“Running is a gift; I feel truly lucky to have the time/energy/health/support to do it because it brings me a lot of joy.”- Kiera D’Amato

Let me start with three words, consistent, insistent, and persistent which I want to relate to Keira D’Amato. I will not list all of the outstanding running accomplishments which are endless from 5K to the marathon. The journey continues as she continues to be a moving force.

D’Amato, is a mother, realtor, and a U.S. Air Force spouse. I have had the pleasure to conduct a few interviews over the last few years. I am at a loss for words to capture the appropriate words to state who is Keira D’Amato.

D’Amato has set American records in the 10 miles (51:23), the half marathon (1:06:39), and the marathon (2:19:12).

She ran in both the 2022 (2:23:34) and 2023 (2:31:36) World Championships. Although her records have been broken, she gave the other females something to run after. D’Amato remains in the records books for having held the titles.

She had some down time after the U.S. Olympic  Team Trials Track and Field held last month. D’Amato was a finalist in the 10000 meters where she placed 10th out of 22 finishers. She executed with grace through the 25 laps around the track.

In 2021 Kiera was asked the following question: What advice can you share with other females with aspirations to become better?

She answered,

“To start, the only person that needs to believe in you is yourself.  Yeah, it’s nice to have a fan club and a support crew, but you have to see it first… the others can be convinced.

Push away the mom guilt. It is OK to do something for yourself.

I personally feel like it is a service to my kids to SHOW them things like setting goals, working hard, dealing with disappointment, prioritizing physical fitness/health, you name it. But you need to be flexible… and you may find yourself running at crazy times of the day or on a treadmill. Do what you need to do to make it fit. But make it fit.

Lastly, patience. Running is a slow, constant build and you need to be healthy to keep at it. Build slowly. You do not climb Everest in a day, but every step gets you closer to the top.”

The above hold true today and that is why I use the terms consistent, insistent, and persistent.

Lets get to know Kiera better…..

How was your mental preparation for US Olympic Trials on June 29, 2024?

It was not perfect. Transitioning from the roads to the track was a little adjustment for my body.

Not sure if it was the intensity, larger range of motion, or just perhaps the extra track work – but I had a few things that popped up every couple of weeks.

So it was not perfect training, but I was thankful for the experience. It is always fun taking on a new challenge.

What if there were any changes you made in your lifestyle?

The whole family makes changes with me leading into a big race. We all try to stay in a good routine, avoid extra outings that could get us sick, and the family needs to pick up some of the slack I am missing because of my focus on the race.

That being said, I also try to stick with what has been working and not change anything. I would prepare in a similar way as a big workout. Stick to my current routine, treat this race like a workout – without all the stress.

What challenges did have to overcome making it to the Trials?

This year was tough for me. Lots of little injuries that derailed my training. I focused on showing myself grace, staying positive, and doing what I could give my current restraints. 

Can you recount your thoughts as the race began to unfold?

The first half of the race I was thinking: stay relaxed, stay relaxed, stay relaxed. Keep engaged. Make sure you are in a good position. Chill. With about 8 laps to go, I was feeling really good and started to become very alert for moves or positioning.

I was feeling so good I almost took the lead to start working the pace down but decided to be a little more conservative and patient. A

couple laps after that the pace started to come down and women started making moves and then my lack of fitness showed, I feel off the pack, but still tried to pick off people and win the race I was running.

Even when the race is not going your way, you can still salvage and do the best you are able to – this was my new focus. 

What are some thoughts you can share to other females who wish to pursue a competitive sports career?

Go for it! You never know what journey you will be starting by accepting the challenge. It’s always worth it to go for your goals and dreams.

Women’s sport needs more athletes, we need more diversity in story, and we need more unique perspectives to elevate our sport to the next level.

The more women that commit to going for it, the higher level we will all reach. The courage to start is within you – you got this!

What part does family play as you were training?

My family plays a huge part – they are my world. They provide me support, love, discipline, perspective, and the ability to go big without fear of failing.

No matter if I win or fall short, I come home, and they ask me what is for dinner.

That gives me freedom to really go for it and not worry about the outcome. That is a powerful thing.

How important is it to have a coach?

It is very important to have a coach. Someone who sees the big picture and can help guide you with things you may not be seeing because you are so involved.

It is helpful for a coach to be able to wrangle you back when all you want to do is push it. 

What have you learned about yourself over your journey?

I am capable of more than I could ever imagine.

I am so glad I went out this journey to find out. I did not believe I would ever end up here, but I tried anyways and surprised myself along the way.

Put yourself in a position to surprise yourself.

What is your WHY for chasing your dreams?

My WHY is always evolving as I grow and learn, but the deepest WHY is because it makes me happy. It is as simple as that. Making goals and going for them all out makes me happy. 

I also run to see how fast I can become, but running is not always about that for me.

What do you hold as a higher value, a specific time or doing your best at each event?

Both – there are times I like to chase records and there are times I am trying to place high.

Depends on the race. There are times I value a record more and there are times all I care about is a podium finish. Each race brings on different goals. 

To date what event stands out for you?

The Houston Marathon in 2022, when I broke the American Record in the Marathon.

That was a special day. I knew I could run that time, but I did not know I would ever experience a moment like that. Hitting a big goal is truly an incredible experience. 

Do you have any thoughts about changes you would like to see in the sport for women?

I would like to see opportunity for more girls and women to participate.

There are a number of reasons women drop out of sport: changing body, lack of proper gear, self-consciousness, lack of opportunity, becoming mothers, etc.

I am hoping we can continue to tackle these hurdles and keep more women in sport playing longer. 

I think having more women in coaching/mentoring positions will help these goals too.

I get asked all the time how long will my body last? I intend to push this limit to it is fullest to show how long we can all pursue sport. 

What do you want the readers to know about Keira?

I am rooting for everyone to make their own goals and go for them. Even if you fall short, it will be worth it!

D’Amato will continue to fine tune her craft and she is one to watch.

We wish her all the best!

*Catch up with other inspirational stories by visiting Off and Running with George Banker.