When most customers go into Hanson’s Running Shop, in downtown, they would not be surprised to find that the person helping them is a runner.
It wouldn’t even be a surprise to most that the runner is a professional runner for the Hansons-Brooks Distance, powered by Saturn.
Some customers may even realize that they are being helped by an Olympic Trials qualifier.
And if Lake Orion manager, Yolanda Flamino, is the person helping you, all of these things are true, plus as of July 29, she is also a top marathon finisher, having placed first among the women and ninth overall at the San Francisco Marathon.
If that isn’t amazing enough, it’s only the second marathon she has ever run AND she broke the women’s course record at San Francisco by over 11 minutes.
‘Weather-wise, you can’t get any better than San Francisco,? Flamino said, noting the weather was a cool, although a little windy.
According to Flamino, the course is harder course than the Chicago Marathon, the first marathon that she ran (in 2006 with a time of 2:45:19). San Francisco is ‘really hilly,? but made the victory that much sweeter.
‘It was a nice thing to walk away with,? she said of her finish and her time of 2:43:41.
Flamino, who is originally from Connecticut, started running in high school, and she went on to coach a collegiate cross-country and track and field team in New York. In April 2006, she decided to move to Michigan to join the Hansons-Brooks team to pursue running full time.
‘I got to the point where I was either going to be a 100-percent recreational runner or I just going to give it everything I have,? Flamino said. ‘I decided that I’ll just go for it.?
As part of being on the running team, Flamino also has the option of a job at one of the four Hanson’s Running Shops. She is the manager of the downtown Lake Orion store, a job that she enjoys because it means that she is ‘still surrounded by running? and employee’s work shifts are based around their training.
Another benefit Flamino is offered is housing with some of her teammates. There are currently four women that are part of the team, and she lives with two of her female teammates.
And along with the four women, currently 14 men round out the team, and every morning the team meets at 7:30 a.m. to train.
‘That’s a huge reason I moved out here, it’s hard to get in the work without the team,? Flamino said of living, working and training with her team.
She has achieved one of her main goals ? qualifying for the Olympic Trials ? and said that her next goal is just doing the best she can at the Trials, while shooting for a personal best time.
She said that with her running experience, she has learned the importance of resting. She also likes to read, hang out with her teammates and spend time outdoors.
And her running she does simply because she loves it, and recommends to others to pursue things they love.
‘Whatever activity you enjoy, embrace it and go after your dreams in it,? added Flamino.