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Deena Kastor at the 2008 NY Mini: "I Want a Gold Medal" Yesterday was the NY Mini 10k press conference with Dutch running star Hilda Kibet, and the 2008 US Olympic Marathon team (Deena Kastor, Blake Russell, and Magdalena Lewy-Boulet). This week is a celebration of the sport of running, the New York Road Runners (NYRR), and women's running. Wednesday was the 50th Anniversary of the NYRR and all week with Running Week they have been having events celebrating the fiftieth anniversary. Kathrine Switzer was on hand to chronicle just how far women's running has come in the 37 years of the NY Mini (it was the first women's only road race). We cover that part of the press conference here and really recommend it. (The first race was a smashing success and it featured Playboy bunnies and only 78 runners).. The US women are all more focused on marathon preparation than 10k preparation, although Blake Russell and Magdalena Lewy-Boulet are both doing the Olympic Trials 10,000m. (Blake Russell is so focused on the marathon, she even forgot at first at the press conference that she is running the 10k Trials). Runnersworld has a brief chat recapping the main press conference here. We talked to Deena Kastor briefly after the press conference. The interview is below. Deena is solely focused on the Olympics and one thing, trying to upgrade her bronze medal to a gold one. She said, "I want a gold medal.... There is nothing more I want than to see the flag being raised and the national anthem being played. I can't think of a better gift to my country that has been so supportive of me." As for this weekend, don't expect Deena to win the race. As she said in the main press conference, "Im not too speed-oriented in terms of 10k racing right now, but strength is looking pretty good." Deena also talks about Ryan Hall at the end of the London Marathon, "It was the first time I've seen him hurt a little bit, but it looks too good. He's got another thing coming (the first time he really hits the wall)." Deena Kastor (4:40) And it's not on tape, but after the last part of the interview above, we discussed with Deena how we saw all the husbands of the women who made the Olympic marathon team running around at the Marathon Trials and how focused and excited they were. She said she knew, and then talked about this picture of her husband on letsrun.com taken during the Trials. She acted like he would scare people off. He doesn't look too scary or focused to us. Personally, we were just surprised she was on page 3 of our photo gallery. We've got the formal part of the press conference with the current athletes below. For a recap of the part with Kathrine Switzer and Mary Wittenberg click here. More Press Conference:
Runner's World &
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