When you think about it, not many can say they’ve won a marathon. Actually, not many have even run a marathon, let alone won one.

Matthew Gillette is in that rarefied category of conquering 26.2 miles of blood, sweat and tears before anyone else did in that race. On May 29 Gillette trekked to the Scotland and won the Edinburgh Marathon in 2:17.57 and in the process qualified for the Olympic Trial Marathon.

“Over a year ago my wife and our friends were looking for a vacation to go on and we decided on Scotland,” Gillette said. “We found out the Edinburgh Marathon was during when we would visit, so a couple of us decided to do the race.”

Heading into the race the former Parkland High School long-distance runner thought he had a good shot at finishing in the top five based on his previous year results and his best time.

“My strategy was to stay in the top pack and hang on as long as I could,” he said.

That is exactly what he did. Around the nine-mile mark, it was Gillette and one other man who ran almost together for the next 11 miles.

“That’s when I made a move to pull away,” Gillette said. “The last six miles I did have to ‘suck it up.’”

Gillette’s legs began to tighten. His mile splits slowed, although he maintained a descent lead. Somehow Gillette had enough clarity to do mathematics in his head to see if he was still on pace for the Olympic Trials standard. As he made the turn for the last straightaway to the finish Gillette was in an all-out sprint knowing it would be close.

“As I crossed the finish line and saw my time I was in a state of joy and relief that I did it,” he said. “I exceeded my goals for the race and honestly had the race of a lifetime.”

The honor of running in the Olympic Trials in 2024 is not lost on Gillette.

“My chances will be slim to qualify for the Olympics in Paris, but anything can happen the day of the race,” Gillette said. “Personally this means a lot, I really had no aspirations of competing at this level again since 2016.”

That was the year Gillette qualified for the Olympic Trials via the half marathon. It was not meant to be, however, as he was injured before the race could not compete. It seemed like his top-level career was finished.

“Now I have the chance to do what I couldn’t do in 2016 eight years later,” he said.

Gillette just loved running as a boy. Running organized cross country in middle school, he tasted success quickly. Gillette was varsity all four years at Parkland, where he medaled at states in the 3,200 meters in 2008 and 2009, placing sixth and fourth. He also placed 19th at states in the 2008 cross country race.

Looking back on his Parkland career, Gillette described what he enjoyed most.

“I really enjoyed having that team camaraderie and being able to be like a family,” he said “Makes you want to run faster for your teammates.”