TAMC provider finishes 2014 Honolulu Marathon with record time

By Spc. Paxton Busch (PRMC)January 23, 2015

2010 Army Ten Miler
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2014 Honolulu Marathon
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Dr. Nathan Carlson, Staff Physical Therapist, Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist, Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC), runs in the 2014 Honolulu Marathon where he was not only the first American, but also first Hawaii resident to finish and completed the... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
California International Marathon 2014
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Dr. Nathan Carlson (left), Staff Physical Therapist, Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist, Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC), stands with wife, Polina Carlson (right), who completed the California International Marathon held in Sacramento, California on ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Pearl Harbor Bridge 10K
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Just completing a marathon is a significant accomplishment all on its own.

Placing in the top of the pack alongside the world's most elite runners brings the accomplishment to a whole new level.

Tripler Army Medical Center's (TAMC) very own provider competed in the 2014 Honolulu Marathon and not only finished the race but did so in record time.

Dr. Nathan Carlson, Staff Physical Therapist, Orthopedic Clinical Specialist, TAMC, placed 19th overall and holds the distinction as the first American and Hawaii resident to finish the race with a time of 2 hour and 36 minutes.

Carlson began training for marathons in 2013 after meeting Polina, a professional marathoner who he went on to marry.

Carlson had been running competitively for 22 years prior to the start of his training.

"I've always been a runner. I had been running shorter stuff like 5Ks, 10Ks, track in college, and the ten mile team and cross country for All-Army," stated Carlson.

Carlson served eight years in the Army and completed the Army Ten Miler held in Washington D.C., representing each post where he was assigned throughout his career.

The first marathon Carlson completed was the 2013 Honolulu Marathon and never thought he would run another one again.

"Nothing is impossible. I never thought I would. I was a miler in college. It was a big sense of accomplishment," expressed Carlson.

He spent most of 2014 injured but began training with his wife who was preparing for the California International marathon held in Sacramento on Dec. 7, 2014.

"I ended up getting healthier and healthier and was able to tolerate the training, which is pretty intense and decided three weeks prior to the Honolulu Marathon that I would do it," stated Carlson.

With coaching and teaching classes at TAMC, completing in marathons gives Carlson a firsthand knowledge of what the body goes through during a marathon.

Carlson expressed, "It really helped me understand the body and understand the training, understand people who do the long-distance endurance runs a lot more. I feel like it makes me a better coach overall."

Carlson conducts a running analysis class that focuses on running form and helps people improve their running.

He also gives lectures at TAMC on marathon training and injury prevention.

"My goal as a runner is to help people run injury free, run faster and enjoy it. I hope to inspire them and help live a healthy life overall," Carlson stated.

Carlson began working at TAMC as a physical therapist while serving in the U.S. Army in June 2010 and continued working as a civilian physical therapist after leaving the Army in July 2013.

You can follow him on Twitter, @dr_nate_carlson, on Facebook under "Dr. Nate's Champion Running", or go to www.championrunning.blogspot.com for more information.