WATCH: What does a top runner do after one of the world's biggest races?

• Big year for women at the event
• She's helping bring a triathlon to Kelowna

On the eve of the biggest race of her life, one local runner was not feeling her best.

But the buzz the city of Boston brought kept her energized through each kilometre, helping her set a Canadian record.

“I ran the best race I could and I’m running against the best in the world and that’s a pretty cool thing,” Malindi Elmore told Kelowna10.

She finished 11th overall and second in her age category at two hours, 27 minutes, and 58 seconds – the fastest-ever time by a Canadian woman at the event.

Despite having raced in the Olympics only a year ago, this felt bigger for Elmore. After more than a century of tradition, the Boston Marathon is considered by many to be the largest race in the world.

Plus, this year marks the 50th anniversary of women participating in the event. Elmore was up against stiff competition including world record holders and Olympic champs - the best women’s field ever seen there.

Massachusetts was taken over by marathon mania and the race had 30,000 participants, plus spectators lining the 42 kilometres of track.

“It’s like every part of the course is the finish chute where people are going crazy,” she said. “I’ve never had a race experience where you have 26 miles of a lined course like three people deep the whole entire way.”

Elmore was also cheered on from Kelowna, where she coaches at UBCO. Her team woke up early on race day to watch their coach compete over a pancake breakfast.

On top of being the team mom, she also has two of her own children. She said it takes a village to help her pursue her passions, including her husband, mom, and reliable daycare.

“It’s a really powerful message to send to our children about hard work and about having a life outside of them,” she said. “You can be a great parent and also still have your own life.”

Her husband, who is also her coach, almost missed the trip due to a positive COVID test, but he luckily tested negative the day before the flight.

Now that Elmore is back home, she is focused on recovery and taking a complete break from activity, minus a short race her toddler challenged her to and won.

Kelowna10 caught up with Elmore at Okanagan Peak Performance where she was doing stretches and mobility exercises for her stiff muscles.

Eventually, her recovery will include activities like light jogging, but she knows to listen to her body first.

At 42 years old, she said age hasn’t been a factor and she still feels as good as she did 10 years ago.

Elmore has the option to race at the world championships in Oregon in July or wait till the fall for a marathon in London, Berlin, Chicago, or New York.

Despite her international success, she’s still focused on bringing competition to Kelowna, as she’s one of the founders and organizers of the Cherry Blossom Triathlon which will be happening on May 1.