Lena Hollmann
Lena Hollman crosses the finish line of the 1983 NYC marathon
Lena Hollmann began her running journey in Sweden, her native country. She tried other sports and they didn’t seem right. The only sports at the time available to women were swimming and figure skating—she wasn’t great at skating, and her doctor warned her against swimming because of recurrent sinus infections.
Then she found running, and it was a perfect fit. “I liked running because the technique was easy … just put one foot in front of the other,” she said. “You didn’t have to be a daredevil or anything like that. I liked it that I could do it on my own, or I could do it with other people.” She started with the 800 meters until 1969, when women were allowed to run the 1500 meters as well. She was part of the Swedish National Track Team and was a national champion in the 1500 meters.
Lena moved to the United States with her husband in the late ’70s and at first, ran for fitness and fun. Then, she began training seriously again, entering races, and seeing success. In fact, she was the top woman at the Philadelphia Distance Run Half Marathon in 1979.
Lena found her focus, and it was road running. Highlights of Lena’s running career include her 10th-place finish at the 1984 Boston Marathon and her 2:44:10 at the 1983 New York City Marathon. Although Lena’s time would have qualified her for the US Olympic Marathon Trials in 1984, she wasn’t eligible to run as she wasn’t a US citizen. She became a citizen ten years later.
She also ran a rainy, cold Philadelphia Marathon around the same time. The first three places won trips, and she was on track for third until someone passed her in the last couple of miles. At first, she resigned herself to missing out. But with about a quarter-mile to go, she saw the third-place woman again and finally caught her in the final two blocks, securing her spot on the podium and her ticket to Bermuda. “My father played tennis, and he would always say, ‘A match is not finished until the last ball, remember that,’” she says. “A marathon is not finished until all of the 26.2 miles.”
Lena’s elite running career ended when knee problems intervened. She changed focus and became a certified personal trainer and coach. This was the beginning of a new and rewarding journey for Lena. She focuses on women, specifically older women, and helps them achieve their fitness goals and develop a positive self-image.
“Our generation, we were raised that women are not supposed to sweat,” she says. “I remember my mother didn't like the way my face looked when I finished an 800-meter run, because women were supposed to look pretty at all times. So we have to overcome those perceptions that are kind of ingrained in a lot of women, plus we are being told that we cannot do things.” She hopes her quest to stay active and her positive attitude can inspire them to believe otherwise.
The Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) also played a big role in Lena’s career. It began when Lena lived in North Carolina and continued when she moved to Florida. Lena stepped into the state representative position and planned state meetings, state championship races, and attended RRCA conventions. She was also awarded the Browning Ross Spirit of the RRCA Award, named in honor of the memory of the RRCA’s founding member, as well as State Rep of the Year. Lena was tapped to become Southern Regional Director, which was a board position. That meant board meetings and board decisions—and Lena was up for the challenge.
After a few years, Lena stepped down as Southern Director to give someone else the same opportunity. She continues to coach and train and is even considering a new role … model.
Modeling will be perfect for Lena. She advocates for older women and is a shining example of being your best self, no matter your age. “I want to show women that life isn't over because you’re in the mid-70s, and there are so many possibilities,” she says.
Note about the author: Freddi Carlip, a founding member of Starting Line 1928, is a runner, writer, former president of the Road Runners Club of America, the RRCA’s Miss Road Manners, and editor/publisher of Runner’s Gazette, America's first running newspaper.
