Speaking with Shalane Flanagan

NEW YORK – Things couldn’t have gotten any better for Shalane Flanagan in 2008. She qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team in two events and won a bronze medal in the women’s 10,000m. But this year, things went a little rockier. After a tumultuous break with coach John Cook, Flanagan joined Jerry Schumacher’s group with the Nike Oregon Project.

After the switch, it took time for Flanagan to get acclimated to her new training regimen and it had an impact on her results. In June, she placed second to Amy Yoder-Begley in the 10,000m at the U.S. Outdoor Championships, and in August at the World Championships, Flanagan finished 14th in 31:32.19.

Unbeknownst to Flanagan at the time, she was suffering from physical ailments that were not diagnosed until after she returned home from Berlin. Now healthy and returning to training, Flanagan is also contemplating her future, specifically when she will make the transition from the track to the marathon. We caught up with Flanagan, who will observe the 40th ING New York City Marathon from the lead truck.


While still in Berlin after you ran in the World Championships, I happened to ride the U-Bahn with your mom one night and she mentioned that you were not feeling well physically at that time. What was ailing you?

It was rough spring. I didn’t really know why I wasn’t feeling so well. I thought it was from transitioning to a new coach, new training and stuff. But there were actually some underlying health issues that I was not aware of. It was diagnosed and I had some things looked at and I’m feeling much better. I’m adjusted to the training.


I hope it wasn’t anything too serious, was it?

No. It was a combination of things. I apparently picked up a parasite, most likely in Beijing. I got food poisoning there.

What’s with you and the food poisoning? You got it here (before the U.S. 8K Championships) and then at the Olympics?

Yeah, I don’t know. I got it twice last year. But that’s what was holding me back. There were some iron deficiency issues that could have stemmed from the parasite. I don’t know. There were also some genetic things that I was diagnosed with, nothing catastrophic but enough to throw me off. You have to have everything going for you on all cylinders when you’re trying to compete at a high level. But now, I’m feeling better so it’s all good.


So what’s in the plans for you now, moving forward into 2010?

It’s like I’m trying to rebuild this whole base and trying to get a good foundation for marathoning. So, I’m just trying to learn everything there is to learn about the marathon. I’m looking forward to hopefully running a half in January.


Is the big-picture focus for 2010 the marathon?

This next year is to improve on everything. Whatever presents itself, I’m just going to listen to my body and make sure that I can adapt to the new training. I’m going to start off with a half, see what happens, and then go from there. Maybe the next step is a marathon. Maybe the next step is going back to the track, running really fast and then going to the marathon. I’m kind of open to anything right now.


If you run a half in January, where would that be?

I think it will be the U.S. Championship in Houston. I think that’s on January 17.


Coming off that, do you feel you should have enough time to weigh your options?

Yeah. There will definitely be time to make a decision, whether to do cross-country or track. It’s a great year to just experiment and see what I want to do.

In talking a lot with Kara Goucher, she said the thing that really got her excited about running the marathon was getting to ride the lead truck here and watch the 2007 race. Was that sort of the same idea for you?

Yeah. Winning in Boston or in New York for me is pretty much the equivalent of an Olympic gold medal. Having the opportunity on a yearly basis to go and win a gold medal is exciting. I was able to watch the Boston Marathon this spring on the truck, and now I’ll do New York. I’m trying to see what each race has to offer. For my first experience, I feel I need to go somewhere where I think I can be successful and have a comfortable feeling. However the training leading up to it will also play a roll. I’m not going to force myself into it. But this is a great way to see what it’s all about.


What was your experience like watching the race in Boston?

It was awesome, just because I grew up in Boston. Watching Kara battling and the race itself was phenomenal and so tight. And there were so many components that I just wasn’t aware of, like the water stations and how that operates. I was trying to look at it in a very functional kind of way, and envisioning myself racing and how it would play out. But at the same time, it was very emotional too watching everyone who trained so hard, watching Kara in the last mile. It was an unbelievable experience and made me want to commit to the training.


Having seen Boston from that perspective, what specifically will you be looking for here?

A lot of people say Boston is really tough, and it is. But New York is really tough too. I think both races have exceptionally hard courses. I’ll be trying to get familiar with the course and seeing how it plays out. I’m trying to absorb the whole thing and seeing where I can envision myself being successful. I think either one I would be really excited about. New York is a really sexy marathon. I think it has a cutting edge, something really appealing to it. Boston has the really old-school, blue-collar kind of feel. They’re very different from what I could tell.

