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Candace Matthies is shown competing in a marathon earlier this year.
Candace Matthies’ passion for running never disappeared, even following the births of her two sons.
Matthies resumed running and reached her goal of qualifying for the 2018 Boston Marathon by finishing 185th at the Eugene, Ore. marathon with a personal best time of 3 hours, 17 minutes and 9 seconds last weekend.
Running always has been important to Matthies, who was a member of the cross country and track teams at Snyder High School for two years before her family moved to Sonora
“I loved having coach Pollard for my cross county and track coach and was so sad to leave Snyder,” Matthies said. “I also competed in basketball until my sophomore year when I had ankle reconstruction surgery. I’ve always loved running and found how much I loved it once I started running longer distances.”
Matthies competed in cross country and track for two years at Sonora High School and graduated in 2007. She was a regional qualifier in both during her high school career at Snyder and Sonora.
“I’ve always been a runner and kept running after high school,” Matthies said. “I ran a lot of 10Ks during the summer and fall before marathons. I took a break when my oldest son (Ethan, 5) was born and started running again right before my youngest son (Evan 2) was born. I started running marathons in 2015 and set a goal of qualifying for the Boston Marathon one day.”
After weather cancelled a marathon in Dallas last month, Matthies searched for a qualifying marathon. She discovered a marathon in Eugene and the rest is history.
“I thought when running my first marathon it was achievable that I could qualify (finishing with a time of 3:25.0 or better) for the Boston Marathon,” Matthies said. “I never expected to run a 3:17. I improved my times every marathon.”
Matthies said her husband, Landry, and parents, Doug and Courtney Chandler, have been very supportive, along with a former Snyder coach, the late Mike Martin.
“Coaches and friends also have been big supporters, but coach Martin was one of the best,” Matthies said. “I dedicated my miles to coach Martin last year. I don’t ever want to take for granted being able to run. Coach Martin and I talked so much about me qualifying for Boston. I just wish he was still here on earth with us to share my excitement.”
Matthies said she runs from 15-20 miles some mornings and averages between 50-60 miles a week.
“I usually start running around 4:15 in the morning, so I can be finished in time for Landry to leave for work,” Matthies said.