Believe Train Become

Susan Loken was recently recognized by Running Times as a top Masters marathoner in the United States. With seven marathon wins — numerous Masters Titles — Susan has reigned as one of the top women master marathoners since just after turning forty years old some eight years ago.

In 2004, in her debut USA Masters Championships at the Twin Cities Marathon, Susan finished second. She came back to win her first USA Masters Championship the following year in 2005. Susan went on to successfully defend her title in 2006 and 2007, making her a three time USA Master Champion by 2007. At the age of 47, Susan returned to the Twin Cities to capture her fourth title.

In addition to her successes in masters level competition, Susan has also won the Tucson Marathon, San Francisco Marathon, Vermont Marathon and she captured three consecutive wins at the New York City MORE Marathon; she also holds the course record for the MORE Marathon and Tucson Marathon.

Susan‘s elite times over the years has allowed her to qualify for the 2004, 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. She competed in both the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Trials and will compete in the 2012 trials next January in Houston.

Susan’s running career began late in life and with humble early goals. After the birth of her third child, at 35 Susan decided to give running a try and set her goal on completing her first marathon. In the next four years, Loken dropped her marathon time from sub four hours in the 1998 San Francisco Marathon to a sub three in the 2002 Grandma’s Marathon. Her first marathon win was at the Tucson Marathon in 2002 (course record) and returned to win the San Francisco marathon in 2004.

Susan Loken is, among other things, a mother, elite runner, mentor, coach and an inspiration to many. Her new found passion inspired her to instill a healthy lifestyle in others, and she is now the program director and lead coach for Chances for Children – Arizona. Using the lessons learned through elite competition, Loken coaches others to success by leading fundraising running teams and developing programs for Arizona’s less-fortunate youth.

Loken is married and has three sons, one step-son, one step-daughter, one daughter-in-law and one granddaughter. Many are inspired by her story, but even more are inspired by her passionate, soulful lifestyle.

Personal Records

Marathon:                    2:41:33            Rock- n -Roll Marathon Arizona 2006

Marathon:                    2:42:55            USA Olympic Trials Boston 2008

Half Marathon:           1:16:22            Austin Motorola Half Marathon, 2004

10K:                            34:52               Phoenix Foothills 10K, 2004

5K:                              17:27               Freihofer’s Run for Women, 2004

10 miles                       58:28               Broad Street Run, 2006

Career Highlights

1^st        2010 USA Master Champion Twin Cities Marathon 2:44:41

40^th      2008 USA Olympic Trials 2:42:55

7^th        2008 RNR Marathon Arizona 2:44:31

1^st        2007 USA Master Champion Twin Cities Marathon; 2:48:35 5th USA Open

1^st        2007 More Marathon NYC 2:47:51

5^th        2007 RNR Marathon Arizona; 1^st USA 1^st Master

1^st        2006 USA Master Champion Twin Cities Marathon; 2:44:32 8th USA Open

5^th        2006 Broad Street Run Philadelphia; 58:281st Master

1^st        2006 More Marathon NYC 2:50:01

2^nd        2006 Vermont Marathon 2:48:55

7^th        2006 RNR Marathon Arizona; 2:41:311^st USA 1^st Master

3^rd        2005 Master New York City Marathon 2:49:32

1^st        2005 USA Master Champion Twin Cities Marathon; 2:43:07 3^rd USA Open C

1^st        2005 Vermont City Marathon 2:51:09

1^st        2005 More Marathon (course record) 2:45:35

1^st        2005 Master AFC Half Marathon; 1:19:04 5^th overall

2^nd       2004 USA Master Championship Twin Cities Marathon 2:44:23

1^st        2004 San Francisco Marathon 2:50:21

32^nd      2004 Olympic Marathon Trials, St. Louis 2:44:23

4^th        2004 Arizona Rock n Roll Half Marathon 1:20:41

8^th        2003 USA Women’s Marathon Championship, 2:44:21 St. Louis

3^rd        2003 Master Chicago Marathon 2:46:10

1^st        2003 Chicago Half Marathon 1:19:12

1^st        2002 Tucson Marathon 2:44:19(course record)

Chances for Children

Chances for Children-Arizona is a not-for-profit organization providing kids and families recreational opportunities that they may not be able to afford. They believe that, in life, every individual deserves the chance for success. They offer kids a CHANCE by supporting running,  fitness, nutrition and character building programs, with the ultimate goal of decreasing the state’s childhood obesity rate.

Since 2007, Chances has gone from having 87 team members who helped support 607 valley children to having more than 250 members who helped more than 2,000 kids.