Is it safe to say then that when you do make your marathon debut it will be in either Boston or New York?

That’s what I would hope, yeah.


Would running the Boston Marathon this spring be cutting it too close from a training aspect to the half-marathon in January?

I’d love to run one as soon as possible, so I’d love for it to be Boston. But I just don’t know if I’m ready. My coach is very meticulous and a planner, so if he says that I’m ready to go, I’m ready to go. If he says that I’m not ready, I’m not going to force a marathon. That would be a big mistake. I want my first one to be an enjoyable, successful experience.


Hypothetically speaking, if everything goes well with the half in January, what would be the progression of your season?

I have no idea. It’s totally unexplored territory for me. I don’t even know what the steps would be. I don’t even know what a good marathon workout is yet. I’m having to compute in my mind, when I go on long runs, what getting down to good marathon pace would be. If I run 2:25, I could maybe be a contender in a major marathon for the most part. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around what I have to do in practice to get to that. After a half, I don’t know what that would entail. I don’t know how I will feel after the half. I could be completely beat up, I don’t know.


How difficult is that process when all you’ve run prior is track and cross-country?

It’s such a different training for me. I’m used to going all out and going out trying to just pound myself. In marathon training, I constantly have to say, ‘Be patient. Hold back.’ I won’t make it through to the end of a workout if I don’t conserve something. It’s a completely different mindset. I think it’s going to take a lot of practice and patience on my part to get into that mindset of conserving and when you get to that point at the end when you think you’ve got nothing left, pulling out even more.


Have you done workouts at marathon pace yet?

Not a full one yet. I’m working on trying to get my long runs in and having them be at a decent clip. Sub-six-minute pace for like 14 miles has been my goal. I’m trying to get up to eventually run two and a half hours for a long run. I just have to be on my feet long enough. If anything, I’ve not been on my feet very long whenever I do my long runs. My workouts have been mostly short and fast stuff. Just being on my feet for two and a half hours is a big accomplishment right now.


Have you been running in Oregon or are you down in North Carolina?

I’ve been in North Carolina, but I was just out in Portland last week visiting with my training group and coaches.


How has it been assistant coaching at North Carolina?

It’s been awesome. It’s been really cool. There is a new coach there, Pete Watson. He’s welcomed me to help out and assist him in trying to build the program back up because I’m familiar with the places to run. So I’ve been helping him get started and I enjoy being around the kids.


It has to be pretty different being back in that type of environment, right?

Yeah. The collegiate system is where I got started. I have so many great memories at North Carolina. The best thing I feel I can do…you can donate money, but I think if you donate your time, that is the most valuable thing. Not that I have tons of knowledge, but I can at least help a little bit in whatever they need me to do. I’ve been helping a little bit with the recruiting and trying to build up the men’s program again. The women have always been strong.


Coming off of Berlin and regaining your health now, how has the experience been for you from a running perspective?

It’s helped me probably more than it’s helped them. I had a really hard last six months. It was kind of stressful. So to regroup at home and have people around who still think I’m amazing because I made it to a World Championship. They don’t care that I didn’t medal. They’re just amazed that I’m making it to the World Championships. It’s been refreshing and rejuvenating. They’re impressed with anything so I’m playing to a pretty easy crowd. Having been able to run with them, they’re so appreciative of anything and any time I give to them. It really feels good.


So when does full-time training for the half begin for you?

I’m pretty much in it. I’m on a little bit of a down week this week because I just got back from Oregon on Monday and we’re going to be here. This is a great place to train, but I’ve been doing a lot of socializing. I’m kind of used to being a hermit so all this socializing gets me a little tired. But as soon as I get back on Sunday, it’s going to be pretty serious for the next two and a half months trying to build up a foundation for a marathon, be it spring or fall.

Will you do any road races between now and the half to get the competitive juices flowing again?

I’ve always got that competitive spirit so I don’t necessarily have to test myself that way. But as long as the workouts are going well I should feel pretty confident going into the half. But if my coach says, ‘Let’s test it out and get in a real environment of road racing,’ then I’ll do it. But as of right now, I don’t see anything logistically that looks to be really good to do.