our conversation with Trina PAINTER

Champion of countless races, coach, mom, and realtor Trina Painter has inspired and helped runners from high school to professional levels. As the snowfall dumped onto the Flagstaff High School’s outdoor track, Trina sat down with us and shared her relationship with running and the Flagstaff community.

What is your background with running?

I grew up in Phoenix and ran at Horizon High School. During my senior year, my team won the State XC Meet, I won the individual race and went on to win the mile, two-mile, and set the state record in the two-mile in the track. The fun and success I had in high school set me on the path to be a lifelong runner. I ran at Phoenix College for two years and helped my team win the National Junior College XC meet. I was able to win the 3,000 meters at our track nationals and set the junior college national record as a sophomore. I continued my career at the University of Texas in Austin, and I was fortunate enough to be on a high-powered team that won the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Tucson the first year I was there. It was an incredible experience and special being back in Arizona. I stayed in Austin, Texas after I graduated and initially ran for a regional team called Nike Texas. After a few years, I earned a contract as a professional runner and ran for New Balance for the majority of my career. I have competed in 4 different Olympic Trials, racing in the 3,000 m, the 10k twice, and the marathon once. My highest finish was 5th in 1992 in New Orleans. I did not race very smart in that one, but I did learn a lot from those experiences. I moved to Flagstaff in 1995 to train at altitude before what was my last Olympic Trials. I was able to set all of my PRs that year and fell in love with Flagstaff and we never left. Flagstaff is such a special place and we knew we wanted to raise our family here in addition to being here to train.

How was the transition from racing to coaching?

My husband, David and I have two girls, Hannah and Chloe. I started coaching at Flagstaff High School in 2003. At the time, I didn’t know how much I would love it. Both of my daughters ran for me at Flag High which was really special for me. They both went on to run in college. Hannah graduated from Westminster in Salt Lake and still enjoys running. Chloe is a junior at NAU and working hard with Coach Smith. Coaching at the FHS has been an incredible opportunity to work with so many talented kids. While winning multiple State Championships on the boys and girls sides (combined total of 17 titles) has been insanely fun, watching these young runners grow in their athletic ability, confidence, and mature into incredible leaders makes me equally as proud.

It’s hard to retire as an athlete. I got very involved and put all of my energy into being a mom, although I still had to run to keep my sanity. I had to let the racing part go because of the frustration of getting injury after injury. When I started coaching high school, it got the competitive juices flowing again. I got excited watching them. When I was working with McMillan Elite I had the opportunity to train with the women and also compete as a master's athlete at some of the events they would go to. I found racing at the master's level was just as much fun without all of the pressure as compared to my professional days.

What got you into being a realtor?

I’ve always had a love affair with houses and when my girls were older, I thought it would be fun to get my license. I love helping people find the perfect house and often feel like I am "coaching" them with their real estate needs so it was a good fit. I enjoy being a realtor, watching the market trends, and have gotten to know a lot of neat people over the years and have been fortunate to help a lot of runners in town as well.

Where does your passion for running come from?

I always want to see how far I could push myself. Once I reached a certain goal I would immediately think.. "can I go faster"? I also like the physical feeling of being in control of my body and feeling fit. I like it when I’m crushing the workout instead of the workout crushing me. We get a handful of magical races in our careers, and it feels so effortless. I set the American record in the 20k awhile back and I recall it felt effortless and like I was just going faster and faster with each mile, but that doesn’t always happen. Races normally are hard and hurt, but I also enjoy the ability to push through the pain.

What is your relationship like with the professional runners here in Flagstaff?

I have a huge admiration and respect for the elite community in Flagstaff. A lot of them have no idea who I am or what I did as an athlete, but I have had the opportunity to get to know several of them over the years. I hope I can offer them support, encouragement, or even time a workout if needed. I feel like I have a special connection and understanding with them having been a professional runner in the past and having personal insight into their lives that others may not understand. I enjoy talking with them or following them on Instagram to hear about how they approach races and the new types of training and recovery they do, which is well beyond what I ever did in my younger days. I feel so blessed to be a part of their lives and get to know them as people and cheer loudly for them as athletes.

What are your intentions as a coach? 

I hope to instill a lifelong love of running through my coaching. In addition, I hope that each athlete improves, has fun, and learns how to be a good teammate and person.

What do you find unique about the running community in Flagstaff? 

Flagstaff has grown over the past 15 years to become one of the top training meccas for distance runners of all levels. It went from a few foreign athletes that would come to train, to the majority of the top US athletes, college teams, and even high school teams who now come here to train. It's a destination spot for runners of all levels for sure. It has always offered endless dirt trails and the high altitude benefit. Now it gives most of us local runners chills and goosebumps when we cross paths with Elites and Olympians from all over the world on the trails, in line at the local coffee shops, or maybe run with them for a short time at the Bagel Run.

Our local community has a strong base of local runners that is supported by Run Flagstaff, the Summer Running Series, the success of NAU cross country teams, strong programs at all of the local high schools and middle schools, and the many running clubs and groups for all ages and abilities. Having the elites in town is like the frosting on top!

Why do you care so much for this sport?

Running has given so much to me over the years. It gave me purpose and direction in high school, help provide my college education, provided opportunities to travel the US and world, meet some amazing people including my husband, provided a career for me as a professional runner, and has taught me numerous invaluable lessons about life, working hard, being persistent and believing in your dreams. Coaching is a way for me to give back to the sport that gave me so much over the years and also an avenue for me to stay connected to the sport that I love.