LIVE NOW W Marathon

Just "going for the win" is useless, unless you're Samuel Wanjiru, and have the talent and mental capacity to endure basically anything the marathon can throw at you.

I know ... all the truly tough American Women are doing Mixed Martial Arts. Having listened carefully to and observed American Coaching, I've never seen a more coddled bunch of softies as female American Distance Runners. The East Africans dominate because they're just mentally harder - pure and simple - mere participation is not an option for them.

Correct ... You actually need to Train To WIN. I have tremendous respect for Shalane Flanagan because she was a beast - A relentless lioness - An Alpha Female. To her, losing was not acceptable. There is a definitive difference between Flanagan's approach to racing and to what I refer to as the Goucher bunch mindset. I repeat, World Class Athletics is about "Winning", not Participation [save that for your local 5K/10K fun runs]. To paraphrase the Romans - Fortune Favors The Bold! No one watches World Athletics to cheer for the timid. We cheer for those who honor the Arena with their Courage ... not their passivity.

US women took 6th, 7th, 9th in Rio 2016. Which looks good in terms of ongoing depth that three different runners do similar today.

Anyone can go out hard and blow up. It takes skill to run a measured race to attain the best possible position for yourself.

It's not about NASCAR. It's about the mentality and spirit of the competitors. The 10K was "Fun" for Americans because Grant Fisher put himself in the mix with the best that East Africa had to offer and battled like a Lion. He didn't wilt and dropped back to "Run Smartly to the Finish". He accepted the role and responsibility of a Alpha. NASCAR has many Alphas. American Marathoners piss on their viewing audience and call it rain. I personally know many young American distance runners who purchase and proudly wear Kenyan running kits ... Let it soak in before you respond ... Let it soak in!!!

Hey Bourbon, have you ever run a marathon? If so, did you win? If you didn't win, did you run with the leaders until you passed out?

New Marathon rule: Everyone has to stay within 5 seconds of the leader. When they can no longer hold the pace, they drop out and accept their participation medal. Last one standing wins- they can walk the final 15 miles if they have dropped everyone else.

Isn't the real reason for the gap between our marathoners (a great job, BTW, for the US) and the East African winners due to basic foot speed? I suspect the 10k times for the winner and 2nd and 3rd are much faster than our runners?

I could have sworn in yesterday's broadcast they said something about this being the first year for a team medal but I didn't hear them mention it today

Kara Goucher won a silver in Osaka at the 10,000 meters. She won a bronze in the World Cup in Athens at 3000 M. She was third in Boston and New York.

You?

I have always known that those who disparage the elites are usually below mediocre. The best of the best never slag their competition. Gebrselassie never said a bid word about his competitors, in fact he respected them.

Yes, Molly "did" go for it and medaled.

As for today, while the final result looks impressive on paper, we had two scared athletes out there today. (D'Amato gets a pass due to her late addition to the team)

But what a load of crap so many of you are spewing about how great our ladies did. NOT one competed. Yes, you can throw waste to the East Africans that blew up, but you know what? They competed AND raced.

Sara, nothing against you personally but this was not another one of your "fake" Oregon races with 2 other runners on a bike path paced by hubby.

Emma, nice PB but I would have become a fan had you raced.

Both Sara and Emma beat Angela Tanui . . . yet of the three, Angela gets my vote because she came to race, and let the chips fall where they fall.

Hey DA yes I have. No I didn't. I've won my share of weekend warrior 5Ks & 10Ks. That being said, ever notice how we demand winning of American Sprinters, yet find every excuse for American Marathoners? One thing I've noted with the pre-teens and teenagers I coach, they love sorting things out over good competition - separating the Alphas from the Betas. In world athletics - Gold, Silver, Bronze -Those are the Alphas. Everyone else is a Pretender / Beta until they prove otherwise; only Americans laud their perpetual Betas. We enshrine Losing when it pertains to American Marathoners. That's why young, teenaged, American Girls and Boys idolize the East African runners; why they purchase their racing kits. I'll have teenage Distance Runners talking about Noah Lyles, Arrington Knighton, Faith Kipyegon ... never about Sara Hall. It didn't take me long to grasp their [American Teenagers] thinking - They like Winners!!! I know its a hard concept for you to grasp in the current American Distance Running landscape. Distance Running in America exploded when Frank Shorter WON the Olympic Marathon; Cycling exploded with Lance Armstrong's VICTORIES in the Tour [irrespective of doping]. Current American Marathoners bore the living crap out of everyone. They capture no one's imagination. They're like cheap beer - lot's of restroom breaks when they're being broadcast - nothing to see there. And it will remain that way until the Soy is expunged, and the Bourbon & Whiskey return to the fore. So keep making the excuses until no one's broadcasting Marathons except for select internet websites.

And how long ago was that? You're alleging that Americans should laud continuous losing by hiding behind Goucher's accomplishments how many moons ago? WAKE UP! It's 2022!!!

Gebreselassie was selling product! With the investments being made into American Distance Athletes, where is the ROI? ... That's the Bottom Line!

# of Days since an Goucher won a World Championship / Olympic Medal = 5,375

# of American Women to have won a World Championship / Olympic Distance Running Medal since Kara Goucher = 1 [Molly Seidel]

Amount of USD Expended by NIKE, Brooks, Adidas, Saucony, HOKA to produce 2 American Women Medalist over the past 5,375(+) Days [and counting] = MILLIONS

The American Market; Where losing Pays handsomely!

NOTE: Excluding Bernard Legat. The picture is marginally better for men.

And my last word on the matter: Remember Honda, and Toyota of the 1970s? I'm old enough to remember those pieces of crap. I'm also old enough to recall how these companies revamped their processes and committed themselves to Total Quality Production and Management. When the mentality and processes are in synch with the goal of Total Quality, the end product eventually rises to become wholly Total Quality. However, none of that ever happens when continuous "not good enough" performance is lauded as "Top Shelf". NO - It is not! Whilst the 'Bowerman Track Club' is on the verge of achieving that 'Top Shelf' breakthrough, the same is not true for the industry wide performances of American Distance Runners. Again - it been 15(+) Years since Goucher with only 2 medals at World / Olympic Competitions during that timespan. Realism Rules The Day!

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE MEME!!! But getting your butts handed to you time, after time, after time, after time equates to one thing ... STUPIDITY in LOSING! - YOU KEEP GETTING YOUR BUTTS KICKED IN ANY RACE GREATER THAN 800-METERS! Even on your home soil! Have A Little Pride. Just A Pinch. Go borrow a little from the American Sprinters, Shot Putters, Pole Vaulters, Hurdlers, and Hammer Throwers. Have Enough Pride to Go For The Victory! If you don't have pride - a little shame will do you good also.