Horse Trainer's Marathon Triumph

0:00It's April 25th. You're listening to Hartford News today, AI-powered local news. Lena Roman, a 43-year-old horse trainer from Brookfield, Connecticut, just crushed it at the Boston Marathon. She's the top female finisher from her state, clocking 2 hours, 43 minutes, and 35 seconds in her fourth go at the race. By day, she works at Heritage Farm in Katona, New York, riding and teaching at high-level horse shows. Her schedule is brutal, six days a week on her feet or in the saddle. But she squeezes and runs before dawn, sometimes starting at 3 a.m. Last. December. She even won a half marathon in West Palm Beach on a whim after her work plans shifted, then hustled back for the barn by a 30. Roman grew up riding horses and running cross-country in Bermann. Later winning top honors as a college equestrian. She got hooked on marathons watching Desolinden battle through brutal weather to win Boston in 2018. Despite tearing both ACLs in a horse fall and double knee surgery, she fought back to

1:02the start line. With a new coach this winter, she shaved four minutes off her personal best and won the New Haven road race half-last fall in one hour, 19 minutes. Her early morning routine keeps her sharp, even if long runs make that first horse ride a bit leaky. Running boosts her riding stamina as the farm gears up for spring shows, blending her world seamlessly, proof you can chase two passions without, missing a beat.