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 Shalane Flanagan Runs Women's 10,000m American Record of 30:34.49 Poof! Deena Kastor's Record from 2002 (30:52.32) Disappears From USATF May 7, 2008 For the Washington Running Report
Photo above by Drew: Shalane Flanagan raced in a higher gear at the 2007 AT&T USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. She won the Women's 5000m race in 14:51.75. Jen Rhines (in orange, far left) finished second (15:08.53). See an athlete's biography of Shalane Flanagan at USATF.org/athletes/bios/
Another Option for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials
It is the third American record in just over a year for
Shalane, who in 2007 broke the indoor American record for
3,000m (8:33.25) and the outdoor AR for 5,000m (14:44.80).
Shalane Flanagan Speaks with Media via Teleconference Call
Below are Shalane Flanagan Teleconference excerpts: Question (Q): Tell us about your decision to set this race up
and go for the record, and about how the race itself went for
you. Answer (A): The idea for a 10K started last fall. I was just
trying to think of what was the best preparation for the trials
and for the Olympics. Last year my timing was maybe a little
bit off. I was coming off of injury so I felt the need to get
out there and race. I tried to hold my peak. So [in 2008] I
thought instead of just training, a nice 10k effort would
prolong my season and keep it in a strength-oriented phase but
at the same time break it up and see if we're headed in the
right direction. My agent suggested that usually Cardinal [Invitational]
presented itself timing-wise and typically has had fast times.
I wasn't quite sure it was going to materialize into being as
fast of a race. Initially there wasn't going to be a rabbit
until the New York Road Runners stepped in and supplied a
rabbit. I didn't know how sharp anybody else would be, so I was
delighted when I saw Kim Smith was in there. Typically Kim and
I tend to run very well with each other. We don't ever pre-plan
to help each other but it just seems to work out that once we
get on the track, we have a mutual understanding and respect. I
felt like last night, it felt more like a workout, and we were
working together to help each other achieve our big goal to run
fast. It wasn't until the last lap when I reminded myself that
it was a race and I should make an effort to win. I didn't feel
a need to beat Kim, I wanted to beat the clock and run fast
later this year. Q: What are your plans for the rest of the year? A: To run fast, run for a medal. I don't know what event it
will be, but those are the general goals. Q: How did you feel when the 5k went by in 15:17.4? A: The plan was to go out conservative, to run anywhere from
15:25 to 15:30 and then cut down. I felt good, but I also had
been warned that all of a sudden the monkey's going to jump on
your back and it's going to be a death march. I felt good but
was kind of worried. But that never happened. I felt controlled
the entire way. The last K [kilometer], I felt like I was
getting tight - not fatigued, but a sign that my body was ready
to have the race over with, running in spikes for such a long
way. I had set aside three goals entering the race. My coach going
in said he thought I was in 30:30 shape. I thought for a debut,
that's a pretty big goal. I was more just trying to break 31
and if I felt good, get the record. The next goal was to chop
off the record by a second if need be. Running 31:15 was my
third goal. I just wanted to make sure I finished strong and
didn't walk in. Q: Did last might's race influence your decision in terms of
what event you might run at the Olympic Trials and Olympics? A: I really enjoy the 5k. We'll have to sit down and look at
where my best chances to medal are. They are very different
races. For me and my more speed-oriented training, it felt
really nice until the last few laps when it was really
uncomfortable. I just don't know right now. I don't know where
I stack up against other people. Wherever I stand the best
chance of medaling and representing my country well. Q: You must have some sense that was what it was going to be
like out there for a 10k. A: It takes a lot of patience. Over a 10k, there are a lot of
times you can talk yourself out of sticking to the pace. If you
have one little bad stretch, it's not like you only have 2-3
laps left. You could have 10-15 laps left and not feel good.
It's a very tough mental event. In the 5k, when I start to
hurt, I can usually tell myself I've only got a few laps left.
