Wodak seeks Olympic marathon standard in Houston despite hamstring injury, loss of pacer

It feels like Houston or bust for Canadian record holder Natasha Wodak if she wishes to race her third Olympic marathon on Aug. 11 in Paris.

Sure, an April marathon (Boston?) could serve as a last-chance qualifier should she not run the two-hour 26-minute 50-second automatic entry standard or faster at 8 a.m. ET Sunday in Texas, but it isn't a road she wants to travel.

"My body will not recover in time for the Olympic marathon [if I race in April]. I'm not saying it's out of the question, but it would be challenging," Wodak said this week from her Vancouver residence.

With only a few of the 80 spots for the women's Olympic marathon unclaimed, she said it's time to go "all-in" in Houston and is willing to run through pain.

"It's not what I would recommend for people I coach, but I'm 42 and trying to make my third Olympic team," said Wodak. "Sometimes, you've gotta take some risks."

Two weeks ago, near the end of a 19-day training camp in Phoenix, Ariz., she suffered a strained right hamstring that hasn't healed completely this week, despite laser and physiotherapy.

"It's not [extremely] painful but not going away," Wodak told CBC Sports. "It's caused me a lot of stress the last two weeks, but I only had to take one unplanned rest day [from training]. By [Sunday, coach Trent Stellingwerff and I are] hoping adrenaline and extra strength Advil kick in."

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Wodak dealt with a more severe strain to the right hamstring a week before winning the women's title on the track last July 23 at the Canadian 10,000-metre championships in Langley, B.C.

Adding to Wodak's recent run of tough luck, and stress, was learning Tuesday that a friend couldn't pace her in Sunday's