Gabriella Rooker is an elite marathoner with outstanding results in competitive conditions. The 25-year-old started her journey as a competitive gymnast, a sport that taught her discipline and resilience from a young age. Gabriella’s gift soon became clear when she took up running. She was still new to the distance when she debuted in the marathon at Grandma’s Marathon in 2021, but consistent training during the pandemic helped her improve quickly. Despite the demands of her career as a physician assistant, she has become a role model for athletes who want to be successful in both their sport and their lives. Gabriella’s journey is a story of perseverance, of rising from failure, and shrouded in a support system of someone finding strength in community and purpose.
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RT Q&A featuring Gabriella Rooker
Every runner has a beginning—what sparked your passion for running? Was it a defining moment, or did the love for the sport grow over time? And how did you know it was time to take the leap from local races to the marathon stage?
Growing up, I was a competitive gymnast. From a very young age, gymnastics was my major focus. I competed in college and always knew my career would end after my time as a college athlete. After college, I sampled many sports. I tried CrossFit, snowboarding, soccer, cycling, and running. I gravitated towards running and found a new community when I joined Mill City Running in Minneapolis, MN. I was able to connect with runners of all backgrounds and started participating more in local races. After running the Twin Cities 10 Mile with a PR of 62 minutes in 2019, I decided I wanted to train for a marathon. My hopes of running Grandma’s Marathon in 2020 were squashed by COVID, so I used that year to stack consistent training and debuted in the marathon at Grandma’s in 2021.
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The road to success is rarely smooth. Can you share a pivotal challenge or setback you faced in your running journey? How did you navigate through it, and what lessons have stuck with you since?
As a teenager in gymnastics, I spent many seasons hurt due to broken arms and subsequent surgeries. During that time, I learned the importance of focusing on strength and conditioning as well as being a good teammate to others. I was lucky to have a relatively healthy college career with only minor setbacks. As a runner, I experienced similar luck until about a year ago. I started to have IT band issues in the fall of 2023, and I spent much of 2024 navigating issues related to a muscle imbalance that caused the IT band issues in the first place. It took a lot of time to accept that I was injured and needed to give my body time to recover. I spent more time working on the imbalance, getting better, and cross-training. But I really struggled with my inability to have a consistent running schedule. At times, I was very self-focused and started to feel more anxious. I found a sports therapist who helped me work through my stressors and learn new strategies to be a more complete person. During this time, I leaned on friends, family, and community to help me get through the tough days.
Behind every great marathoner is a solid routine. What does a week of training look like for you? Are there specific workouts or rituals that you consider non-negotiable for success?
I work part-time as a physician assistant in a hospital in Minneapolis, MN, so my training weeks look different if I am working or not. When I am off work, I typically run twice a day (except on long run days) and lift twice a week. I prioritize sleep, nutrition, and recovery above all else. If I am working in the hospital, I may double a few times a week, but I will decrease weekly mileage to ensure I get enough sleep. Work weeks make for very early morning runs and late evenings where I generally finish running, eat, and then go to bed.
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Balancing life as a physician assistant and marathon training must be a marathon in itself! How do you manage both, and where do you find the drive to keep lacing up your shoes even on the toughest days?
Every runner has days when they really don’t want to get out of bed. Right now, it is quite cold in Minnesota, so the idea of putting on many layers to run in negative degrees often feels daunting. I try to run with friends and groups as much as possible. During the winter, I do my best to embrace the cold and remind myself how lucky I am to live in an area where there are lots of other people getting outside regardless of the conditions. I also try to come back to my major goal ahead and remind myself that lots of small, positive decisions right now will help move me to my big goal ahead.
How has your husband’s role as your coach strengthened both your personal and athletic relationship?
One of the best parts of the crazy journey I have been on during the past few years is that I get to do it with my husband and coach, Alex. We have been together since we were 18 and have become different versions of ourselves in that time. I think we both find a lot of personal meaning in running and coaching. Working together towards big, scary goals makes the tough days worth it and the good days all that much better.
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Running is as much a mental game as it is physical. What’s your top advice for runners aspiring to improve their performance, stay consistent, and discover the next level of their potential?
When days get challenging, whether it is mental or physical, remind yourself of why you are running and what it means to you. Running is such a personal journey and means something different to each runner. For some, running is about having fun with friends and meeting new people. For others, it is completing a race and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. Or it might be setting PRs, qualifying for new races, and getting faster. Each runner has a unique journey, set of motivating factors, and reasons for why they run. Each day you get out the door and complete your run is a win and will help you get to your next big goal!
