Jones Not Set To Give Up Running, Yet Only Elite U.S. Entrant For New York Marathon

After years of running long distances in races and in training, years of outstanding success and years of terrible frustration, Spokane’s Kim Jones thought she finally had run her final race at the 100th Boston Marathon in April.

“I got so discouraged,” Jones said, after being forced to drop out just past the 10-mile mark.

That performance was similar to Jones’ effort at the U.S. Olympic trials two months earlier, and she wasn’t going to take it any longer.

She was less than a month away from her 36th birthday, an age when most elite marathoners are retired or not running competitively.

Jones’ retirement lasted all of two weeks.

But instead of returning to the roads, Jones went back to her roots - the track.

“I grabbed my spikes, went for a run on the track and then qualified for the U.S. Olympic trials at 5,000 meters,” she said. “I felt comfortable with the track and I got my 5K time down to 15:40.”

At the trials, Jones’ troubles continued.

“I had problems at the trials and at Boston because of a stupid mistake on my part,” she said.

That mistake was switching her replenishing drink from the one she had previously used. The new drink contained a high level of fructose and caused Jones to have severe stomach cramps.

“When I got the cramps, I just couldn’t run any more,” she said.

Now, she has returned to her previous drink, called Energy Surge, and feels more comfortable and confident.

Today, she will be the only elite U.S. runner - male or female - in the New York City Marathon, a race that has typified her career, with some highs and some lows.

The highs came in 1989 and 1990 when she was the runner-up, first to world record-holder Ingrid Kristiansen of Norway in 2:27:54, then to Wanda Panfil of Poland in 2:30:50. Her 5-second loss to Panfil was the closest women’s finish in the race’s 26-year history.

In 1992, 1993 and 1994, Jones failed to finish the New York City Marathon, mainly because of her chronic asthma. Now, Jones thinks she has the asthma under control.

“It’s been very stable recently,” she said. “I haven’t done extremely high training mileage … When I go over 100 miles per week, that’s when I start breaking down.”

“I’m not only training better, but I’m sleeping better. I used to wake up panicking for air. If I don’t get worried about the asthma, it won’t act up. It’s not only exercise-induced, but my emotions come into play. If I don’t get too stressed out, then I’ll be OK.”

With her health problems apparently straightened out, Jones is not thinking about retirement any time soon.

“I hope to run through the 2000 Olympics,” she said. “I’ve always been right there.”

By the time of the 2000 trials, Jones will be 40, but thinks she still will be highly competitive.

“Ingrid (Kristiansen) said the reason people back away at 40 is if their drive and desire slow down,” Jones said.

“I think I will continue to have the drive and desire because I’ve had so many frustrations.”

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This sidebar appeared with the story: TODAY ON TV The New York City Marathon will be aired by ESPN2 at 7:30 a.m.