate to a little adrenaline that keeps you going. And the bigger your aspirations the more nerve-wracking it is when you wake up in the morning.”
Ward combats his nervous energy on the day by focusing on what he needs to do in that moment. “If I feel anxious, I focus on ‘What do I need to focus on right now?’ I need to get dressed, tie my shoes, and have breakfast,” he said. “Next thing you know, you’re at the start line. It’s the same in the race. There’s no need to be nervous about mile 21 when you’re at mile 16. You need to get there first.”
On November 3, more than 50,000 runners will start in Staten Island and race through New York’s five boroughs. To put it in context, 30,658 men finished last year and Ward is hoping to be in the top three in 2019. It’s an ambition that merits admiration. And for Ward, there’s no better place to do it.
“When New York closes down for the TCS New York City Marathon, it feels like the world is watching. When I get to Staten Island and see 50,000 runners out there, it awakens something in me as I start to feel the gravity of it all,” said Ward.
“We're about to run the New York City Marathon, 50,000 people are going to take to these streets and and I've been blessed with this chance to race for the win.”
Before he runs through the five Boroughs on November 3, you can catch Ward’s appearance on Shark Tank on Sunday, October 27 from 9:00-10:00 p.m. on ABC. Episodes can also be viewed the next day on ABC.com, the ABC app, and Hulu.
