Amy Cragg - best teammate ever

LA6788 wrote:

JF wrote:

Shalane should have motioned Amy to go on and run your own race, but was too selfish. Very disappointed in Shalane. I was a huge Shalane fan before this. No so much now.

You have got to be kidding. She was probably half delirious at that point, trying to continue without collapsing. I doubt she was intently avoiding telling Cragg to go ahead.

Not to mention, Cragg said post-race that she was going through a rough patch in the middle of the race and Shalane talked her through it until she felt better. She was only returning the favor.

Shalane looked seriously cooked. I hope she didn't fry her career like Salazar and Beardsley.

JF wrote:

Shalane should have motioned Amy to go on and run your own race, but was too selfish. Very disappointed in Shalane. I was a huge Shalane fan before this. No so much now.

"I kept telling her to go—that she had to go. I told her, “You cannot wait around for me.” She just waited until the last minute."

Maryland wrote:

This is why I don't like watching woman sports. They are more about encouragement and not hurting others feelings instead of competing. The woman's race was unbearable to watch. Next time Cragg and Flanagan should hold hands together as they cross the finish line. What a feel good story that would be.

have you ever been around women in competition? women are vicious. they are sweet and gracious on the surface but quietly and subversively competitive. not just in racing, but in the workplace, in the dating scene, etc...

dude, you've never spent any time around a woman if you don't think they are competitive.

Amy had not problem slowing and encouraging Shalane, in part, because she was supremely confident in her own condition and knew that no one out there was going to be a threat to her. Of course, she also wants the "Shalanamy" show to continue on.

Runners are allowed to share refreshments. This was stated at the Technical Meeting held on Friday.

Consider this.... wrote:

Amy had not problem slowing and encouraging Shalane, in part, because she was supremely confident in her own condition and knew that no one out there was going to be a threat to her. Of course, she also wants the "Shalanamy" show to continue on.

Exactly! Amy did a very good thing for Shalane, and without Amy Shalane would not have qualified. No matter how you dice it Shalane was aided in her qualification for the team. No other runner had a pacer and a literal carrier the last five miles, but Shalane. Amy is and was a good teammate, but it also serves her as well.

How could anyone be disappointed in Shalane? Cragg was definitely thinking in her best self-interest by helping Shalane in those last few miles. Who wouldn't want a training partner that is doing the same race as you, in the Olympics of all races? And oh by the way, Shalane is at least in the top 3 greatest distance runners in American history who has run a 2:21 marathon. I'm pretty sure the knowledge and experience that Shalane has will only be a boost to Amy as she prepares for Rio.

I'm also a big fan of the US sending the 3 people that have the best shot at success. Shalane has a shot at medaling in Rio, 4th placer Kara does not (top 10-15 max) so we needed Shalane to qualify if you care at all about the US being successful in the Olympics.

No, she was not thinking of her best interest. She was thinking of how much she owes Shalane and wishing for the best for her teammate. If you watched Cragg after the race that is not a selfish woman. She is honestly grateful to Shalane for making her better by far than ever. Although she could have cost herself the race if Desi had been much sharper at that point, Cragg's behavior, along with that of Meb with Ward, had to make you feel good about the good sportsmanship of our distance runners. You would never believe it to read commentators from this site.

jjjjj wrote:

Cragg's behavior, along with that of Meb with Ward, had to make you feel good about the good sportsmanship of our distance runners. You would never believe it to read commentators from this site.

You and the guy who said that she "rose above the cynicism" need to stop thinking that you - or any of the LRC people - have anything at all to do with professional running. Do you think that Amy and Shalane sit around and wonder what LRC is saying about them?

hotice wrote:

Have you never watched professional cycling? This happens all the time. One team mate helping another team mate. Today was only the trials not the Olympics. It did not matter the place as long as they finished in the top 3. You need to think outside the box. By helping her team mate, Cragg guarantied that she has a training partner for the Olympics.

You have to remember that in professional cycling, there is a team member who is "supposed" to win. So the other guys know their job going into a race is to pace and support the leader. Sometimes it works out differently, but that is typically the case. Still, you make a good point.

JF wrote:

Shalane should have motioned Amy to go on and run your own race, but was too selfish. Very disappointed in Shalane. I was a huge Shalane fan before this. No so much now.

I'd re-evaluate that.

The race I watched they were quite intentionally running together until Shalane had some difficulty. They were running their own race and were supremely confident they would qualify. So, why not try to 1-2 it?

Desi's run into second was great. Great planning and execution. IMO, Shalane would have been under pressure from Desi even if Shalane didn't get into great difficulty.