Neely Spence Gracey : ”Like Father Like Daughter?” A Breakthrough Performance For Another Spence!

Jeff Benjamin wrote this interview of Neely Spence Gracey, daughter of Steve Spence, a 1991 WC bronze medalist at the marathon and a fine runner and writer. Neely just set a fantastic marathon PB, and has written a new book on women’s running. Special thanks to Mac Fleet for many of the photos. 

”Like Father Like Daughter?” A Breakthrough Performance For Another Spence!

By Jeff Benjamin 

Throughout running history, Marathon performances many times have fallen into the realm of the unpredictable.

Yet, determined, dedicated, and thorough-planning runners toe the line hoping for the best and not fearing the worst.

1991 World Championship Marathon Bronze Medalist Steve Spence put those qualities to work that hot day in Tokyo when, running against the world’s best, he surprised many by making it into the podium.

Now, more than 3 decades later, Spence’s daughter Neely has “rattled the cage” where, after a hiatus from top-notch competition due to raising a family as well as some injury struggles, the Shippensburg native clocked a 4 minute Marathon PR time of 2:30:29 in finishing 9th at last month’s California International Marathon!

Here are 7 Questions for the newly-accomplished Olympic Trials qualifier.

1) When did you decide to run this marathon and what were your original goals?

“I have always wanted to run the marathon at CIM and have run the relay twice in years past. Last March, I reached out to the elite coordinator, Danielle, and asked if I could be considered. She mentioned they hadn’t even started the process for filling the 2022 field but that she would be in touch. In May,  I received confirmation of a spot in the elite field and found out that CIM would be at the USA Marathon Championships also! My goal was to run sub 2:37 to secure my fourth Olympic Trials Qualifier.”

2) Were there any phases of the race where you thought it was not your day?

“Dillon – my husband – is also my coach.  Before I headed to the start he said “don’t limit yourself” so when I found myself running with people who were trying to break 2:30 I kept repeating “this is where you’re meant to be”!

Around mile 22, I started to feel some fatigue hit my legs and really had to focus my mental game to keep myself moving forward… I slowed a bit but held strong enough to pass a few people and almost exactly even split the race (1:15:14 & 1:15:15!)”

3) As you went through splits at halfway and in the…