Erin Donohue 1:59.99

malmo and John Cook in agreement. The sky is in pieces all over the ground.

Much respect to Erin, well done!

Malmo, I couldn't agree more. Weight for women runners is a sensitive subject, but her coach should be telling her that she needs to look at ALL aspects of running and the variables to improve.

While weight might be a sensitive subject, it's also holding her back. It's a matter of math, not feelings.

I think we are beyond feelings now. I also think it's presumptuous and incredibly arrogant for anyone detached and removed from her training situation - and certainly anyone who has only seen her race once in New England a few years back - to issue a sweeping judgement on the product of thousands of miles and thousands of hours of training.

Like was mentioned before, she is a tremendously hard worker - and she is just not 'that' big. The quote comparing her to Flanagan hits the nail on the head. "My shoulders are twice as broad as Shalane's." That's not lifestyle choices, that's body type. Just what god gave her. And having spoken to her, and stood next to her several times in person, I don't really think she should lose any more weight. She looks big compared to the average elite - and the average elite woman is TINY. So is the average elite man. I mean I looked like a goddamn giant compared to kids on my college team even - weighing in at 6-1, 155. Not everyone who runs does it just because they would snap in half playing any other sport.

Good thing you left your email address. Erin and Gags will be in touch very soon.

The problem with all these weight stories is that we really don't have a clue. DId Webb gain 10lbs of muscles from lifting? Does Erin have 20% body fat? And so on.I have a hard time believing an elite athlete and coach don't look at this stuff. I am guessing they have a BF measurement and so on to get a lot better estimate of her best weight for racing is.

Schiefer wrote:

Malmo, I couldn't agree more. Weight for women runners is a sensitive subject, but her coach should be telling her that she needs to look at ALL aspects of running and the variables to improve.

While weight might be a sensitive subject, it's also holding her back. It's a matter of math, not feelings.

Yeah, now all she has to do is keep that same pace for...twice the distance...to prove Cook wrong. Easily done, huh?[/quote]

Not too smart are you?

RRRR wrote:

Yeah, now all she has to do is keep that same pace for...twice the distance...to prove Cook wrong. Easily done, huh?

Not too smart are you?[/quote]

Yeah, she only needs to keep the same pace for 1500 meters.

Erin's advantage comes from her ability to train incredibly hard and stay healthy, not from any extreme speed or endurance talent.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I can't think of any time she's been seriously injured in years. Maybe she dropped weight in the past and couldn't train as hard, who knows? I just doubt that she's never addressed it before.

Bump:

Just saw this in the Stanford results. Pretty sure it's her first 5000 on the track.

7 Erin Donohue Nike/Kimbia 15:41.78

Never understood all of the non-running related comments when it comes the Erin, a few facts for the uninformed and/or misinformed:

1. Erin has achieved at every level, H.S. All American, NCAA All American and Olympian. She has been successful in events from the 800m to the 5000 and has been one of the U.S. most consistent middle distance runners for several years.

2. In spite of the abundance of credible female middle distance runners in the U.S., I give Erin as good a shot as anyone to make the WC team in the 1500 because she's tough, knows how to peak and how to race when it counts.

3. She was an accomplished soccer and basketball player and field athlete. Was an elite youth soccer player, starting point guard on a state basketball championship team and state Jav champion. She could have played D1 basketball, but choose our sport instead.

4. In person, she does not look big at all and she looks a lot more attractive in person...I don't think Erin is hurting for dates. In fact, she is pretty hot, but there is no hiding the fact that she is a jock, which all of us should be able to relate to. Erin also has a wonderful personality and a great sense of humor. As long as she is not in the middle of training or about to race, she will talk to anyone.

5. She went to a very good academic H.S. and college and graduated with honors.

6. In terms of how she is built, that's how God made her and I don't think it is going to change and why chance.

7. In her spare time, she coaches young kids; that's call giving back and is something very few of our elites do.

8. She is one of the most respected athletes/people in NJ, she is respected on the pro circuit as well and you will not find anyone who actual knows her, that has anything bad to say.

...Erin certainly does not need any defending because in my mind and I’m sure many others will agree, she is probably one of our best representatives of track and field.