Heather MacLean is Back on Track at the Millrose Games

During her self-imposed hiatus, MacLean moved into a new apartment in the Boston area. She celebrated her birthday. She took long walks and listened to podcasts. She went roller skating. She joined the Peloton craze. She became a regular at The Breakfast Club, her favorite diner. (She loves breakfast.) She made coffee runs for her brother Shawn. And she was the guest of honor at “Heather MacLean Day,” when the mayor of Peabody presented her with a key to the city.

By early December, she was easing her way back with some slow jogs. She spent recent weeks training with her teammates at altitude in Arizona.

“She’s looking really good,” Coogan said.

MacLean has learned to prioritize her mental health, she said, which has only helped her as an athlete. She reads books about mindfulness. She practices yoga. She does a guided meditation before bed. She has worked to detach herself from her phone and limit her time on social media. Her friends are aware of her various routines.

“I think people think I’m sitting in bed with all of these crystals around me,” she said. “Which, OK, I do have some crystals. But it’s not like that!”

Now, ahead of her first track meet in months, she feels like herself again, she said. She is ready to run.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/29/sports/heather-maclean-millrose.html