Deena --PLEASE RETIRE

The probability of her getting pregnant is pretty low. She is getting kind of old and she is nothing more than a skeleton, negative body fat. She would need to gain weight and chill out for the odds to improve.

Why does she need to retire exactly?

Of course she shouldn't retire (yet).

The biggest problem is the NYRR doesn't have any other athlete that can be used for marketing. She is an Olympic Medalist. WMM winner, AR-holder and has been around for ages.

With Paula and Kara having babies, there is actually no one to fill in the gap that those two athletes left behind. Africans and Russians often don't speak English to well and are even more unknown to the masses than those three women. So which athlete gonna promote your event...

As a pro-athlete that's part of your job!

Catherine the Great.

This lady ran a 2:19 just four years ago. Give her a break. No female today at London was close to a 2:19.

did you ever run competitively? every body has bad races! and everyone has thought they could run a certain time and failed. it happens!!!! Deena keep on racing/running i'm behind you!

stanlo wrote:

did you ever run competitively? every body has bad races! and everyone has thought they could run a certain time and failed. it happens!!!! Deena keep on racing/running i'm behind you!

Does everyone have "bad races" in several major marathons in a row? This discussion isn't just about London, its about how she hasn't come within 8 minutes of her AR since she set it in 2006. Her best race since 2006 is almost 20 sec/mile slower than her PR, yet she continues saying that she is in the best shape of her life.

ukathleticscoach wrote:

I bet she still ran faster than you could!

Its in the psychology of a loser to enjoy someone elses demise

Better to be a has been than a never been, and you are still a never been.

____________________________

I believe this is true.

As someone who never quite got tot he desired 2:20, even though my 1/2 marathon times of 1:08 showed I might be able. I always got a little tired of the 3:00 marathoners, 17:50 5k'rs (in their early 30's) telling me I never really achieved anything.

I just take with me that I did the best I could.

A 2:30 best, and a 14:55 5k, and 1:08 1/2m, and 19:20 4 miler are all I could do. Hey, I actually made $2k in marathon prize money over 6 years.

That and a subway token will get you from Grand Central to E.90th.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot wrote:

Mike Rowe wrote:

Fact of the matter is that today she was the top male or female American.

You should learn your facts before you go around spouting stuff like "fact of the matter is." She wasn't top American, male or female. Only female.

Which male runner from the USA was in the top 18. None dumb@ss. So yes it is a "fact of the matter."

I forgot to add;

Even I knew when it was time to quit trying.

Thank you Deena for all your efforts.

silly old fossil wrote:

AND, retire to what? Selling real estate in Mammoth?

She should drop the marathon (it ages you real fast) and "selectively" find US only road champs (there are plenty out there)...just enough to satisfy Asics.

Again, why?

I'm afraid I agree. Follow the lead of the writers of M*A*S*H and quit while you're ahead. You had an amazing career, but it appears it's time to trade in the flats for a set of golf clubs. No shame in that, and no reason you cant still be active in the sport. We need good spokespersons, advocates, coaches etc.

she should run marathons for as long as she enjoys doing it. if race organizers are willing to pay her for amateur performances, why would she quit? i don't blame her for taking the money. however, she does need to stop talking about pacing and racing with the best until she can back the claims

I want Deena to continue to run for 1 reason. SUPRIZE THE DOUBTERS. She is no longer respected as an honest threat to Davila or Goucher or Lewy or even Shalane. This is a different scenario for Deena. She can play the role of the underdog. She has had a target on her back for the last decade. Enjoy the new role.

What a relief we have all these running experts here who understand the sport so much better than marathon race directors. Those poor directors! They never realized that Kastor is getting older, that she hasn't run well in a couple of years, and that she might be past her best. If we don't tell them, they might never figure it out. I suggest all letsrunners send e-mails to Dave Bedford and Mary Wittenberg along the following lines:

Dear Dave (or Mary):

I'm writing to inform you that Deena Kastor is no longer in sub-2:20 shape. I know this may be hard for you to believe, since she once ran sub-2:20 and says she's in good shape, but as runners get older they often get slower. Trust me on this one, I'm a running expert! As a result, please rethink your estimates of what Ms. Kastor is worth to your race. I will also be writing letters to major media outlets telling them they should no longer mention Ms. Kastor in articles about upcoming marathons, so you will be receiving less publicity. I hope this information is helpful to you, and I'm also warning you that if I see her in your race again next year, I will boycott the coverage.

Yours sincerely,

etc.

Anyone with the gall to tell a pro like Kastor that she "should retire" is merely projecting his own failings, insecurities, and sheer lack of talent onto his betters

Top 18 of the women's race? No, of course no MALE is going to be in the top 18 of the WOMEN's elite start (earlier than the men and the mass). Uh, but if you look at the results, there's a U.S guy ahead of her as far as time is concerned. So funny how the people that resort to getting ticked off and cursing end up looking really, really stupid.

It doesn't really matter, the original contention (from Mike Rowe) doesn't really amount to much. Who cares if she was the top American? What other American elites were there? NONE, male or female. The one person who did beat her time from the U.S was not classified as an elite and started in the mass start.

Her finish time was not good. Period. Is she done being competitive on the international scene? Most likely. Should she retire? No way! Not as long as someone's going to pay her and she enjoys it. Is her "hanging on" interfering with the opportunities for other American elite women, who have been mentioned in this thread and are running faster, to make appearance money? Hmmmmm.....

Joe Dunbar wrote:

Though she may not be "elite" at this point in her career, she still can run like crazy. Gees- 2:36 marathon...thats still amazing. and she could always move into age group competition and shoot for Joan Benoit-Samuelsons records.

Thats the beauty of our sport. NEVER give up. NEVER retire. The runners life is always beginning with every step you take. It always bugs me when world class runners cant run as fast anymore and they hang it up instead of continueing on with Masters competition. Just go for it man! Shes still the greatest woman marathon in US History no matter what she runs.

2:36 is not amazing. Not when the world record is 2:15. Is a 2:25 marathon amazing for a man? Is an 11+ second 100m for a man "amazing"? Is a 14:36 5k for a man "amazing". Get you head out of your ass.

She should keep running or stop running, but it should be her choice. I have no problem with her still competing, but for god sake drop the act. Personally, I think she should stop bullshitting race directors and the general public with lies of how she is in such awesome shape (then falling off the pace after a mile and running a mediocre just to collect appearance fees based on past achievements. Make way for other female distance runners who need the experience and will actually deliver for their appearance fees.

You might want to read this:

http://www.universalsports.com/news/article/newsid=470576.html#kastor+felled+cramps+tightness+allergy