Do you recall the Nike athlete who went on to talk about the darker side of track and field just last year? It was in 2023 that this Utah native turned Nike star and went pro. Presently, she is creating moments that the track community will remember. She became a Pac-12 champion in 2023 and several-time USTFCCCA All-American. It was only in December that the world saw her at BU before her half-marathon debut!

During the event, the Nike athlete went on to clock 15:03.54 in her 5000m performance. She was even spotted at the USATF marathons. However, now Emily Venters, the track athlete who joined the Nike family in 2023, has gone ahead to expose some new secrets. But don’t you worry, it isn’t any harsh truth like the previous one, but her honest confessions about the Houston Half Marathon.

Emily Venters fumbles in her Nikes at the Houston marathon!

The day was sunny, and the Houston Half Marathon took off on January 19th. And Emily Venters was all set to run. Unfortunately, destiny seemed to have other plans. As Venters herself puts it on her Instagram story, “Took a HARD fall 3 steps into the race.” It wasn’t, unfortunately, just a mere stumble. It was an anomaly that would cost her the top spot and potentially derail any athlete. But Emily? She had a moment. “Stopped, cried, contemplated everything,” she wrote. However, she did not quit. In fact, far from it.

Venters got back on her feet and said to herself, “F it, just go NOW!” And go she did! Emily Venters went on to finish 7th overall! She did the same clocking at 1:08:48 as shared by CITIUS MAG on X. To make things more interesting, Venters had a time that is quite close to the top 3! The first place was taken by Senayet Getachew, an Ethiopian cross-country runner who went on to clock 1:06:05. This was followed by 2019 NCAA Division I Cross Country Champion Weini Kelati, who clocked 1:06:09. And in third with a time of 1:06:48 was Buze Diriba Kejela (ETH). So why is all the fuss when she finished 7th?

Well, for those not aware, the Houston Marathon is no joke. It is a massive event that draws nearly half a million spectators each year. And 7th is a big deal because, despite all the setbacks that the Venters saw, when she crossed the finish line, she had only one thing on her mind. “I want to run another one!” Spoken like a true athlete! However, it is interesting that last year, Emily Venters did not have the same spirit. She had something conflicting to say!

Not the first time the “runner’s mentality” has saved Emily Venters!

Emily Venters, like most track athletes, is not new to spur-of-the-moment downfalls. However, one thing all of them seem to have in common is a “runner’s mentality.” Despite the same, when she was asked about what it was like going pro with Nike in 2023, she simply said, “It’s a lot.” This was in an interview with The Running Effect Podcast that happened in July 2024, not long after she went pro. Ironically, in the same episode, she talks about the unfortunate sides of track and field!

Venters went on to talk about how the transition to being a pro athlete was hard on her. She had moments where her whole worth seemed to depend on running. So much so that this affected her mental health. “I actually almost took this mental health break in the fall when I had first kind of signed with Nike,” said Emily Venters. So much so that she went on to question if she could continue her journey as an athlete.

As Venters herself puts it, “I was just feeling very overwhelmed. I was like, ‘I don’t know if I can do this. This is my whole life.’” So did she stop? Well, no! Venters went on to explain how, at the exact moment she needed strength, her “runner’s mentality” kicked in. Once that happened, Venters had a voice in her head telling her, “Everyone struggles. It’s tough. I’m just going to push through, and I’ll be fine. I’ll get better.” And get better it did!

Emily Venters ran the USATF National Championships just last year. It was her first US Roads 5k run! The results? Venters went on to clock 15:25 and win second place. One thing is rather clear from the races and trajectory of Venters: she is only just getting started!