You have to admire Blake Russell (4th Olympic trials) for her aggressive front running

Even Blake said it was stupid in her post-race quote. She couldn't read her watch? She knew it was too fast? That is just plain ignorance.

Let's save talk of "bravery" and "courage" for things like battlefield heroics and rescues from burning buildings.

This was just a race. Russell chose a race strategy that has been used by others many times, generally without much success. Perhaps it could have worked here if there had been only one pre-race favorite to make the team. In such a case, the "dark horse" runs out of sight, the favorite eventually chases after her, and all of the others jockey for the third spot. Here, though, there were two strong pre-race favorites, Deena and Colleen, so it was unlikely that a slow, tactical race for third would develop if a "dark horse" went out to a big lead. That, to my mind, made Russell's strategy a bit suspect.

Consider also that frontrunning of this sort does not necessarily imply confidence in one's abilities. Often, it implies lack of confidence. In marathons where time is largely irrelevant and place is paramount, runners who build up a big lead are often motivated by either (1) a desire to get some attention before the favorites take over or (2) a lack of confidence in one's ability to close strong and beat one's competitors in a painful all-out push to the finish. Sometimes, of course, they simply don't understand optimal pacing in a marathon, which generally feels ridiculously easy early on, and ridiculously hard toward the end.

i wouldn't compare them either, cause Blake finished much stronger than Sell did. both were gutsy, but Blake ran an excellent race until the last mile.

Zat0pek wrote:

There is always some idiot that blasts out from the start in the Trials marathon and implodes. In the mens race it was Sell, in the womens it was Russell. These things never end well, but people never learn.

in '84, that "idiot" was Benoit, running so soon after surgery to boot. Then in the games themselves, she was the same "idiot."

If Russell had gone with the other lead-pack types early, it still would have been aggressive, considering her PR, but apparently she couldn't see that.

when wrote:

i wouldn't compare them either, cause Blake finished much stronger than Sell did. both were gutsy, but Blake ran an excellent race until the last mile.

Nah, there were just less bodies to go by her the last bit when she was in death shuffle mode than there were people that went by Sell. How else do you explain her "holding on" to third until 26, then getting beat by 35 seconds in a quarter mile? She was fading like crazy, at 23 Runner's World called her stride "marathon death march shuffle", only unlike in the men's race there was no one to get her til the last quarter.

i agree with vip,

you gotta take risks, and you make mistakes, you never know if youll have a good day or not, and maybe she made a stupid call, but i still give her props. conservative running is laying in wait, maybe its 'smart' but i think in terms of people i enjoy watching and reading about in the sport, its the ones who lay it all out and dont always come out victorious necessarily. some of you seem to be layin it on pretty harsh on vipman, the sport would suck if it werent for people like blake. i personally think the idea of having people in a race specifically to rabbit them is b.s. and artificially trying to create the sometimes wreckless racers who take risks, it does the sport a disservice to not credit these people and rely on artificial scenarios for fast times. my 10 cents.

Yes agreed

How many of these critique's are coming from fellas that have actually trained for and run 26.2? I can't imagine there are too many running fans out there that don't root for a runner laying out like Russell did, but in a marathon? Car can't run when the tanks empty.

Blake is an outstandingly impressive runner, and is welcome to run how she pleases, which she does.

However it was a terrible and not very useful tactic. She set up the other runners and burned herself out.

Generally runners go out at an excessively fast pace because of two reasons:

1) Insecurity, fear of being able to win (or place) thus putting on a show of leading for 15 or 25 miles. But the race was 26.2188 miles. Whoever leads before the final parts of the race is of no consequence.

2) Overconfidence, and lack of respect and consideration for the abilities of the other runners.

Reading the race recap, my feeling from the start was not that she was brave, but that she didn't deserve to win the race, nor to place.

However, ability wise, she was certainly in a position to have won, had she run the race well.

Posters that are saying Blake was stupid or ran stupid are just being harsh for no reason, if she simply held on for 3rd place and made the team everyone would be saying she was brave, great, etc. Blake may have went out quicker than she wanted and now she knows that but she is one of the few Americans that attempted to such a performance. In my opinion she's gaining experience at how international marathon (san Athens) are sometimes run and we need athletes that are willing to put it all on the line.

