Marathon Runner Profile
Lyubov Denisova
Hometown: Moscow
Age: 35
Personal best: 2:25:18 (New York, 2004)

Career notes: With five marathon wins to her credit, Lyubov Denisova knows how to compete over the distance. At Boston and New York City she has come close to the top spot, but never secured the crown. In 2003, she was Boston runner-up and on her return in 2004, came in a disappointing sixth. At New York City, she has been on the podium twice with a second in 2002 and a third in 2004. Fresh from a course-record win at the difficult and hilly Honolulu Marathon, Denisova hopes to better her mark at Boston and says, "I love Boston's comfort and historical value." Additional highlights of her career include winning the 2002 and 2005 Los Angeles Marathon, the 2001 Grandma's Marathon and the 2001 Long Beach Marathon. Competing under her maiden name of Belavina in the late 1990's, Denisova specialized in the 10,000m and the half marathon and also ran a few marathons. She currently trains and lives part-time in Gainesville, Florida. In preparation for Boston she finished third at the Naples Half Marathon in 1:16:16 and in February ran to third at the San Blas Half Marathon in 1:16:35.

Personal notes: Denisova married her coach Maxim Denisov in 1999 and in 2000 gave birth to her daughter, Anastasiya. After maternity leave, Denisova ran four marathons in 2001, including placing fourth at the Hong Kong Marathon, winning Grandma's and Long Beach and finishing 11th at Twin Cities. Denisova grew up in the Ural Mountains of Russia and was orphaned at the age of 13, along with her younger brother Alexander. She was encouraged by her teachers and coaches and by the memory of her mother, who had introduced her to volleyball and cross country skiing, to pursue competitive running in high school and with university teams. Denisova has a college degree and her personal interests include traveling, music and dancing. She also loves to cook and says, "I love making my own bread, but my training doesn't leave much time for anything else."
-- Courtesy BAA