Gwen J.: The Saga Continues

I'm all for people doing what they love, but 1:15:21, on a course where the winner ran 1:07 high, come on. It's time to run the sub-elite races.

Gwen seems like a very nice lady who does have an Olympic gold medal in a drawer somewhere, but she seems to be well on her way to quality local weekend warrior status as a runner.

What are you talking about? Elite women marathoners are a lot slower than that. I saw an Olympian and national record holder run 3:19:32 at New York City this year. Anything under 3:20 is definitely elite for women, maybe under 3:25.

I'm a fan of hers and I have been enjoying her recent youtube videos. But I don't recall Sifan Hassan or any other great runners dragging a tire down the street that's strapped to their waist. I think she's been led down the wrong road. Having said that, 1:15 is like an elite recreational runner time. It's sad because I think she's good for the sport. But obviously, it isn't meant to be.

Clear as day she lacks strength for speed. In the pursuit of that kind of strength, she's pulling tires around. Which is just making her slower.

She needs a new coach who knows the roads.

Options Trader wrote:

She needs a new coach who knows the roads.

She needs to focus on accounting or triathlon.

Options Trader wrote:

She needs a new coach who knows the roads.

This isn't a coaching issue anymore. She is now on her second run coach and not injured for a while and seemed to have been training well and runs a time that many sub-elites can. She just does not have the speed and/or taent for running. But from her recent posts she realizes that herself. She mentioned wanting to quit several times. But at this point there is no reason to kick someone who is already down. I think she should actually go back to tri but she seems hard set on keeping the running career. Anyhow I wish her the best. It must be rough for her to have performances like that....

She did get beat by a taco at her turkey trot….

It was pretty clear she already soft retired when she left for boulder. I get people feel the need to pile on with her statement about the olympic marathon, but the horse is already dead. No need to keep stomping it.

She ran like a 15:10 5k about six months ago. Someone with that caliber of speed should be able to run on the slow side a 70-71 half marathon with very little change in training. 75 is a sign that something isn't right or multiple things aren't right.

Not trying to kick her while she is down. If someone in her camp is reading this, why does she have a serious lack of strength?

I also don’t recall Sifan ever running 1:15 except maybe on an easy training run

She is adamant about not returning to triathlon because she is unwilling to put in the volume and time of training that it requires. She has said herself that she finds the pro running lifestyle far more family-friendly, and that she wants to have multiple additional kids in the future.

How many other women that ran 75 are you talking about?

Seems like she’s still got that appeal.

Not much of a Saga to be honest.

Jorgensen runs crap ... Jorgensen runs like s**t again ... next time out Jorgensen finishes way down again.

It's the same story every time. Yawn.

She must really hate the triathlon.

bladerunner wrote:

I'm a fan of hers and I have been enjoying her recent youtube videos. But I don't recall Sifan Hassan or any other great runners dragging a tire down the street that's strapped to their waist. I think she's been led down the wrong road. Having said that, 1:15 is like an elite recreational runner time. It's sad because I think she's good for the sport. But obviously, it isn't meant to be.

Actually this is common practice with Cheruiyot and Manangoi with the Rongai Team.

I get your point, however. She wastes ALOT of energy doing needless drills and silly little things in her warmup. She’s there 45 minutes before everyone else- no exaggeration.

Gwen and Jordan should have a competition of who does the most needless s***. Just run ladies.

Free Britney wrote:

She is adamant about not returning to triathlon because she is unwilling to put in the volume and time of training that it requires. She has said herself that she finds the pro running lifestyle far more family-friendly, and that she wants to have multiple additional kids in the future.

which is great, except she's not really running at the level of a pro (which she herself recognizes). There are plenty of sub-elite runners who make good livings as YouTubers and IG influencers - I wish her the best. There's no doubt she loves the sport.

This will end in divorce.

Plus, her coach sucks.