A well-written reflection on that race that was kind of unbelievable to watch:
A well-written reflection on that race that was kind of unbelievable to watch:
great read
SO well written that the fact she misspelled Kim Conley's name so bad almost seems bizarre.
Has she left the sport?
The article and caption at the bottom seem to say definitively that she has retired as a pro runner. I hadn't heard that either. That's too bad. I had hoped she'd get her "redemption" in 2016. Anybody know what she is doing in New York City (other than working on a book, as stated in the article)? I used to read her and Ian's blog and really enjoyed it. She did most of the blogging and came across as bright and funny. Sad to see her out of the sport.
Bleu wrote:
Has she left the sport?
Out leaned at the line, she pretty much never recovered from that race, and you can still hear her pain in the article.
"Julia Lucas graduated from North Carolina State University (NCSU) where she majored in linguistics. Lucas competed in track and field while at NCSU and as a professional runner for The Nike Oregon Track Club and Team USA. Lucas has run a 15-minute, 8-second 5k and a 4:05 1500-meter. She was a 2012 Olympic Team alternate. Now she just runs circles around New York City. She is working on her first book."
I'm assuming she wrote the above.
The "Now she just runs circles around New York City." part makes me wonder if she's in a good place mentally. Hopefully she is, you can't dwell on the past for too long its not healthy.
"Winning Wouldn't feel so good if losing didn't feel so bad".
My friend said that once after a tough loss. I'm not sure if that is a common expression but, man, it was spot on at the time.
Close losses are always painful but Julia Lucas' loss was the difference between Dream Fulfilled and a lifetime of obscurity. Every fourth place finisher has a similar claim but hers is the most painful version.
I was at the race and was torn between my connection to Conley and the local connection to Lucas. That was the most brutal outcome.
a fan..... wrote:
I had hoped she'd get her "redemption" in 2016.
The every-4-years olympic thing ruins everything. What if the super bowl was every 4 years?
Simple: she went out too hard
I'm not an expert on Julia by any stretch, but, having been a regular reader of her and Ian's blog, this seems like typical Julia humor. I wouldn't read too much into it.Anybody know what she's doing in NYC now? For that matter, what's Ian up to? Still coaching in Eugene?
Black Med Student wrote:
The "Now she just runs circles around New York City." part makes me wonder if she's in a good place mentally. Hopefully she is, you can't dwell on the past for too long its not healthy.
Julia can certainly write. That was a pleasure to read.
I believe Ian working for Track Town USA and is a full time coach for Team Run Eugene where he's got a solid group of talented young distance runners. Worth checking them out, they are definitely going to be a group to watch at the 2016 Trials. Here's their link:
Besides writing, I think Julia is helping to coach and mentor non-professional runners in Manhattan through a Nike sponsored training group. Seems like it would be a great transition for a former professional runner.
She can definitely write, but making a living writing these days is harder than making a living running. Living off of a writer's paycheck in NYC is something only a handful of people can still do (unless you count the Gawker and Vice bloggers sharing one bedroom apartments with six other people above fried chicken shops in Harlem).
Perspective is everything. She could still show up to any road race and completely smoke the field. But heartbreaking losses are very personal, so it's tough to know if it still haunts her. Either way, she's an incredible talent who still has a lifetime worth of amazing achievements.
Almost three years after the fact and she can't take five seconds to Google Kim Conley's name?
Her blog with Ian was entertaining, but if there's one theme throughout her writing (and running), it's DRAMA. She ends the piece by saying "a race is just a race" after she spent a couple hundred words explaining how this race has changed her life completely.
Also, 4.5 million watching at home? Hah!
I enjoyed the blog. It was a heartbreaking race. It was interesting to read both side Kim's and Julia's juxtaposed.Is Ian in Eugene and she in NYC? Don't understand that part.I wish her all the best, hope her book is running related.
Fandomship wrote:
I believe Ian working for Track Town USA and is a full time coach for Team Run Eugene where he's got a solid group of talented young distance runners. Worth checking them out, they are definitely going to be a group to watch at the 2016 Trials. Here's their link:
http://teamruneugene.orgBesides writing, I think Julia is helping to coach and mentor non-professional runners in Manhattan through a Nike sponsored training group. Seems like it would be a great transition for a former professional runner.
LI Runner wrote:
Is Ian in Eugene and she in NYC? Don't understand that part.
They broke up a while ago.
You know, people can go back into their own blogs and make corrections. She's a smart woman and attentive to detail. I don't get how she spells Conley's name wrong.
Lesson learned.
4th place. Ok. But no reason she could not have gone on to a successful road racing career.
Peoiple Can wrote:
You know, people can go back into their own blogs and make corrections. She's a smart woman and attentive to detail. I don't get how she spells Conley's name wrong.
anyone have a link to the 2012 trials race?