Not retired yet: Shalane Flanagan is Running the 2018 NYC Marathon

rojo wrote:

Just read the NY Times article. It looks like the race gave them "the scoop" in return for a feature on Flanagan as the official press release (Posted at the bottom of this post) came out today.

Here are my thoughts on the article that I enjoyed.

1) The article is bad news for 2020 US Olympic marathonhopefuls.

I was assuming she wouldn't do 2020 Olympics simply so she could have kids. Now that I've read that she's adopting, then I don't see why she wouldn't run through 2020 (Now, if they adopt a baby, it might be really hard to balance) and run as long as she can. The money is hard to pass up and she's still really good.

2) If it was me, I think I'd be insulted the honor Nike gave her on the campus.

"The company even named an executive parking spot on its sprawling campus after her, though it is not reserved for her."

A parking spot? I'd rather just have nothing or maybe a small coktail hour or something. I don't think she's worthy of a building but a parking spot? Really?

3)I thought the following excerpt was absurd.

the NY Times wrote:

After standout distance performances at the world championships last August, Flanagan’s win in New York capped a watershed year in American women’s distance-running milestones, and led to more.

In Boston in April, her teammate in the Olympic marathon Des Linden became the first American woman to win the Boston Marathon since 1985. Suddenly the American women are ascendant in a way they have not been before.

“My win in New York changed the trajectory for other American women because we’re friends, we’re teammates,” Flanagan said. “And at some point they’ve beaten me too, so I think it was a great motivator. You don’t get to choose your moment, and I think when I had mine, they thought, why shouldn’t I win too?”

While I think Flanagan deserves a ton of credit for helping all of the Bowerman Track Club women rise to the top of the world, I think she deserves basically zero for Desi's win. Yes I know the next thing was a tweet from Flanagan but come on if anyone should be getting credit for Desi's win other than Desi it should be Mother Nature.

https://twitter.com/ShalaneFlanagan/status/928061797080342528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E928061797080342528&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2018%2F08%2F13%2Fsports%2Fshalene-flanagan-new-york.html

4) Here is the press release.

the NYRR wrote:

Defending Champions Shalane Flanagan, Geoffrey Kamworor, Manuela Schär, and Marcel Hug to Return to TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 4

Flanagan looks to repeat after becoming the first U.S. woman in 40 years to win the open division at the world’s largest marathon

New York, August 14, 2018 – Reigning champions Shalane Flanagan of the United States, Geoffrey Kamworor of Kenya, and Manuela Schär, and Marcel Hug of Switzerland will return to defend their TCS New York City Marathon titles on Sunday, November 4.

At last year’s race, Flanagan became the first U.S. woman to win the open division in New York since Miki Gorman did so in 1977, while Kamworor claimed his first major marathon victory in the men’s open division, and Hug and Schär both won their fourth major marathon victories of the year with a Swiss sweep of the wheelchair division.

“Last year was one for the ages, with Shalane making history, Geoffrey having a breakthrough race, and Manuela and Marcel becoming the first winning pair from the same country to sweep the wheelchair division,” said Peter Ciaccia, president of events for NYRR and race director of the TCS New York City Marathon. “We are excited to have all four of our TCS New York City Marathon champions – Shalane, Geoffrey, Manuela, and Marcel – returning to defend their titles at the world’s largest marathon. Together, this group of all-time greats will headline our professional athlete races and lead the 50,000-plus runners behind them as they thrill the more than 1 million spectators that line the course. We can fully expect another electrifying race this year.”

Flanagan, 37, ended a 40-year drought for American women in the open division at the 2017 TCS New York City Marathon by seizing the crown from Kenya’s Mary Keitany with a time of 2:26:53. With her first victory in just her second appearance at the New York City Marathon – she was runner-up in her marathon debut in 2010 – Flanagan became the sixth U.S. women’s champion in the event and recorded the second-fastest time by a U.S. woman at the event. The 16-time national champion and Olympic silver medalist will be racing again this year as an NYRR Team for Kids Ambassador. She is also an avid supporter of NYRR’s Run for the Future program, which empowers young women entering their senior year of high school to learn about running while building self-esteem and confidence, developing leadership skills and training to complete a 5K run. In the women’s open division, Flanagan will join previously announced Des Linden, the 2018 Boston Marathon champion, and Allie Kieffer, the fifth-place finisher at last year’s TCS New York City Marathon.

