Up Dawg 10 miler is ON! Keira is busting it out!!!

Classic LRC... Someone runs a fast time they have to be doping, or they run a bad time and they are trash and sub-elite at best.

If the times are legit, amazing story.

But with testing reduced in Covid (is she even in the testing pool?), it's suspicious. And she'll conveniently be injured come Trials time.

I hope for the best but expect less.

This is an athlete who, back in 2013, ran 3:49:49 at Missoula Marathon in what was a legitimate effort for her at the time. That was a bad day for her for sure since she'd run 1:08:34 for 10 miles and 1:27:54 for 1/2 in the build up back then, but none of her current performances make any sense in relation to what that 2013 version of D'Amato ran. If an athlete possesses the kind of mind boggling natural ability that her current performances suggest, then she would have been running a lot faster earlier in her post-collegiate, pre-kids career, even if she was only training recreationally. There is something very un-natural about her recent running achievements.

gidey_up wrote:

If the times are legit, amazing story.

But with testing reduced in Covid (is she even in the testing pool?), it's suspicious. And she'll conveniently be injured come Trials time.

I hope for the best but expect less.

She said on the citius mag podcast that she’s never been drug tested in her life. It’s laughable really - she doesn’t even have the awareness and tact of most of the doped up diamond league runners who dog most of the race and win in a kick to keep times semi realistic. She’s doing all of this as solo efforts with no drug testing at all.

In 2018 she ran 2:44 at Grandmas. She also has a picture on Instagram from July 2018 in which she is coming across the finish line of a 5k race pumping her fist in.........17:24.

So she was pumped about 17:24 two years ago, and now she’s soloing the American record at 10 miles.

......Right.

She’s going to be tested after today, for American Record protocol

Maybe there’s something to be said about her not grinding it out day after day for the last 20+ years. Most pros have been competitively running since at least high school. That’s a lot of years of breakdown on the body, injury/recovery, etc...

Sure, the route she has taken is an unconventional approach, and it may look awfully suspicious, but there could be something to this. Just with most things out of the norm, not enough people have done it this way so there isn’t enough evidence to say whether it’s better or not.

Playto wrote:

this goes against every bit of science we know.

There is a lot of science out there. Are you sure this feat relates to "every bit"?

Based on the behavior of one of the most renowned American distance coaches, training for distance runners is not a refined science.

Zweeg813 wrote:

She’s going to be tested after today, for American Record protocol

From the LetsRun writeup about her attempt:

"And then there is drug testing. USATF rules state drug testing is only required to ratify American records in events for which World Athletics recognizes an official world record. Since 10 miles is a “world best” distance, that means drug testing isn’t required to ratify an American record at the Up Dawg Ten Miler — but D’Amato is leaning toward including it anyway to avoid all doubts. However, based on the quote she received from USADA, it would run her an extra $3,000-$3,500. She hasn’t made a final decision yet."

So, no, the drug test is not required for AR validation. Not sure what she decided to do about the drug test and paying for it out of pocket.

As someone on hand at the race I can confirm that Keira was drug tested today after the race. The testing agency had someone there on site with her post race following her and taking her to the testing site with all the normal protocols you would see with any athlete at major competitions.

This was from meet director Phil Stewart prior to the event:

“Drug testing is being done by Clearidium. The winner of the race will be drug tested whether a record is set or not.

Drug testing is being funded by a special grant from the PRRO Circuit (pronounced like "Pro") and the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Organizing Committee. The PRRO circuit is a series of four classic American prize money races - the Publix Gasparilla Half Marathon in Tampa, FL, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile in Washington, DC. the Lilac Bloomsday 12K in Spokane, WA, and the Boilermaker 15K in Utica, NY. The PRRO Circuit is committed to drug free sport and was the pioneer in self-funded drug testing which has taken place at all circuit events since 2006.”

She did run a 34:14 10k back in 2006, so it's not quite as crazy a progression as her (obviously not serious) first marathon would make you think. Although it's still obviously a big jump.

Coached by Raczko (of Webb fame), which is interesting.

coachday wrote:

Maybe there’s something to be said about her not grinding it out day after day for the last 20+ years. Most pros have been competitively running since at least high school. That’s a lot of years of breakdown on the body, injury/recovery, etc...

Sure, the route she has taken is an unconventional approach, and it may look awfully suspicious, but there could be something to this. Just with most things out of the norm, not enough people have done it this way so there isn’t enough evidence to say whether it’s better or not.

She did say she ran sparingly for 8 years due to injuries, surgery, having kids, etc. Now, what "sparingly" means we'll never know. Does this mean 40 mpw? 10? Speed work sessions? Intervals? Who knows.

Maybe she is the outlier. I have no idea. I can't think of any other times in running where a 36 year old takes basically 7 years off in her prime ages (25 to 32) and then sets an all ages distance record.

She was a pretty damn good runner in college.

And then there’s Miki Gorman, who took up running at age 35 and ran a 2:46 marathon at age 39.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miki_Gorman

All American in college, what kind of times?

In the Citius podcast interview she said she ran 3X a week about 20 miles in those interim years.

More Miki Gorman:

She won the NYC Marathon as a mother at age 40 in a course record (at the time) 2:39.

So what D’Amato is doing is not unprecedented.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2018/10/31/obituaries/miki-gorman-overlooked.amp.html

Full results anywhere??

Uh, 2:39 is light years away from 2:19 for a female, which is what D'Amato is doing.. Old Man by the Sea, since you are old in the ways of technology, having a "registered" username means NOTHING.

direwolf wrote:

More Miki Gorman:

She won the NYC Marathon as a mother at age 40 in a course record (at the time) 2:39.

So what D’Amato is doing is not unprecedented.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2018/10/31/obituaries/miki-gorman-overlooked.amp.html

If that makes you question things, you should look up RunCCG. Their athletes have jumps in PB's like that like it's standard

You don't know about her background but are making wild claims? She was an incredible runner in college. Shoot, she was 6th in NCAA cross her senior year, beating Molly Huddle, Amy Cragg and Shannon Rowbury, who were seniors, and frosh Jenny Simpson too. She has "credentials" to run these times. Obviously the time off is unusual and she should be part o the ongoing testing program, but it's not like she never showed potential world class talent.

Coyote Montane wrote:

Old Man Runner wrote:

She did say she ran sparingly for 8 years due to injuries, surgery, having kids, etc. Now, what "sparingly" means we'll never know. Does this mean 40 mpw? 10? Speed work sessions? Intervals? Who knows.

Maybe she is the outlier. I have no idea. I can't think of any other times in running where a 36 year old takes basically 7 years off in her prime ages (25 to 32) and then sets an all ages distance record.

She was a pretty damn good runner in college.

All American in college, what kind of times?

In the Citius podcast interview she said she ran 3X a week about 20 miles in those interim years.