Hansons-Brooks Women - Keith Hanson

November 26, 2007

Brian Sell recently qualified for the 2008 Olympics, but for his coach, Keith Hanson, there is one more stop before Beijing - the Women's U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials.

Keith and his brother, Kevin, coach the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project, a post-collegiate elite training group in Rochester Hills, Mich. While the brothers started the team in 1999, it was not until 2003 that there was a women's team, after Brooks Sports, Inc. became the team's sponsor. Financial support from Brooks and Saturn now allow them to offer incomes up to $100,000 to athletes who run specific times.

The purpose of the group is to provide athletes an opportunity to train full-time after college in a team environment. Since the Hansons-Brooks team started, there are now other successful running teams such as Team Running USA. However, the Hansons do not take full credit for the idea. Keith said they were inspired by groups of the 1970's running boom, such as the Greater Boston Track Club.

"It was disappointing to see how far it [U.S. running] had fallen," Keith explained. "We were the first to reintroduce it [team training]."

The standards for the women's team are 33:45 for the 10k, 16:15 for the 5k, and 2:42 for the marathon. The goal of the program is marathon development over a period of several years, but they also compete in shorter distances.

"It takes a long time to see results that work," Keith said. "You need to be patient, but with a sense of immediacy."

Keith explained that it is unrealistic to expect someone to commit to 5-7 years of training, so they offer contracts on a year-to-year basis.

"People are putting their life on hold, but their life can interfere," he said. "We have expectations on how they adapt. We look for improvements."

There are currently four women on the team, Desiree Davila, Yolanda Flamino, Dot McMahan and Melissa White, but the roster changes yearly. Keith said they are always recruiting new talent. An advantage to the Hansons-Brooks team that potential runners often do not know about is that there is no agent fee. Keith advises that athletes see what else is available before signing with an agent.

White, who ran a 2:39:21 marathon last year, has been on the team the longest. The other women are not far behind. McMahan has a personal best time of 2:43:27, Flamino has run 2:43:41, and Davila has run 2:44:56.

"They all have responded very well to marathon training," Keith said. "There have been some incredible breakthroughs."

The team follows a ten-day schedule instead of a typical weekly plan. This allows them to have two days of easier running between hard workout days. These mileage days are about 12-14 miles over two runs. Examples of workouts they do are 10 mile tempo runs and 3x3 mile repeats. Their long runs are up to 20 miles. The Hansons believe in high-mileage training, so the women often run up to 110 miles per week.

Despite all the running they do, some of the runners choose to work at the Hansons' running shops. Keith said the jobs provide flexible hours, a routine outside of training and a chance to interact with the local running community.

"They never have to worry about their work getting in the way," he described.

He said people in the area follow the runners' careers and are very supportive since they get to know them on a personal level.

"The stores connect runners with the community," Keith said.

The team's living arrangements provide a chance for the runners to connect with each other as well. There are three houses for the group to share, two for the men and one for the women.

"We definitely get to know the athletes," Keith explained.

Although the team is close, romantic relationships are avoided. Since they have to train together, Keith said it is a bad idea for the teammates to get involved. He said it is too complicated for the coaches to deal with if a couple is fighting.

"I don't want you guys dating each other in the program," he said he advises his athletes.

The Hansons want as few distractions as possible for the team members so they can focus on their training. Next up for the Hansons women is the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Boston, Mass. Keith said he thinks Deena Kastor will win the trials, but that second and third spots are wide open for a 2:30 performance. He expects his team to perform well at the April 20 race. If the men's performances in New York are an indication, the women's hard work should pay off.

*Photo from www.hansons-running.com