Shalane Flanagan 10k USA Outdoor Championships

seriously relax 2nd isn't too bad it's not the end of the world. Berlin is what matters.

ah, quit makin' excuses. you came in second.

Sharing the lead is how the kenyans have done it for years. Drop everyone else then race at the end. It's to bad the Americans can't do this on a regular basis. They would be better racers, run faster times, and better preparred for the international meets in the summer.

Look at the men last night, nobody worked together and the pace plodded along until the last 2k when Ritz pulled Rupp along to the finish. Had three or four guys had the balls to share the lead and take it out it would have been a faster time, better race, and maybe even Stiffened up Rupp a little bit. I guaruntee that's how worlds will play out and Rupp won't be anywhere near the medals.

Amy lead the last 4 laps...no exchanges. She basically said her loss was her sacrifice for being a pacer...Why not go after it the last 800?

excuses, excuses

I like Shalane.
I am confused though by her characterization of this race as 'tactical' and not a time trial. In classic tactical races you get zero cooperation from your competitors and the pace is very up and down. This was steady and coordinated...more like a time trial....until the last lap.

I hope Shalane has a great race in Berlin. She was setting records early in the season last year and managed to hold form to medal late in the season. By starting the hard racing later this year perhaps she can have a higher peak at worlds

Picking a coach who has no experience/success working with woman when your at her level is probably a nieve decision.

They worked together until about 2 laps to go. That was the plan in order to help Begley run a PR. Had Shalane made it a race from the gun instead of leaving up to a kick, I wonder who would have won. When you wait nad hope for a kick, it can be anyone's race, even when one person's PR is a minute faster than the other. Especially when you have to worry about the runners being lapped getting in your way. Its like Kara Goucher getting 3rd at World...she wasnt the 3rd best in the field by PR, but she closed better than all bu 2 women.

She seems to trust her coach a lot and his way of coaching. She hasn't won a race in a quite some time now, so the interviewers must be thinking and wanting to ask if she made the right move in switching coaches. I think she did. Winning any race is great, but winning or medaling in a big race is even better. Her training is focused on that and I think(hope) that she really breaks out when it counts. Good luck Shalane, keep up the good work:D