It's just a different approach. I'm glad I did a 10k because it
presented a challenge and opened my eyes to other distances. I
was really inspired by the marathon Trials, both the men and
women this year. My genetic makeup I think is predisposed to
the longer distances but I really have a fun time trying to
fine-tune my speed. If you can't have a kick on the
international scene, you're a bit hopeless. So I tend to try to
stay shorter, longer. Q: What does this mean to you personally and to distance
running in the United States? A: We've had some great role models so it's not like I'm
groundbreaking or anything. I got a really nice text message
from Deena [Kastor] last night and it's really nice to have the
encouragement from other U.S. women. Everybody wants to make
that next step. Kara [Goucher] proved in Osaka that she could
do it. Everybody has so much enthusiasm. Sport in general is
about breaking down barriers. The next one is sub-30 for the
10k. We're slowly but surely creeping up in there. I'm excited
about it. Q: What are your racing plans before the Olympic Trials? A: I'm taking it day by day to make sure I recover and bounce
back from the 10k. My calves area little torn up, my feet are a
little sore. I'll just jog, probably for the next week. We know
I'm fit. It's just making sure I get to the starting line
healthy and hungry to race. Usually my natural hunger to get
out there and perform my best is enough. If I can get out there
with 90 percent, I think it's enough. I don't need to be 120
percent. Q: Was your mother there last night? A: She was there and so was my dad. I had a really great
support crew out there last night. It's kind of a lonely sport
if you don't have family and friends at some of these races. I
always feel I perform my best when I have people who care out
there. I think it's really essential for my success. My husband
does about half my workouts with me. We're all really committed
to helping me get to that next level. Q: What about moving up to the marathon? A: I kind of get excited, and my coach gets excited. It comes a
little more naturally to me than those speed oriented events.
My dad and my mom both were marathoners. But my dad has always
emphasized that if I go[to the marathon] too soon, it could
shorten my career a little bit. I really want to be smart about
when I start my marathoning career. Q: Where is your training base? A: I was in the mountains this winter with [1994 New York City
Marathon champion] German Silva in
Mexico, and with my coach [and training partners]... we came in
and out for some racing. Now I'm in Palo Alto and we're getting
back together the next two weeks in Colorado Springs in the
U.S. training center, doing another two weeks of altitude ]
training. [In Mexico}It was 6500 feet, not too extreme. It was
north of Mexico City. Q: Did you surprise yourself last night? A: Yes. I knew my workouts were somewhat indicative of that
time, but it's always special when you set a goal and achieve
it. All the elements have to come together and pan out. I'm
surprised we were able to run that fast, this early.
Women's 10,000m Run - Kim McDonald
Name Year School Finals ================================================================ 1 Shalane Flanagan NIKE 30:34.49 2 Kim Smith Reebok 30:35.54 3 Sally Kipyego Texas Tech 31:25.45 4 Sabrina Mockenhaupt Koeln Marath 31:27.05 5 Molly Huddle Saucony 31:27.12 6 Madai Perez Carrillo NIKE 31:30.23 7 Jennifer Rhines adidas 31:30.31 8 Xioaqin Dong China 31:31.87 9 Kate Reed Bristol and 31:35.77 10 Dulce Maria Rodriguez adidas 31:39.20 11 Adriana Fernandez Unattached 32:07.69 12 Amy Yoder-Begley NIKE 32:07.84 13 Hiromi Ominami Toyota Auto 32:17.48 14 Amy Hastings adidas 32:18.72 15 Andrea Grove Unattached 32:29.69 16 Elena Valencia Unattached 32:36.98 17 Sharon Thompson Unattached 32:49.39 18 Kathy Newberry NYAC 32:50.97 -- Adriana Pirtea Boulder-Wave DNF -- Courtney Babcock Unattached DNF -- Melissa Cook New Balance DNF -- Sara Slattery adidas DNF Read an account of the race by Ed Gordon for IAAF.
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