After providing some last-minute Chicago Marathon tips, we welcomed Miss USA 2024, Alma Cooper, who is running Chicago 2024, her first marathon!

Alma shares how she juggles her busy schedule with training. She’s currently working on her masters degree at Stanford University, while also balancing her Miss USA duties with her mileage. One tip—she relies heavily on that hotel treadmill to get in her miles.

Alma also shares how her mom, a former collegiate track star, is her running inspiration, and how Alma firmly believes that we should never be the first to say no to ourselves when thinking about trying something new.

We loved this conversation and believe that Alma’s words provide the perfect motivation before lining up at the start line in Chicago or elsewhere this fall.

More about Alma:

Alma Oralia Minerva Cooper is a West Point graduate and is now studying for a Master of Science degree in statistics on the data science track. Prior to becoming Miss USA, Cooper planned to serve as a second lieutenant in the Military Intelligence Corps of the United States Army after completing her degree at Stanford. This will be Alma’s first marathon.

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