Shalane Post-Race Comments - Setback in January Led to Less Training on the Roads

The January setback comments seemed to take the TV commentators by surprise. She had been generally quiet about it but she did mention it in a Runner's World interview recently.

I recall her scratching from a half in Japan around that time so the January setback makes sense. I wonder why she was so quiet about it to now. Makes her 31:09 a little more impressive though. Would be fun to see her really attack the track this season since she'll likely be taking the fall off to start prep for the trials.

And this is why pre-race press conferences are a waste of time.

No athlete will tell you if they had a setback before the race starts.

Might as well hang out in a bar in Boston or get a run in next time.

"I could just tell, I didn't get on the course as much this year, and I kind of switched my training due to the setback and injury, I didn't get on the roads, as much. I could just tell the pounding, the typical Boston course, my legs felt it. I tried to talk my legs out of slowing down, but they didn't wnat to listen...I stayed positive and fought the entire way and said, ''never give up, never give up'"

Good for you Shalane you never quit! Better luck next year!

wejo wrote:

She said her thoughts on the starting line were, "You can't take for granted being on the starting line. I had a setback in January so I didn't even know I was going to be here."

This isn't new to me, but I find this to be mega impressive from her. If you follow Shalane at all, you know she takes this race more seriously than any other, but two things are evident. #1) She appreciated the opportunity to BE there and was reinforcing that positive idea instead of commiserating on the line, which many many runners have known. #2) She is absolutely able to get herself ready for other endeavors, including her solid run in Berlin last year. I know they might not seem related because they are different times of the year, but she shows great strength in expending so much mental and emotional energy on wanting to win Boston (and racing like she did last year), and then being able to come away from defeat and move on to the next task. It's like she consumes herself with winning Boston, but then accepts the result and continues on with the long journey. I cannot say how much I hope she has a chance to win a Boston marathon, but seeing those African girls finish again today, I just don't see how she would...

She ran 31:09 last month, come on , stop kissing her BEHIND, she HAD A BAD RACE FOR HER, NO EXCUSES!

9th at Boston ain't bad for a 30 something American. Joanie ran 2:57 at age 57, Agree run the race don't make an excuse after. 2:27 is solid, great Effort.

Seriously, if I prepped with a 31:09 last month, I'd be feeling pretty damn good regardless of the training cycle. She over-thinks things. You think a damn African ran on tarmac? Nope, dirt roads, baby, they don't care about the "pounding". So damn sensitive.

I will bite.

A 10k-good, bad, or indifferent, is not the same as a freakin' marathon! Sure, 31:09 is a solid time, especially in marathon phase, but any fool who has not raced any of these said distances could tell you a decent 10k doesn't define how you run a marathon. You can claim she is "making excuses" all you want, but that's part of the game.

And other people on this site wonder why some runners don't talk to the press. Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

yeah, no better way to get your head right + strike fear in hearts of competitors that to publicly say "man did i have major training setback in Jan., not feeling too great about my chances!" during the lead-up to the race.

fghrunner wrote:

I wonder why she was so quiet about it to now.

Beavers wrote:

I will bite.

A 10k-good, bad, or indifferent, is not the same as a freakin' marathon! Sure, 31:09 is a solid time, especially in marathon phase, but any fool who has not raced any of these said distances could tell you a decent 10k doesn't define how you run a marathon. You can claim she is "making excuses" all you want, but that's part of the game.

And other people on this site wonder why some runners don't talk to the press. Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

Exactly - she was ready for a 10km, not a marathon.

Btw, Tadesse can handle a half-marathon (WR), but not a full marathon, so even a good half doesn't necessarily translate, nevertheless a 10k.

Why run if you're not ready. Guess she was hoping for a miracle. How about just saying she had a rough day? She'd gain more respect by just being honest. I am sure if she won she would have talked about how less training kept her fresh etc.

ofsaa silver wrote:

She'd gain more respect by just being honest. I am sure if she won she would have talked about how less training kept her fresh etc.

Correct. And that would be the honest thing to say.

She's a nike minion. You can never expect honesty or humility from anyone sociopathic enough to be with the evil side.

It only took a few minutes for her to start yakking up the excuses. How long until she starts yakking about how she's gonna f^ck sh^t up!!!! in the next race? How "the possibilities are endless"? Well, the only real possibility is that she'll yak alot and not deliver.

Boston Weak Excuses.

Just proves that when the Africans have the same good dope as Shalane Yakkety Yak, they have more guts and ability.

"Setback' is an interesting choice of word. Not injury, not illness. It's so vague that it invites speculation. Which I won't do.

Strength, courage, hope = Winner

Never give up, never give up = Loser