Berkeley’s Bretan going for third straight Modesto Marathon title

Before everyone gets too carried away with The Legend Of Anna Bretan, let’s clarify the record.

It’s not true that she gave birth to daughter Tatum and, later the same day, ran a cool-down seven miles.

What’s correct is that she began the day with her run, then welcomed Tatum into the world that evening.

“I went out for a lovely and leisurely run in the morning. I wasn’t in labor and didn’t know I would go into labor,” Bretan said. “And I came home and had a baby girl. A perfect day, I’d say.”

She resumed heavy training a week later, of course.

Three years later, the legend grows about Bretan – the nurse from Berkeley, mother of three, 30-year-old breath of fresh air on the Northern California running scene. All she’s done is run 10 marathons. And won seven.

Bretan will walk to the M Street starting line Sunday morning as the defending overall champion of the sixth annual Surgical Artistry Modesto Marathon. That she likes the flat-as-plywood 26.2-mile Modesto course goes almost without saying. She was crowned the Modesto women’s overall champion in 2013, then beat the entire field of more than 3,000 runners last year with a time of 2 hours, 41 minutes, 52 seconds.

“It’s a well-organized race and a nice out-and-back course and very scenic,” Bretan said. “I just like the people and the overall feel of the race and have told my friends about it.”

Bretan has excelled in her sport for a long time, starting at Novato High School and later for two years at USF. She finished at San Francisco State, where she still holds the record in the 5,000 meters and is second all-time in the 3,000 and 1,500.

Her first marathon, the 2011 Oakland Running Festival, produced a win. Since then, Bretan has won the Oakland marathon twice and the San Francisco marathon twice.

Part of Bretan’s confidence stems from her rigorous training in the Berkeley hills, which in her mind gives her the edge when she journeys to the valley.

“I’m a hill runner. That’s where my power is,” Bretan said. “It’s tremendously easier for me to run a flat course. In the long run, all my training is on hilly courses. When I’m training on those beautiful trails in Berkeley, there’s nothing to complain about up there.”

Bretan will open her year in Modesto with more than normal expectations. After all, she’s a clear favorite these days, with an appealing backstory to match.

Only now, she’s raising her personal bar, targeting the Olympic Trials next February.

I haven’t tried (for the Olympics) before because I was having babies,” Bretan said. “I don’t want to do anything too strenuous before the Trials. I want to be fresh for that.”

One thing that won’t change is her passion.

“Running is more important to me than ever,” Bretan said. “I realize how big a part of my life it is, along with my husband, my kids and my dog. Everything is better when I get my run in. It helps that I love it.”

Also competing in Modesto is Fresno’s Matthew Klundt, who won the 2014 men’s race in 2:44.27. Jesus Campos of Fresno, the 2013 champion, placed third overall last year.

As for Bretan, her Wonder Woman impression still receives rave reviews. This time, she comes to Modesto in search of a message.

Said Bretan, “Modesto will let me know what shape I’m in.”

This story was originally published March 27, 2015 at 11:39 PM with the headline "Berkeley’s Bretan going for third straight Modesto Marathon title."