Allie Ostrander

Soldotna’s Allie Ostrander, whose talent and tenacity lifted her to the world stage in distance running, this week announced she is leaving her professional team and putting her health ahead of her heart.

Ostrander in an Instagram post said she still loves running and competing, but that myriad injuries over the last two years have prompted her to leave the Seattle-based Brooks Beasts. Ostrander, who this year sought treatment for an eating disorder, emphasized she’s not retiring, but rather reframing her priorities.

“This was an incredibly difficult decision because my passion for running and competition is as strong as ever; however, the string of injuries that I experienced throughout the last year and a half has made it evident that my body cannot currently handle the volume and intensity of training that is necessary to be a professional runner,’’ Ostander wrote.

“Since the age of 10, I have prioritized athletic achievement over everything else, including my health. I didn’t realize the toll that it was taking on me until I reached my breaking point. So it’s time for me to do what I should have all along: put my mental and physical health first. This isn’t me retiring from professional running, it’s just me taking a step back.’’

Remarkably, given her limited training last season, Ostrander, the former Boise State All-American and national champion steeplechaser who turns 25 Christmas Eve, delivered two personal records. Her time of 9 minutes, 26.96 seconds in finishing eighth in the steeplechase at the U.S. Olympic Trails, was a personal best by nearly four seconds. And her 5,000-meter time of 15:18.45 at a May meet in California was also a personal best.

Ostrander was three-time NCAA steeplechase champ at Boise State. She also represented the U.S. in the event at World Championships in Doha in 2019.

At Kenai Central High, Ostrander dominated girls high school cross-country running and track in Alaska. She also has proved a beast in mountain running.

Ostrander owns multiple junior records at Mount Marathon, the storied Fourth of July race up and down that mountain overlooking Seward, and won the junior girls title six consecutive years. She won the senior women’s title in 2017 and owns the second- and third-fastest women’s times in race history. Ostrander also is a former world junior mountain running champion.

Ostrander in her Instagram post said she hopes to again compete at elite levels.

“This is heartbreaking for me because all I want to do is train so hard and compete at the highest level, but I know that I can’t do that right now,’’ she wrote. “I’m making this decision in the hope that some time to heal and become stronger will let me train at a high level when I return.’’

Allie Ostrander (left) edged Canada’s Julie-Anne Staehli to win the 3,000-meter run at the 113th Millrose Games in New York City in February 2020.

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