Brett Ely, a research physiologist in the Thermal & Mountain Medicine Division at USARIEM was the women's winner in the Miami Marathon Jan. 31. A record field of 18,321 athletes ran the marathon with race day temperatures of 71° F and 93% relative humidity.

As a veteran runner, she has posted many wins. This is the first win where she had the thrilling experience of breaking the finish line tape.

Her research work at USARIEM involves studying the effects of extreme temperatures on Soldiers and athletes. She is a co-author on a paper published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise that examined pacing physical performance in the heat. A personal strategy of conservative pacing to prevent starting out too hard and running out of energy during the marathon may have played a role in her victory.

Her finishing time of 2:45:36 qualifies her for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials by 24 seconds. Brett will compete with ~150 other top U.S. female runners at the Olympic trials for three spots on the 2012 U.S. Women's Olympic marathon team. She qualified and competed in the 2004 and 2008 U.S. Olympic trials as well.