she said, "of those Brit athletes who are going to their first one or potentially last one in Lon- don.''
Butler isn't ready to end her running career just yet. She would like to compete in the New York City marathon in No- vember. But she would also like to find a job as a college assis- tant coach.
"That's where I would like to end up,'' said Butler, who has previously served as a volun- teer assistant at Wisconsin and Stanford. For years, her mentor has been former UW coach Pe- ter Tegen. "I've been applying for col- legiate jobs and it's a matter of getting a foot into the door, I guess. Different jobs come up but it's hard to know if they al- ready know who they want for the job.
"It's kind of getting to the right
place (at the right time} where someone will say, 'Oh, yeah, I
remember her. She's done this and that and we'll give her a chance.' I'm waiting for that right oppor- tunity.''
For the last four years, Butler has been coaching at a small Colorado high school in the tiny com- munity of Nederland; 15 miles from Boulder and 50 miles Denver. This season, she will coach the Nederland boys' and girls' cross country team. Until fur- ther notice, she pledged, "I will continue to put everything into the kids
38 » VARSITY JULY 26, 2012
Now a mother to 2-year-old daughter Libby, Butler continues to train and coach high school athletes in Colorado.
here. I really like working with them.'' Butler can relate on many fronts. Despite her elite
"I've been to two Olympics and I have fond memories from both. In Atlanta, I did a lot more stuff; the open- ing and closing ceremonies. In Athens, I concentrated on my race. Both were very rewarding and memorable experiences.''
status as a runner — a five-time NCAA champion, a 13-time All-American, a 17-time Big Ten champ — she has endured her share of setbacks.
More than anything,
she has proven to be a survivor.
Shortly after
making the decision to transfer from the Uni- versity of Guelph to Wis- consin, she dealt with Grave's Disease, a thy- roid condition. "I was diagnosed right after I signed my letter of
