How will Kara be ready for Boston in April?

She'll be to Boston and she'll run something decent if not overwhelming. If it's slow-paced again, she might be in the hunt, if not..so what, at this point. Just run around a 2:29 or 2:31 and get ready for the Trials.

I suspect she won't do all the races on that list. She was kind of vague about going to Puerto Rico. She might find talking that extra trip with the kid, who's just been sick, not worth the trouble.

I think she will do just fine and in fact might surprise us all. I've seen amazing things from women who just had a baby.

some random poster wrote:

I think she will do just fine and in fact might surprise us all. I've seen amazing things from women who just had a baby.

I once heard of a new mother lifting a VW bus off of her baby all by herself. And other than a few bruises, the baby was fine.

didn't Paula Radcliff win the NY marathon 6 months after giving birth? Kara isn't at Paula's level, but she can still be ready for Boston....

ocrun wrote:

didn't Paula Radcliff win the NY marathon 6 months after giving birth? Kara isn't at Paula's level, but she can still be ready for Boston....

You're close. Isla was born in January, 2007 and Paula won NY in Nov.

1:14 today. Now what? Lots of work to do in such a short period of time - can see it happening?

Watching Alberto's handling of some of the most talented runners in the US makes me want to scream. KARA WILL NOT BE READY FOR BOSTON. She proved this yesterday with her sub par performance along with her idiotic race plans.

Her only chance is if she spends the next 3 months training 100% for Boston. Do not run another race for any reason. Train, Train, Train.

I am a huge fan, but it is painful to watch her self destruction. If she runs NYRR half marathon or any other race in the process, she will fail in Boston.

poor planning again wrote:

Watching Alberto's handling of some of the most talented runners in the US makes me want to scream. KARA WILL NOT BE READY FOR BOSTON. She proved this yesterday with her sub par performance along with her idiotic race plans.

Her only chance is if she spends the next 3 months training 100% for Boston. Do not run another race for any reason. Train, Train, Train.

I am a huge fan, but it is painful to watch her self destruction. If she runs NYRR half marathon or any other race in the process, she will fail in Boston.

being 'ready for Boston' does not mean 'run 2:25' for KG.

'ready for boston' in this case means 'an important step toward the OT and OG'

not even an optimistic race director would think KG will be in 2:25 shape in Boston - everyone but people on this board understand that she is racing her way into shape, and her plans will change as race results come in.

Kara is a professional runner. She has been in races and situations that we will never know or experience. She has a higher threshold for training than most people could imagine and, like other elite, can handle a hell of a lot more without having to work a full time job during the day. I think she'll be fine, and I've run 1:14.xx before and came back to Boston and ran sub-2:30. 1:14 is actually a pretty awesome start considering how she's adapting to training and coming back from a pregnancy. She will be fine. It sounds like she might have one or two more races than she needs, but I bet she won't have to go all out for XC to qualify.

help a guy out wrote:

So that is 5 races over the next 9 weeks. She then has 4 weeks until Boston. ARE YOU FRIGGIN SERIOUS?

What on earth is wrong with a shorter race every couple of weeks? The first one is probably going to be a controlled 90% effort in training to see where she is.

You can't get race-sharp without racing frequently.

higher threshold for training than most people could imagine? Bullcrap. She has a different level of ability, period. She talked and said she is going to Boston to win. I said Desi will beat her, and she will. Then you, who comes on as know-it-all will be ready with your excuses. I said it's too early. You said no it wasn't. Now she run 1:14 and you're already making excuses. Her running a sub 2:30 is possible, of course. But she's not beating Desi nor is she winning.

She has plenty of time.

okay "whatever acronyms" is probably more right than wrong. If you guys think she's going to beat the Hanson gal, you're dreaming. Kara is going to finish no better than 4th and yes, he's right, she will make a ton of excuses. She's at Boston for the money, not to tough to figure out.

You are bang on. Assuming she is in for a six figure appearance fee, and assuming she does not necessarily have to finish to get paid, she will be running. Of course she will state that she is running to win, but the reality is she will be hard pressed to compete with the other top women who have had the time to fully prepare and hard pressed to avoid a 22 mile melt-down and a DNF.

eurodonkey wrote:

You can't get race-sharp without racing frequently.

Being "race sharp" is counterproductive to a successful marathon. If her goal is a marathon then her race plan is foolish. If her goal is World Cross then you are correct.

IF she stays healthy, she should be ready for 2:30. That gives her around a 5th place finish, appearance fees, prize money, etc... Nobody will expect her to do better, but the media and human interest side will huge. I just hope she stays healthy both before and after.

okay pacosdfasfsdfs wrote:

higher threshold for training than most people could imagine? Bullcrap. She has a different level of ability, period. She talked and said she is going to Boston to win. I said Desi will beat her, and she will. Then you, who comes on as know-it-all will be ready with your excuses. I said it's too early. You said no it wasn't. Now she run 1:14 and you're already making excuses. Her running a sub 2:30 is possible, of course. But she's not beating Desi nor is she winning.

Um... actually we are two different people. I never said she wouldn't beat Desi I just said Kara could still run under 2:30 which isn't terrible considering she had a baby and isn't in great shape. I bet she will make drastic improvements and at least compete for the top three.

desiree will crush kara, based on recent results

The progression of the Kara fan is predictable.

1. Kara will win Boston. She even said so herself

2. Kara will dominate at RNR Arizona

3. Kara didn't do any of the things we said but she just had a baby

4. Kara will be sub 2:30 in Boston and finish top 5.

5. She is running well after having a baby.