Kamworor, 25, claimed his first major marathon victory last year when he held off compatriot Wilson Kipsang down the final turns in Central Park. The 2015 TCS New York City Marathon runner-up separated himself from the field with a 4:31 penultimate mile to finish in 2:10:53. The Kenyan has won the last three consecutive IAAF World Half-Marathon Championships and placed 11th in the 10,000 meters at the Rio 2016 Olympics. He recorded three consecutive sub-2:07 performances at the BMW Berlin Marathon from 2012-2014, with his 2012 race of 2:06:12 remaining his personal best.

Schär, 33, had finished as runner-up three years in New York before finally taking the tape last year in 1:51:02 to end American Tatyana McFadden’s streak of four consecutive victories at the event. The win gave her a fourth major marathon victory of the year, adding to her wins in Boston, London, and Berlin. Schär is a three-time Paralympic medalist and four-time European champion who has already won the Tokyo Marathon and Abbott World Marathon Majors Series XI titles this year.

Hug, 32, won his second consecutive and third overall New York City Marathon title last year in a time of 1:37:21. The victory also marked his fourth major win of the year, having already won in Boston, Berlin, and Chicago. Hug has been the Abbott World Marathon Majors Wheelchair Series champion the last two years and already won the Boston Marathon earlier this year. He is an eight-time Paralympic medalist with 16 career major marathon titles to his name.

Quotes from defending champions on returning to the TCS New York City Marathon:

“When I think about returning to race in New York City, I’m flooded with magical memories. My heart skips a beat, I get butterflies in my stomach, and my palms get sweaty. New York City is incredibly special to me. It’s where I ran my first marathon in 2010, placing second, and of course, my dream come true moment in 2017 when I won the TCS New York City Marathon.

I’m thrilled to have the opportunity, support, passion, and health to defend my title in 2018. I hope everyone preparing enjoys their journey to the start line and I look forward to celebrating with all the runners at the finish line on November 4th.”

-Shalane Flanagan

“Racing once more in the TCS New York City Marathon means so much to me. It is my favorite race, and although thousands of miles separate my training base in Kaptagat, Kenya to New York, the event feels like home. I say that because of the friendly nature of the event, the terrific organization and also because of the warmth I feel from the many thousands of supporters lining the route.”

-Geoffrey Kamworor

“Last November, a dream came true for me. Winning the TCS New York City Marathon was one of the biggest achievements of my career. I am very excited to return to the streets of this amazing city. I feel fully fit again and will try my best to defend my title.”

- Manuela Schär

“It’s always a great pleasure to come back and participate in the TCS New York City Marathon. It’s a fantastic and very prestigious marathon with a special atmosphere and excellent organization. I will prepare my best to defend my title.”

-Marcel Hug

The TCS New York City Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, a series made up of the world’s six largest and most renowned road races – the Tokyo, Boston, Virgin Money London, Bank of America Chicago, and TCS New York City Marathons. Points are allocated to the top five finishers in each race, with the top three men’s and women’s finishers in both the open and wheelchair divisions earning prize money.

The 2018 TCS New York City Marathon will be televised live on Sunday, November 4, on WABC-TV, Channel 7 in the New York tristate area from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET, and for the rest of the nation on ESPN2 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET.

Forrest Child wrote:

Men can change their names as well, and they do sometimes, even sometimes their spouses'. It's not mandatory for women to change their names when married. It's just a tradition. Some respect it, some don't. I had half expected it from my wife, but would respect it, if she didn't want to for a very good reason (career-wise, etc.). But for no other reason than proving a futile feminist stand point? Well, then I would like to prove my stand point as well, and I would like to have my kids to be named after parents with identical names. It's a free world and you can always find a man who likes to be pushed around. I don't. (P.S.: don't be surprised to be a 38yo desperate childless feminist, because lots of men expect at least half respecting wife, not a quarrelling feminist bigot fighting for rights that are there for everyone to enjoy for more than half a century.)

NewtotheSouthSide wrote:

#1 Yes, you're right that the 2020 trials will change if Shalane runs. Can we, however, cover female athletes without assuming that they want kids or that the burden will be tenfold when/if they do (& it doesn't matter adopted or not)? We never ask male runners how having a kid affects their training.

#2 More women should have buildings named after them.

