Molly Seidel out of Nagoya Marathon - Is she done?

Her fitness just wasn't there to make the trip worth while. She's better off not running races to keep her brand going than to run a 2:32-2:33 and the fans losing interest.

1. Most of her fans lost interest a long time ago.

2. I called it when they first announced the race.

Let’s just hope that it’s not a more serious setback. I’m not sure fans would lose interest if she didn’t run fast, but I get that it might not be in her best interest in terms of confidence to race a marathon before she’s ready. What’s interesting is that she’s been willing to run other road races slowly as she builds back, but maybe a slow or DNF marathon just hits too close to home. Regardless, just like Centro, most of 2023 is just a rehab period for both of them. The only date that matters for Molly now is 2/3/24.

Do you have proof for these claims, or are you just being horrible?

I like Molly but continuing to withdraw from the races that actually matter while also running a ultra under a fake name last summer (while too hurt to run WCs) is just so odd.

I don't know. It is just odd. Hard to get behind.

I guess she doesn't owe us fans anything and that is what frustrates me about this sport.

If this was an actual professional sport there would be transparency and obligations for athletes to answer questions. But there isn't. Not Molly's fault, just the state of the sport.

Scoreboard

SEIDEL, Molly (USA) *Due to a right hip injury STEINRUCK, Katharina (GER) *Due to acute sinusitis in the maxillary sinus

She doesnt owe us anything. The inverse is also true that we don't owe her any fandom.

Integrity concerns w fake name, failed TUE, etc. She losing her audience.

all the critics of her usatf half performance were correct. every other sport you can be critical of the top athletes, but not with women's marathoning

Alas, looks like her training bottomed out after the half marathon; only 7 miles in March, so far, and some cross training. Heal fast.

Rehab period is an entire year?? How much rehab does she need??

With the addition of Betsy Saina to the US mix, the women’s marathon team will not be an easy one to make. Bates, D’Amato, Hall, Sisson, etc, etc. Is Seidel essentially done at this point? Discuss.

runnersworld.com

Molly Seidel Withdraws From Upcoming Marathon

She was scheduled to run the Nagoya Women’s Marathon on March 11 in Japan, but a right hip injury will keep her from the race.

Open link

Molly has been "done" tons of times. She's injury prone but tough and talented. If she can stay happy and healthy for 6-9 months going into the trials, she'll make the team. Then if she stays healthy after the Trials, she has a chance to medal if she has a good day.

I'm going to say no and that's she's not done. However, if she were she'd still be one of the most accomplished US marathoners with that Bronze medal of hers.

I remember the BAA video last fall where Gault interviews her and she mentions being injured and then ramping up her mileage to 70+ miles her second week back and thinking this might not go as planned. Is Green still coaching her?

The athletes themselves might consider doing more than hiding out in Flagstaff then showing up once in a blue moon at a race and expect people to care.

I don't think her fans have "lost interest," and certainly not "a long time ago." Her Olympic bronze performance was only 1 year, 7 months ago, and she followed that up 3 months later with a 4th place at NYC in the fastest time ever by an American woman. I know some of her social media posts have rubbed some people the wrong way but she is only 28 years old and hasn't even reached her peak in the marathon yet. She has to be considered a favorite to make the team in Paris. I don't see lightning striking twice and her walking away with another Olympic medal but her status is already sealed. Ten women's Olympic marathons and the US only has three medals - and she has one of them.