Notes about the women's results:
2 under 2:20. We have ruminated here at RP about the relative rarity of women's fields pushing world record paces. No world records, but a women's course record, and Shalane Flanagan bettered Desiree Davila's 2011 American record by ~30".
I was riveted this morning (and luckily it was pretty quiet at work so I could be!) I read that Shalane's 2:22 would have easily won in almost any other year. I cringed when I watched her take it out so hard, but she clearly had a plan and stuck to it. Imagine running 2:22 on a day where everything didn't come together perfectly.
ReplyDeleteI wonder though if she feels like she maxed out on preparation (she describes it as having gone perfectly). I hope she emerges the victor one day!
Ryan Hall said in 2010, after finishing 4th with a blistering 2:08:41, something like "I think I can win this race, I just need to run like I did today, and others need not to run 2:06". Never truer words spoken. Shalane Flanagan has Boston winner speed, but maybe not world record contender speed, and Rita Jeptoo is apparently a serious world record contender. OTOH, who would have guessed she would drop ~7 minutes YOY from last year.
ReplyDeleteAlso worth noting: Joan Benoit Samuelson's 2:52 marathon at age 58.
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