Дина Кастор: Путь американской марафонки.

American long distance runner

Deena Michelle Kastor (née Drossin; born February 14, 1973) is an American long distance runner. She was a holder of American records in the marathon (2006 2022) and numerous road distances. She won the bronze medal in the women's marathon at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. She is also an eight time national champion in cross country.

Kastor is Jewish, and was born in Waltham, Massachusetts. She was adopted. She is an alumna of Agoura High School located in Agoura Hills, California. She is married to Andrew Kastor. In August 2010, they announced that she was three months pregnant with their first child, Piper. As a result, she announced she would not compete in that year's New York City Marathon, held November 7. Her daughter was born in February 2011.

In April 2008, Kastor won the U. S. women's Olympic marathon trials in Boston, Massachusetts. She finished with an unofficial time of 2:29:35, after overtaking competitor Magdalena Lewy Boulet in mile 23. Kastor ran most of the race from behind, while Lewy Boulet built a commanding lead very early on, running alone for most of the marathon. With some 10 mile (16 km) to go, Kastor made a move to catch up to Lewy Boulet, stringing out the field. Lewy Boulet took second place in 2:30:19. In August 2008, Kastor pulled out of the women's marathon at the Beijing Olympics with a foot injury. At about the mark, she dropped to one knee, holding her right foot. She attempted to rise, but dropped back down again and was forced to withdraw from the race.

On March 21, 2010, Kastor competed in the first spring running of the New York City Half Marathon. After running the majority of the race in first, on her way to breaking the course record, she dropped to second place to finish behind Great Britain's Mara Yamauchi. It was announced in August 2010 that Kastor and her husband were expecting their first child, Piper Bloom, in March 2011. It was also announced that Deena would be making her return to racing at the New York Mini 10K.

In January 2012, Deena ran 2:30:40 to place 6th at the Olympic Squad Houston Olympic Trials.

In January 2013, Kastor announced she would be running in the 2013 Los Angeles Marathon, to be held on March 17, 2013 where she finished third in 2:32:39. On August 10, 2013, Kastor placed 9th at the World Championship Marathon in Moscow with a time of 2:36. She stated that it may have been her last high level marathon.

In April 2014, the 41 year old Kastor won the 2014 More|Fitness Half Marathon in New York's Central Park in a U. S. masters record of 1:11:38. On September 21, 2014, she set the world record in the Women's Masters division for the half marathon, at 1:09:39, while running in the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in Philadelphia.

In October 2015, she broke the U. S. Women's Masters marathon record by almost a minute at the 2015 Chicago Marathon, running 2:27:47.