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Lets All Stand Up and Cheer For Shalane Flanagan

Published by
DyeStatPRO.com   Sep 28th 2014, 5:21pm
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American Wraps Up a Season to Remember

By Scott Bush

In 2014, Shalane Flanagan has dropped over four minutes from her personal best coming into the year. She’s led the Boston Marathon for over 17 miles, setting the pace for what would become the fastest Boston Marathon in history. Her 2:22:02 in Boston was the fastest ever by an American.

On Sunday in Berlin, Flanagan laid it on the line again. In the weeks leading up to the BMW Berlin Marathon, Flanagan stated time and again that her sole goal was to go after Deena Kastor’s 2:19:36 American record. She brought in two professional marathon men to pace her, did her workouts at sub-2:20 pace and readied herself mentally for the challenge that lie ahead.

In the early hours Sunday morning in the United States, fans stayed up well past their bedtime to catch Flanagan attack a record with purpose. It’s a rare day an athlete comes out so openly, repeating their desire to smash a record. Flanagan did that and for a while it looked as though the Portland-based Olympic medalist would give it a serious run.

Then the final stages of Sunday’s race hit, and as Flanagan slowed, she simply couldn’t hang on, losing the lead and losing the record. She finished in 2:21:14, a new personal best by nearly a minute, the second fastest time ever run by an American and inched closer to Kastor’s American record. She passed the legendary Joan Benoit Samuelson's best of 2:21:21 and Kastor’s 2:21:25 Chicago Marathon victory performance.

It took Kastor three years to jump from her then 2:21:16 best to her London Marathon winning mark of 2:19:36. Three years. Flanagan has enjoyed a special level of success throughout her career. Countless U.S. titles, American records, an Olympic medal and so much more. She’s been the most dominant U.S. athlete in her chosen event, on the track and on the roads, for years. Flanagan’s reign shows no signs of slowing, and if it takes three years before we see her break the American record, then so be it, we’ll all wait for that magical moment.

Flanagan’s 2014 season is the best year for an American marathoner ever. Sure, she didn’t win a marathon major, but she entertained, ran personal bests, showed why no one can take her lightly and gives Americans hope in an event that’s only becoming faster and more competitive.

Flanagan laid it on the line Sunday. She talked up her hopes and dreams and put it out there for the world to watch. She didn’t accomplish her objective, but American distance running fans should be proud of her and give her a standing ovation for laying it on the line and entertaining the world for two hours, twenty-one minutes and fourteen seconds.



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1 comment(s)
Kevin
Well written, Scott! What a thrilling time to be a fan of the sport with Shalane and all the great and inspirational athletes we have to follow.

Cheryl Treworgy, Shalane's proud mother (and talented lady by many measures in her own right!) wished me to pass along these warm regards to you, Scott.

Kevin, can you please pass on my appreciation to Scott Bush for the insight and history he presented in his reporting of Shalane's race today. By putting her performance in perspective for all of us, we can more clearly appreciate her efforts. His willingness to point out that what drives her can force others to dig deeper too. And I am grateful he was able to do this reminding us that her drive deserves our respect and admiration.

She is my daughter and the criticisms of how she chooses to chase her dream hurt. There are so few who can stand in her shoes, so I guess we should allow them to pretend what they would do. That's where Scott's respectful comments helped me rise above and enjoy the pride we should all feel. Thank you, Scott.
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