PLACE YOUR BETS: Where/when does Shelby Houlihan make her return to racing?

Awesome, can't wait. Free Shelby!

Probably one of the college meets. Doubtful that any of the pro meets want their name associated with her.

Justin Gatlin and Christian Coleman would probably disagree with you. Let go of your hate, dude. It does you no good.

This should be Shelby’s debut race:

https://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=6202909

Thank you for a very well researched and thought-out post.

One point to note: if Shelby does rejoin BTC, Jerry most likely would not want her racing until after having a few weeks of altitude training in Flagstaff with the team. He might even have her skip indoors altogether.

However, at this juncture there has been no announcement about Shelby joining any team. So, she would seem to have control of her racing schedule at this point.

Thus, since Shelby sounds like she wants to resume racing ASAP, we could see her debut as early as January 17th at the UW Preview.

Put me down for an 8:43 3k (Friday 1/31) and 4:24 mile (Saturday 2/1) at the UW Invite.

Dr Sander. Winner is gifted a Wanamaker Mile entry. 4:28 would've gotten it done last year.

Shelby was already heading away from her 800/1500 background when she got suspended. I predict she's debuting at the the Houston Half Marathon. It is a low stakes return, sets her up to a strength-based 5000/10000 focus on her return. She was the clear top 5000m runner in 2020/2021 and much closer to the WR than anyone is now. In the 5000 at the US champs since her ban Cranny has dominated over everyone but ESP with her kick. Watching the Olympics, if she can have the strength to hang in a championship race, she's got the kick to compete for a win. Look out Parker Valby.

A side benefit: If the majority of her most competitive races are focused on area's she doesn't have a long history of results it will be much harder to compare her pre/post ban racing.

I'd love to see Shelby face stacked fields at Millrose. Like her or not, she is going to bring buzz to the sport if she has success post-ban.

She isn't entered as an elite athlete.

I guess she could enter as an open athlete? Probably plenty of men running 1:08.

I saw that, but she's clearly gearing up to race and hasn't announced where. I don't know all the suspension rules, but maybe she's waiting until after the suspension is officially over to announce where she's racing. There is no rule she couldn't be a late add to the elite field as I'd expect even on an off day she'd be faster than half of them.

I do like the Dr. Sanders into a stacked Milrose filed but since her last competitive non-time trial race was her 2020 USATF indoor national double. That was nearly 5 years ago, I would think she chooses a lower stakes path back into competition. She turns 32 in a month, I think she's a different runner now, and racing outside her comfort zone would be fitting.

100% 👏

Yeah, she can beat Valby, but you think she can win a WC or Olympics? If she’s close at the end of a race at that level, she’s not to have much of a kick.

Not unless she's on the good drugs chebet, bartocelli and other are on.

Her first race can’t come soon enough for me. I can’t wait for the return of Queen Shelby! Long live the Queen! 👸 🏃‍♀️

Didn’t the Houston HM rumor get started in LR? Why would she want to f-up her training right in the middle of indoor track, and would she want to run one in any scenario?

She will debut at the SF Bay to Breakers race in May.

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Of course someone with Shelby's character would never cheat, so unfortunately, no global wins for her except for a burrito mile maybe.

Interesting possibility. I forgot about the auto entry to Millrose. Would Millrose honor it? Are they required to?