Des had some interesting comments after the race today where she was 16th in 2:28.
When asked what's different from when she first started running Boston she said, "The entire sport" and gave some context.
“When you go out the first mile and it’s like 5:07 and you’re in like 23rd place, no one’s afraid of the distance anymore. No one’s afraid to attack, attack the pace and people don’t really fall apart, blow up like they used to. The sport just feels really different. I think 2:28 when I was at the beginning of my career, you’re looking at top 10, [maybe] top 7.”
“It’s a great thing to see. It’s just crazy having been on both sides of it.”
When asked if she felt it was better training by athletes or the shoes that has changed the game, Des said it was a combination of both. “I think the shoes allow you to train better, allow you to race better, and that just kind of grows and stacks on top of each other,” she said.
I half joked maybe the marathon needed to be 28 or 30 miles and she said she wouldn't be against that.