Mark P. and Steve S. while they did medal at Worlds/Olympics they wouldn't medal with the same strategy that they used over a decade ago. The athletes today more often than not go steady from the gun and increase the speed posting fast times. While she didn't make the team I think it shows she have great marathon potential and with more marathon racing experience she will be one of U.S. best marathoners soon and that fearlessness will be a great weapon then.

Vipam

oldguy wrote:

Consider also that frontrunning of this sort does not necessarily imply confidence in one's abilities. Often, it implies lack of confidence. In marathons where time is largely irrelevant and place is paramount, runners who build up a big lead are often motivated by a lack of confidence in one's ability to close strong and beat one's competitors in a painful all-out push to the finish. Sometimes, of course, they simply don't understand optimal pacing in a marathon, which generally feels ridiculously easy early on, and ridiculously hard toward the end.

oldguy, It's always nice to see someone with a like opinion. I've always held what you said as a truth most people don't want to look at honestly. The uninformed say an early leader is showing confidence, but usually (there are exceptions) it is what you say. What is your opinion on an unchallenged effort? Many say, "Wow if he-she was in a competitive race they would've ran much faster." I think that alone, many relax and focus much better than in a heated race, although there are exceptions here as well.

chub

I too agree with oldguy that sometimes that could be a sign of lack of confidence in ones closing abilities. Blake Russell admitted that she went out faster than she wanted, but she had planned a fast race because she trained for and is capable of running fast and holding the fast pace (she just went out too fast, much faster than even she planned). The fact that she went out faster than she planned was due to excitement and being a novice at marathon pacing and not lack of confidence.

Vipam

It's not exactly like Bob Sevene is stinting in the phrase "She reminds me of Joanie blah blah blah". In the past he has used those exact words to describe Gwyn Coogan, Cathy OBrien, Nan Doak Davis in short anybody who he has coached.

vipam, I was simply giving oldguy a pat on the back for bringing up an angle most don't see. I don't have a clue what goes on in someone else's head, and I try not to comment on such. I respect everyone's attempt to do what is best for themselves regardless of my opinion.

Why are people calling her race "gutsy" and "brave"; because she hung on? Cramps have a cause, they are not just from bad luck. Why do people feel this performance bodes well for her 10K performance?

She ran a stupid race and admittedly did not run her plan. It may be her second 26.2, but not her second race.

She's a great athlete with potential, but giving her all the praise for 4th with lousy tactics does not make sense.

vector wrote:

Zat0pek wrote:

There is always some idiot that blasts out from the start in the Trials marathon and implodes. In the mens race it was Sell, in the womens it was Russell. These things never end well, but people never learn.

in '84, that "idiot" was Benoit, running so soon after surgery to boot. Then in the games themselves, she was the same "idiot."

The lone exception that proves the rule. Blake Russell ain't no Joan Benoit. No saying she can't be or won't be at some point, but right now she's not.

She said herself post-race it was dumb. Not trying to be unduly critical, but when people come on here and praise that kind strategy by a 2:30 second-time marathoner in the Trials of all races, it needs to be called what it was.

Whether Russell ran stupidly or courageously is conjecture, but it was bad execution in either case. Olympic opportunities are precious and shouldn't be wasted. It's been said of a lot of 4th placers -- she's young and talented and she'll be back -- then they never run as well again. The point is when the opportunity is there you have to take it, you can't say she ran well, she'll get them the next time because the next time may never come.

Could Blake Russell still got if Deena (or one of the other two) bags the Marathon and goes for the 10K or get injured? I don't feel like looking up all the qualifying times. Yes I am the laziest/busiest Marathoner on the planet, even when I am not able to run, ha.

I applaud Blake's efforts, she laid it on the line and went for it. It didn't happen, sometimes that's the way it goes. Of course this wouldn't be Letsrun if someone (everyone) didn't put her down for it. How many people have really gone after their dream like that? I know I wasn't able to at the Trials. Look at the times, there were a lot of people that didn't even finish or make the "B" standard qualifying time. Sorry for the interuption, continue to put others down now.