Mary Cain is BACK! Cain runs (and wins) 4 mile race in Central Park

I'd say a 21:50 for a 4-mile road race is not fast enough to strike fear into the hearts of the top American elites, and not slow enough to be able to conclude she'll never run at an elite level again.

What is she doing with her life these days? Is she even trying to be an elite runner any more? If she just wants to be a top local road racer while pursuing a different career path, that's a phenomenal time. If she's still dreaming of Olympic glory, well, it could be a good result if she's just easing back into racing. It could be bad if she put everything she had into that performance.

Verdict: inconclusive. Good for her for getting out there, though.

Happy for her but also a great sign for myself

as I want to start living in Manhattan and doing my jogs in Central Park.

LetsRun.com wrote:

Cain returned to racing today in Central Park. She won the Japan Run - a 4 miler in 21:50.

According to McMillan, a 21:50 4 miler is equivalent to a 16:48 5000 and 4:28.5 1500.

https://twitter.com/nyrrnews/status/1127553196946264065https://www.letsrun.com/news/2019/05/mary-cain-returns-to-action-wins-4-miler-in-2150-in-1st-completed-race-in-918-days/

the way to peg the effort is to look at the next top 3 finishers and look are their recent best seasonal times.

Is this going to go the same way as all the other XX is back thread's

Off that very average time I'd say so

Derderian wrote:

I have spoken with her a few times and found her to be bright and pleasant so I hope she can be active in our sport for a long time.

Tom

Did she qualify for Boston aka bahstun? That is All that matter bro

Not running has been good to her: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D6PnOTCX4AAu8VE.jpg:large

She may have broken the course record had she heard my single Alive

I would characterize this result as "racing again" or "running again". She set high school outdoor records all-time in the 800m, 1000m, 1500m, Mile, 3000m, 2-mile (indoor) and 5000m.

For her to be "back" I think she would have to be running under 2:04, 4:10, or 9:00.

She's back on the scene, that's what they meant.

Most people who run national or international level times

who then take a break and then make a comeback

are going to be talked about no matter what because

of the memory people have of their earlier accomplishments.

She could have run 40 minutes and would have gotten a thread and coverage.

Scooter McRunnerGuy wrote:

The weather was rainy and there was some wind but mostly a headwind for the first 1.5 miles and much of that is blocked by trees, rocks, etc. The hills on the west side, whereas they are real, are net downhill and the wind would be at her back. There are two tight turns on the course--going from 102nd St transverse on to west side and going from the west side to the 72nd St. transverse, those turns kill momentum.

Solid time on a well worn course, she has the fastest 4M by a female for the year.

False. At the Trolley Run in KC the winning female ran 20:50.

Greg wrote:

Happy for her but also a great sign for myself

as I want to start living in Manhattan and doing my jogs in Central Park.

Thank you for the warning.

The Authorities wrote:

Greg wrote:

Happy for her but also a great sign for myself

as I want to start living in Manhattan and doing my jogs in Central Park.

Thank you for the warning.

Funny how trolls always post anonymously

mo money mo problems wrote:

Scooter McRunnerGuy wrote:

The weather was rainy and there was some wind but mostly a headwind for the first 1.5 miles and much of that is blocked by trees, rocks, etc. The hills on the west side, whereas they are real, are net downhill and the wind would be at her back. There are two tight turns on the course--going from 102nd St transverse on to west side and going from the west side to the 72nd St. transverse, those turns kill momentum.

Solid time on a well worn course, she has the fastest 4M by a female for the year.

False. At the Trolley Run in KC the winning female ran 20:50.

That's all downhill.

At about the same age (23) I was running at about that level first year after college (never broke 16 for 5K in college). Sometimes better and sometimes worse.

Didn't run any 5Ks that year, but recall 28 min XC type 5 mile; 33:40s 10K (best race of the year), 1:11 20K.

With a year and a half or two was running sub 15:30 5K; 26:00 (hilly) 5 mile; sub 32 10K; 1:11 HM. So if she's just getting her legs back, and considering her background as a junior could see her running at that level in a year or two, and that'd be pretty solid. But who knows, maybe this all for fun for her.

Murricane wrote:

I'd say a 21:50 for a 4-mile road race is not fast enough to strike fear into the hearts of the top American elites, and not slow enough to be able to conclude she'll never run at an elite level again.

What is she doing with her life these days? Is she even trying to be an elite runner any more? If she just wants to be a top local road racer while pursuing a different career path, that's a phenomenal time. If she's still dreaming of Olympic glory, well, it could be a good result if she's just easing back into racing. It could be bad if she put everything she had into that performance.

Verdict: inconclusive. Good for her for getting out there, though.

I agree overall but she's still training with Henwood so she's at least semi-serious.

tarckstar wrote:

mo money mo problems wrote:

False. At the Trolley Run in KC the winning female ran 20:50.

That's all downhill.

It's mostly downhill. But stating that Cain has the fastest 4M by a female this year is not accurate which is why I posted the Trolley Run time.

Murricane wrote:

What is she doing with her life these days? Is she even trying to be an elite runner any more? .

It appears that the answer is yes to your second question. We got a look into her recent training stint in Mammoth Lakes, CA.

rojo wrote:

Murricane wrote:

What is she doing with her life these days? Is she even trying to be an elite runner any more? .

It appears that the answer is yes to your second question. We got a look into her recent training stint in Mammoth Lakes, CA.

https://www.letsrun.com/news/2019/05/a-behind-the-scenes-look-at-mary-cains-recent-training-camp-in-mammoth-lakes-california/

It's obvious based on her gait in that video (and self-admission) that she was hurt in Mammoth and not running much at that point. From instagram she was out there in January, so she had to get over an injury and then begin a training cycle to get to this point of fitness here in early May. Not a bad result at all on that timeline and she should be on an upward trajectory.

Also, good to hear an obviously intelligent and mature view on her own running and fitness. That she made it back to racing a few months later displays a passion for the sport and I wish her all the success in the world.

She looks almost crippled in that video.