Fleshman to replace Runyan for Paris 5K

Re: Fleshman to replace Runyan for Paris 5K

Fleshman may indeed be ready - but
>no doubt she could have been more ready with 2
>months to prepare rather than 2 weeks. It just
>smells a bit selfish.

Fleshman is just as ready as she is going to get. She had been chasing the A mark anyway since Flanagan had decided to pass up WC to rest up and train for XC (this made her the third person, and all she had to do was get the A standard). In addition she is looking for a pro contract, so running in Europe or Pan Ams as originally stated was very necessary.

Re: Fleshman to replace Runyan for Paris 5K

>
Fleshman may indeed be ready - but
>no doubt she could have been more ready with 2
>months to prepare rather than 2 weeks. It just
>smells a bit selfish.>

How much more ready would you expect Fleshman, who has been chasing an 'A' and has set at least one PR in the last couple of weeks, to be?

Does the insanity ever end?

jd

Re: Fleshman to replace Runyan for Paris 5K

Runyan originally planned to run the 5k at the WC's then launch into her marathon prep for NYC with a very solid speed base. Given her past success on the track (in the US at least) that was a fair decision to make.

But given the fact that she has not been able to do quality speed work for most of the summer and was forced to take several (4 I believe) days off in a row, she has determined recently that Fleshman had a better shot at being competitive in Paris than she did. Runyan has decided to move to plan B and just get ready for NYC.

Add on to this that her stregnth training (Tempo runs) have been her best ever and she feels her future is in the longer races (note considerably more speed work in needed to be competitive in the 5k than the marathon). Her decision appears to well reasoned and fair. Had she been able to get in the quality speed work she had scheduled over the last several weeks she could have likely kept to her original plans. But given the recent events and change in her training schedule plan B seems to make more sense.

From what I have heard about Fleshman I am sure she will represent the U.S. well on and off the track. She has been running and competing well and should be ready.

Glad to see that Runyan is willing to turn the spot over to young runner and give her a chance if she is not not going to be close to 100% for the race.

Ideally she would have known earlier but I'm sure she was holding out hope she would be able to get in the speed work needed in the lastt week or two but unfortunately for her that did not pan out.

Tanks Runyan and Good Luck Fleshman.

Re: Fleshman to replace Runyan for Paris 5K

>>Most competitive athletes would
>give an arm or
>leg to be on the team.

Consider it this way:
>Marla thinks she has an excellent chance to make
>the Olympic team in the marathon. She believes
>she can run a much better marathon than she has
>run. It would be a huge boost to her confidence
>if she could show that against world-class
>competition prior to the Olympics. NYC is her
>only chance to do that.

This is her focus
>now. Not 5k on the track. Not even at the WC's.
>

Her focus changed a couple of weeks too soon. She has already made the WC team in the 5. She should fulfill this obligation first then set her sights on her next endeavor. Sure the Olympics are huge but so are the WCs.

Re: Fleshman to replace Runyan for Paris 5K

Marathoner - you are correct. But what part of your analysis did Marla NOT know 6 months ago. Notice that KK did not run to make the U.S. team just to back out - he knew his priorities. I have no problem with athletes running the national championship, then IMMEDIATELY passing on the opportunity (Drossin could have done it, or Meb). My beef is waiting so long, then using a weak excuse. She said she was feeling better, so the assumption is she would be OK to run in a few weeks.

Fleshman may indeed be ready - but no doubt she could have been more ready with 2 months to prepare rather than 2 weeks. It just smells a bit selfish.

Re: Fleshman to replace Runyan for Paris 5K

>Most competitive athletes would
>give an arm or leg to be on the team.

Consider it this way: Marla thinks she has an excellent chance to make the Olympic team in the marathon. She believes she can run a much better marathon than she has run. It would be a huge boost to her confidence if she could show that against world-class competition prior to the Olympics. NYC is her only chance to do that.

This is her focus now. Not 5k on the track. Not even at the WC's.

Re: Fleshman to replace Runyan for Paris 5K

>I'm gonna retract my earlier negative comments
>about the situation and give Marla the benefit of
>the doubt. Just call me a patriot - I can't
>forsee a situation wherein I would have the
>opportunity to wear my countries colors and pass
>- baring losing both legs, an arm, and an ear.
>She must be pretty beat up to give up a spot.

Patriot-

Her statement didn't make her sound to beat up. She said she was feeling a bit better after a couple days of rest and the EFX.

I agree. Most competitive athletes would give an arm or leg to be on the team.

Re: Fleshman to replace Runyan for Paris 5K

I'm gonna retract my earlier negative comments about the situation and give Marla the benefit of the doubt. Just call me a patriot - I can't forsee a situation wherein I would have the opportunity to wear my countries colors and pass - baring losing both legs, an arm, and an ear. She must be pretty beat up to give up a spot.

Re: Fleshman to replace Runyan for Paris 5K

>Bad decision by Runyun. You simply don't pass up
>the WCs. This is the ultimate meet it is what
>track athletes train their entire lives for. Just
>because you "don't feel right" doesn't cut it.
>How many times has an athlete not felt quite
>right in training and a few days later had the
>race of their life.>

Maybe she hasn't felt right in more than a few days.

Re: Fleshman to replace Runyan for Paris 5K

Bad decision by Runyun. You simply don't pass up the WCs. This is the ultimate meet it is what track athletes train their entire lives for. Just because you "don't feel right" doesn't cut it. How many times has an athlete not felt quite right in training and a few days later had the race of their life.

There are two meets a track athlete must run if they are given the opportunity - WCs and Olys. NYC is nothing compared to the WCs. Her priorities are backwards.

Re: Fleshman to replace Runyan for Paris 5K

I'd say (from what I've read, at least), that there's few women collegiate stars EVER who had their head screwed on tighter than Fleshman. She is one articulate, well-balanced chick. She should be a professional speaker or counselor in another life.

[dl]

Re: Fleshman to replace Runyan for Paris 5K

From the horse's mouth:

http://www.marlarunyan.com/journal.htm

[dl]

Re: Fleshman to replace Runyan for Paris 5K

I'm sure Fleshman's not complaining!

[dl]

Re: Fleshman to replace Runyan for Paris 5K

I'm sure Fleshman's not complaining!

[bubba]

Re: Fleshman to replace Runyan for Paris 5K

Fleshman's been running in Europe recently and running fairly well (PRing recently at 5k). While the late decision by Runyan is a bit annoying if anyone can handle it Fleshman can. She has a great attitude and head screwed on tight. She's probably psyched for the opportunity especially since she's in shape.