Deena --PLEASE RETIRE

Well, at least you didn't let yourself down.

You didn't answer the question by the way...an anxious LR public awaits your reply.

Question for everyone on this thread!

If you were given $10,000 to finish a marathon regardless of your time, would you run?

End of story! I'd do every damn marathon they paid me to go to! Even if she's near the end of her best races or past, it's still her career and I'd run ever race they paid me to run. AND so would you!

Come now, oh ye fired up masses. Deena is a far cry from being finished. She can still compete for a top 10 spot at just about any major, and I am confident that she is still capable of 2:26-2:30 for a few more years.

Today was most likely a mix of some of the problems she mentioned (cramps, allergies, whatever) and (more importantly) racing with delusions of grandeur. She needs to take a long look in the mirror and realize that the days of low 2:20s are behind her. Nothing wrong with that- it's been a helluva ride. I think if she tweaks her expectations and race strategy to accomodate a more realistic goal (say 2:26), she'll be much better off.

At any rate, good luck to her and hopefully she's not too down about the effort. Old man time is a real motherf***er.

She had a shitty day. Give her a break.

At least she didn't quit.

Personally, she was the only person I cared about in the race. If you lose the only US name most people know, then the marathon will get even less press here than it already does.

As for the argument that she should "make way for other Americans" - that's ridiculous. She's not taking anything away from anyone. You have to earn it. Women have to start beating her.

To add to this, the kind of allergies she was suffering from were not the simple seasonal kind; basically if she did not get medical attention after the race, her airway would have probably swollen shut. Exercise induced anaphylaxis (as a result of a food allergy) can be life threatening. Her body was probably fighting against the allergic reaction before she even started the race and she didn't even know it until she started getting the itchy skin and hives. Fighting that kind of allergy takes a great amount of energy out of a person.

If she can make a living running, go for it. It beats the corporate world. Look at David Krumenaker.

I'm shocked... all these smart running fans, determining when an athlete is finished, yet no one asked them who won the 2008 Women's marathon in Beijing. Who was that? Wasn't it a 40 year old woman... that Deena happened to beat in Chicago many moons ago. But no, your right, no chance for Deena to have another good race in her life.

We might as well retire her to pasture!

This conversation is pointless... if she shows up in shape to a starting line of a race... she has a chance. Not sure the last time you looked, but marathons don't always go by the numbers!

Want 50% off wrote:

I'm shocked... all these smart running fans, determining when an athlete is finished, yet no one asked them who won the 2008 Women's marathon in Beijing. Who was that? Wasn't it a 40 year old woman

Excellent Point. Let us use your Beijing Olympic example.

Constantina Dita was the oldest woman to ever win the Olympic Gold. It was a shock to everyone because it was so unusual (like never before) She was not 40 years old. She was born January 23rd 1970. That means she was 38 years old. Since the Olympics Constantina has been useless. Which is fine, as she had a wonderful career. But remember that she was useless before her 39th birthday.

Deena is currently 37 and will be 39 for the next Olympics. That means that if she can repeat what one woman in the history of the Olympics was able to pull off. Then Deena would be useless in 2011. One year before the 2012 Olympics.

We should not be upset or disappointed with what has been an incredible career. Just stop having an further expectations. She is done.

To all the Deena doubters and bashers:

please raise your hand if you were saying the same things about Meb two years ago.

ukathleticscoach wrote:

I bet she still ran faster than you could!

Its in the psychology of a loser to enjoy someone elses demise

Better to be a has been than a never been, and you are still a never been.

and i bet you have a small penis..loser

ilgore wrote:

Kastor should no longer accept appearance fees to race

This has got to be the dumbest thing ever posted on LR.

This thread is ridiculous. How many posters here are always talking about "letting the market decide." Isn't that what happens in athletics?

In running, if you slow down you get beat. You get beat, you lose value to promoters and the $$ stops coming in. Then it's your call on how long you want to continue competing at races with less "prestige," assuming that matters to you.

One great thing about running: when you toe the line everyone is equal. And if Deena toes the line in 2011 and EARNS a spot on the team for 2012, you'd better believe I'll be cheering for her.

Jo ho wrote:

To all the Deena doubters and bashers:

please raise your hand if you were saying the same things about Meb two years ago.

This argument was already made and answered.

Meb is younger and never had a 4 year period of not running within 9 minutes of his best time.

runn wrote:

What is the matter with you guys? She's a pro athlete. She can continue as long as she wants. She is a great ambassador for the sport and win or lose, fast or slow, she is a classy person and a great role model.

The beauty of this sport is that the great ones can continue on into "old age" and run races and talk to people, mix with fans, etc.

Let up.

100% Correct. Any moron on here saying she should retire and ripping into her, is a pathetic excuse for a human being. Good for her for staying at it as long as she wants. Getting slower is irrelevant, and anyone with half a brain who isn't some bitter ***wipe, should support someone regardless of their performance. The fact that she is getting older is all the more reason to support her, not denounce her.

ukathleticscoach wrote:

I bet she still ran faster than you could!

Its in the psychology of a loser to enjoy someone elses demise

Better to be a has been than a never been, and you are still a never been.

Actually she did not run faster than any of my marathons in the last 3 years! In fact I think marathonjunkie could run a 2:40 1 week then beat her the next week!

Rough weekend for the group.

jenn and Amy had rough outings as wll in the 3000 at Brutus Hamilton.

You guys are a bunch of idiots. She ran a bad marathon. Who cares. Didn't she just run a 1:07 half? Wasn't that close to her pb and American record? That proves she still has her legs. She just ran awful today. No biggie it happens to EVERYONE! 1:07 is about equal to 2:20-22. She'll get down to the 2:21-2:25 range again.

Why has the OP posted this and then answer several times under different names ? To make it look as if runners dislike Deena, an Olympic medalist at that.

Yeah, because masters competition is so alluring.

Joe Dunbar wrote:

Yes Exactly! since when does a runner "have" to retire? I thought running is forever. Though she may not be "elite" at this point in her career, she still can run like crazy. Gees- 2:36 marathon...thats still amazing. and she could always move into age group competition and shoot for Joan Benoit-Samuelsons records. Thats the beauty of our sport. NEVER give up. NEVER retire. The runners life is always beginning with every step you take. It always bugs me when world class runners cant run as fast anymore and they hang it up instead of continueing on with Masters competition. Just go for it man! Shes still the greatest woman marathon in US History no matter what she runs.