#3 You cover the sport -- Des has said that seeing Shalane win gave her some confidence/hope that she could do the same. Everything doesn't happen in a vacuum. Yes, Des, went out and won the race. Yes, the weather wasn't great and she persevered. But Shalane won in NYC and that got people, including other us pros, excited. There's some value in that. The article isn't saying that Shalane won Boston for Des. This particular article is focused on Shalane so they're going to find plenty of ways to talk about her impact on the running world.

#4 Looking forward to seeing who else is announced!

Forrest Child wrote:

Men can change their names as well, and they do sometimes, even sometimes their spouses'. It's not mandatory for women to change their names when married. It's just a tradition. Some respect it, some don't. I had half expected it from my wife, but would respect it, if she didn't want to for a very good reason (career-wise, etc.). But for no other reason than proving a futile feminist stand point? Well, then I would like to prove my stand point as well, and I would like to have my kids to be named after parents with identical names. It's a free world and you can always find a man who likes to be pushed around. I don't. (P.S.: don't be surprised to be a 38yo desperate childless feminist, because lots of men expect at least half respecting wife, not a quarrelling feminist bigot fighting for rights that are there for everyone to enjoy for more than half a century.)

North side wrote:

NewtotheSouthSide wrote:

#1 Yes, you're right that the 2020 trials will change if Shalane runs. Can we, however, cover female athletes without assuming that they want kids or that the burden will be tenfold when/if they do (& it doesn't matter adopted or not)? We never ask male runners how having a kid affects their training.

#2 More women should have buildings named after them.

#3 You cover the sport -- Des has said that seeing Shalane win gave her some confidence/hope that she could do the same. Everything doesn't happen in a vacuum. Yes, Des, went out and won the race. Yes, the weather wasn't great and she persevered. But Shalane won in NYC and that got people, including other us pros, excited. There's some value in that. The article isn't saying that Shalane won Boston for Des. This particular article is focused on Shalane so they're going to find plenty of ways to talk about her impact on the running world.

#4 Looking forward to seeing who else is announced!

I think you are wrong on #1. There was talk about Rupp when his wife gave birth and how having a family would impact his training. Obviously a woman giving birth to a child will impact her running and training so it is a pretty normal subject to talk about. No need to make it a sexist issue.

I don't like you wrote:

Forrest Child wrote:

Men can change their names as well, and they do sometimes, even sometimes their spouses'. It's not mandatory for women to change their names when married. It's just a tradition. Some respect it, some don't. I had half expected it from my wife, but would respect it, if she didn't want to for a very good reason (career-wise, etc.). But for no other reason than proving a futile feminist stand point? Well, then I would like to prove my stand point as well, and I would like to have my kids to be named after parents with identical names. It's a free world and you can always find a man who likes to be pushed around. I don't. (P.S.: don't be surprised to be a 38yo desperate childless feminist, because lots of men expect at least half respecting wife, not a quarrelling feminist bigot fighting for rights that are there for everyone to enjoy for more than half a century.)

Lots of men expect at last half respecting wife as in giving up part of their identity?

- My $0,02:These men don't deserves a wife wife.

In my situation the wife tok my name, because my last name sounds better than what she had. I actually wanted us to take her mother's maiden name since that actually sounds even better. We haven't though because she is afraid her dinosaur right wing dad would get insulted, so now we're waiting for him to die before we change.

F**k patriarch traditions!

I don't like you wrote:

Forrest Child wrote:

Men can change their names as well, and they do sometimes, even sometimes their spouses'. It's not mandatory for women to change their names when married. It's just a tradition. Some respect it, some don't. I had half expected it from my wife, but would respect it, if she didn't want to for a very good reason (career-wise, etc.). But for no other reason than proving a futile feminist stand point? Well, then I would like to prove my stand point as well, and I would like to have my kids to be named after parents with identical names. It's a free world and you can always find a man who likes to be pushed around. I don't. (P.S.: don't be surprised to be a 38yo desperate childless feminist, because lots of men expect at least half respecting wife, not a quarrelling feminist bigot fighting for rights that are there for everyone to enjoy for more than half a century.)

Lots of men expect at last half respecting wife as in giving up part of their identity?

- My $0,02:These men don't deserves a wife wife.

In my situation the wife tok my name, because my last name sounds better than what she had. I actually wanted us to take her mother's maiden name since that actually sounds even better. We haven't though because she is afraid her dinosaur right wing dad would get insulted, so now we're waiting for him to die before we change.

F**k patriarch traditions!