The Rambling Runner

Hiruni Wijayaratne is the kind of elite runner that amateur runners can related to in so many ways. She has battled against several difficulties throughout her career and continues to come back for more. Those challenges include years worth of injuries, running in the face of unrealized expectations, balancing her training with a demanding full-time job, and more. Last year Hiruni was blindsided when the Olympic Standard for the women's marathon was lowered to 2:29:30. A feeling people who who have spent years trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon can relate to. In 2016 she missed representing Sri Lanka at the Olympics by mere seconds. After that disappointment she lowered her marathon time to the mid-2:30's and thought she was well on her way to the Games. Unfortunately, Hiruni was mistaken. Now she is battling to either get under 2:29:30 or get top-10 at a Gold Race (whenever they start up again) to qualify to head to Japan in 2021. Heady stuff for the 10 time Sri Lankan record holder, University of Ken