Deena --PLEASE RETIRE

This is the all time sub 1:09 list of Americans.

1:06:57 a ( 1) Kara Goucher (OR) 09 Jul 1978 30 Sep 2007 South Shields ENG

1:07:34 ( 2) Deena Kastor (CA) 14 Feb 1973 02 Apr 2006 Berlin GER

1:07:53 ( 1) Deena Kastor- 2 14 Feb 1973 18 Sep 2005 Philadelphia PA USA

1:08:05 ( 1) Kara Goucher- 2 09 Jul 1978 02 Aug 2009 Chicago IL USA

1:08:30 ( 1) Kara Goucher- 3 09 Jul 1978 22 Mar 2009 Lisbon POR

1:08:34 ( 1) Joan Samuelson (ME) 16 May 1957 16 Sep 1984 Philadelphia PA USA

I don't think anyone means she should stop running. But at some point, for their own good and the good of their legacy, athletes need to stop talking like they are going to win it.

If someone was going to pay me to do something I love - why on earth would I not take it? So some armchair quarterback can pat himself on the back with an "I told you you weren't going to win?" Must be nice calling the game from the cheap seats...

These are Deena's pre race quotes

"I feel really well prepared despite my lengthy travelling to get here and my body is feeling good," she said.

"London suits me because I love to race hard from the start and I prefer races which aren't as tactical and you just go out as hard as you can.

alright then, it's settled... deena should retire.

now all we have to do is to get that olympic medalist and current american record holder to read this computer bulletin board and accept the only logical conclusion as discussed by us fat-ass computer geeks. i mean, surely she must give a damn about our important opinions, right?

(please note the sarcasm)

rock nyc deena! go get it.

People like Rodgers and Samuelson still get appearance fees - it's cashing in on their fame. Just like other Pro athletes - they ran masters races and won, and there is more money in Master's races than ever before.

But, Kastor will ultimately decide if she is ready to retire, just as with Radcliffe (same age). While it doesn't seem likely that either will get close to their PR's again, It's not like there are a boatload of women running sub-2h20 these days (Mikitenko being the most recent, and she didn't blow anyone away this weekend, getting old as well) so anything can happen. Regardless for the next Olympics, she still has to make the US team - her last Olympics didn't go well. As long as she can remain an Olympian - some would kill for the opportunity - she has appeal to sponsors, who are prepared to pay her as much for her name as her result. For American capitalists, it's what the market will bare - isn't that the American way?

Actually, Deena's recent half was a 1:09

I agree that the guy who said she should stop accepting appearance fees is one of the dumbest clowns ever to appear on letsrun. Heck, race directors pay appearance fees to anyone they think has PR value. Bill Rodgers and Joan Benoit Samuelson still get appearance fees.

Deena is 37 flippin yrs old- she didnt force sponsors to pay her- they came to her. Youde be a fool if Nike or Adiddas offered you money and you turn it down? Seriously? shes One of only 17 female Americans who qualified in the "A" Olympic Standards catagory of a 2:39 marathon. What planet you from? Ok, granted, she should keep silent and just let her performance do the talking, but seriously dude, youre taking this way to personal. Shes Americas poster gal for the womens marathon whether you like it or not. We're not the ones who decides that. And as far as moving over to make room for someone else...come on ! the road is wide enough for everyone- she not taking someones spot- its all up for grabs...and like Paula whats her name who quits 2 marathons if shes not winning.....at least she finishes.

this thread should just be deleted. The person who started it should just retire. They obviously don't 'have it' any more. :o)

Pre Race wrote:

These are Deena's pre race quotes

"I feel really well prepared despite my lengthy travelling to get here and my body is feeling good," she said.

"London suits me because I love to race hard from the start and I prefer races which aren't as tactical and you just go out as hard as you can.

At any age, a person can feel great before a race and think it will go well (whatever way one defines it). That doesn't mean that it always will, especially a marathon, in which a lot can happen--true of anyone at any age.

Also... there was a lot of negativity following Paula Radcliffe's DNF in the '04 Olympics--but she came back and won NY.

When the training is as intense as it has been for these two women, the body can respond spectacularly well... but sometimes can take serious dives just when things seem to be coming together. Athletes may be finely tuned, top performers, but they're also human beings. When they're also public figures, the down side of that is that anyone and everyone feels they can judge them and find them wanting, start their swan songs for them, etc. etc.

Yet when someone has achieved what Deena has, I'm for giving them the benefit of the doubt--a large share of it, in fact!

Everyone keeps saying she should have a baby, but I think I read somewhere that she did not really see any advantages to having a baby by pregnancy as opposed to adoption, given her experience of being adopted herself.

Morons wrote:

You guys are a bunch of idiots. She ran a bad marathon. Who cares. Didn't she just run a 1:07 half? Wasn't that close to her pb and American record? That proves she still has her legs. She just ran awful today. No biggie it happens to EVERYONE! 1:07 is about equal to 2:20-22. She'll get down to the 2:21-2:25 range again.

She "still has her legs" for half the distance or less. The marathon is a whole different animal, as she has clearly proven since 2006.

Kastor felled by cramps, tightness, allergy

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

have you ever heard an interview with her? She's a great athlete, but even Ndereba can fill that gap... beside that she hasn't post a (major) result since 2008 OG.

Red Glare wrote:

Yeah, because masters competition is so alluring.

Alluring to whom? You? Who gives a shit what you like?

I don't understand the mentality behind why she should retire or stop accepting fees... as if she is having a negative impact on YOU. Could it be that she gets your hopes up that an American will win and now you feel crushed that she didn't? What a bunch of 12 year olds.... grow up!

say no to appearance fees wrote:

Road races need to do away with appearance fees and make it open money that you have to earn. That was shameful when she hobby jogged the NYC Mini 10K last summer for her appearance fee. Was she contracted with London? If so, she probably HAD TO finish to get her $$$$.

Then say goodbye to guaranteeing great matchups like you had in the men's race yesterday.

say no to appearance fees wrote:

Road races need to do away with appearance fees and make it open money that you have to earn. That was shameful when she hobby jogged the NYC Mini 10K last summer for her appearance fee. Was she contracted with London? If so, she probably HAD TO finish to get her $$$$.

Sorry... appearance fees are what keep the top athletes from "over racing". I am so happy there is now enough money in the sport to keep these fees (and sponsorships) going strong.

Deena will not leave the sport gracefully. You can tell by how she always has an excuse for a poor performance. When she gets beat by Desiree Davila, Kara Goucher. and Magdalena Lewy, she will have her ready excuses. Getting old is a bitch. She has never run a poor race without a ready excuse. This is going to get ugly for her over the next couple years.