Why on earth did Emma Bates think she could win Boston?

Scott Fauble is just as bad as Emma.

Sometimes you have to believe to keep going/training. Even if objectively it was foolish. She could have done worst if she didn't think she could win. At least she almost own first non-African/American. That isn't that bad.

I see her as more influencer than competitor at this point. She comes in, builds hype and the media reports it. It’s good for ASICS and Coros and whoever else sponsors her. Earns her a nice appearance fee. Feels like she’s looking more for attention and clicks than to put out a good result. The perception of being elite without elite results. Also, she needs a new coach.

With that type of mindset, she ain’t never winning Boston. One thing I learned about life is that you have to be honest with yourself

did she just hear a shiny new pair of Pumas? Maybe?

I’m thankful I’m not a running journalist; I wouldn’t be able to sit through that interview without kissing her passionately.

So did Rosie Ruiz.

She’s wasn’t though was she. Calli Thackery was 6th. Then you had two more American women before her (who had made no such claims about winning it but had amazing performances).

I do like Emma but I think it’s better to keep cards close to your chest and then surprise people rather than do the big talk up before. Surely that also adds to the pressure? I did notice she didn’t look particularly tired at the end - waving to people and looking quite happy. If you’d given it your all on Boston surely you’d look a bit more spent….

What Emma Bates Stan is in here downvoting every comment lol? Is that what she meant by Bates mode?

It will be interesting to hear the recaps this time. There’s no visible injury (like last time) she’s had a good build up.. she didn’t go out too fast with the lead group (I don’t think).

I think many of them (including Sara and Kiera) very much suffered with the fast pace initially and that had an impact on the rest of their race.

She’s still quiet on instagram which I find annoying. Others who had a bad day (Sara and Keira) have updated. You can’t post constantly before and court the media and then nothing afterwards. It works both ways.

Honestly glad to see her dropped... All that "I was the leader of Boston" last year or whenever it was, was so annoying.... Upcoming Part I / Part II PartXXXX wrap up

She needs a new coach

Or is this just how good she is? She’s a 2:23-2:25 marathoner. Nothing to be ashamed of but just stop talking about winning majors.

It definitely isn't unique to Emma. In other sports, athletes are better at acknowledging that performing at the highest level is difficult and that there are worthy competitors trying to do the same etc. etc. Pro runners tend to be pretty black and white about "I'm the best and if I lose it's because I'm hurt/sick." I think it would be healthy if they could frame it as "I did my best but it's really hard to win." It's especially ridiculous because they don't know their competitors' training. How could you possibly know you're ready to win a major marathon?

Obviously, Emma and others know this. I just don't get why they have to do the false confidence thing every time out.

I'm always surprised when people are so confident when there's no data that indicates they're ready to do what they think they can do. If training is going well and you're running faster than ever in practice, then ya be confident. But if you're not doing anything special in training, and your recent races haven't indicated that you are faster now, then why would you think you're going to suddenly run better than you ever have before? Maybe they're taking into account it's the marathon and maybe everyone in front of them will drop out or have bad races and you're the last one left? That does happen sometimes, maybe on paper you're 10th-15th but a lot of people ahead of you have bad days and you just take care of business at your typical level of performance and finish a lot better. But if it is likely to take a sub 2:20 and you've never done that and you don't seem to be faster than ever it's not realistic to think you're going to win.

I think Joe is a fine coach given the situation.

That group isn’t a real group, it is a collective. No shoe sponsor, no true event focus.

Again Joe is her 3rd? 4th coach since college?

Marathon isn’t that hard to write, especially with all of the information we have now. Steve Jones was running 2:08 many many years ago with no splits!!!

It is a cruel sport, I think a lot of athletes lie to themselves to get through the training. Hold on to the hope that one big performance is just around the corner and it will make all the sacrifices worth it. The monk lifestyle, careers and family on hold. Watching friends move on and grow in life while you go to bed at 9:00pm.

Poetic in a way.

Joe woke up one day and decided that he was a professional coach. He did not go through the collegiate system and learn the correct way.

Connor Mantz's coach predicted his great breakthrough. Congrats to both of them.

Laugh, but this poster is probably more right than wrong. She's on this thread, that's not even in question.

I'm on the younger side and she's not influencing me in the least. Remind me again why her husband divorced her? People aren't who you think they are.

I met Goucher in Atlanta the day before the trials....never even said "hi" after I said hi first. The picture we took together was deleted after I walked away.