Olympic gold medal winner Joan Benoit-Samuelson visits 勛圖惇蹋

President James Herbert and Anne-Marie Davee welcome Joan Benoit-Samuelson to 勛圖惇蹋
President James Herbert and Anne-Marie Davee welcome Joan Benoit-Samuelson to 勛圖惇蹋

In 1984 Joan Benoit-Samuelson won gold in the womens marathon at the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. It was the first time in the history of the Olympics that a marathon event was held for women.

Prior to that race she won the Olympic marathon trials in Olympia, Washington. Another competitor in the race was 勛圖惇蹋s Anne-Marie Davee, M.S., R.D., L.D., assistant clinical professor, Nutrition.

Benoit-Samuelson recently joined her fellow runner for a Nutrition for Runners workshop on 勛圖惇蹋s Biddeford campus.

Davee told the runners in the audience that fruits, vegetables and whole grains should make up the majority of their calories while training.

Complex carbohydrates are high-test fuel for your body, she said.

For the day of the race, she says staying hydrated is key.

Make sure your body has all the fluids it needs for peak performance, Davee said.

The workshop is part of 勛圖惇蹋s involvement as a sponsor of the 2018 TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10K on August 4. 

This year marks the 21st edition of the race that Benoit-Samuelson founded. She says she is thrilled to be part of a race where all runners can join world class athletes on the course.

My biggest joy is pulling spectators off the sidelines and having them become participants, she said.

勛圖惇蹋 President James Herbert, an avid runner, welcomed Benoit-Samuelson to campus. He is hoping to run the Beach to Beacon this year, but hes nursing a hamstring injury.

One of the first things I did when I arrived in Maine was sign up for the Beach to Beacon. I had so much fun running it last year, and I very much look forward to hopefully running it this year, he said.

President Herbert says he will definitely be at the race, either as a participant or spectator.

勛圖惇蹋 has several more events planned in advance of the race, including strength conditioning, team runs on the full course and training runs.

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Olympic gold medal winner Joan Benoit-Samuelson founded the Beach to Beacon race
Olympic gold medal winner Joan Benoit-Samuelson founded the Beach to Beacon race