She's probably just disappointed like all of us who realize, in retrospect, that we went out too hard in a marathon. If she would have started slower she might have got very close to the 2:37


Mark,

She's probably "disappointed" in the sense that she is a world class, world champion athlete. They tend to have VERY high standards for whatever they do - even when they say otherwise.

FWIW - she ran about what I thought she would run - high 2:30's to low 2:40's. Essentially 6 min/mile pace. She's probably run a lot of that pace just in her general run training. For athletes at this level, it's kind of the default faster running pace.

I've attempted to run a few marathons off of triathlon training. They all went the same - I felt like super-man for the first 20 miles, and then somewhere around between the 20 - 22 mile mark a bear jumped on my back and I had to carry the bear the final 4 miles to the line! It was not a bonk, it was most likely a lack of marathon specific training - right at that marathon goal race-pace - which for me at the time was about 5:50 - 5:55 min/mile. I could run all day at 7 min/mile from my IM training and could run under 6 min/mile for up to 13.1 miles - but stringing along 26 miles of just under 6 min/mile - that was the challenge!

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Steve Fleck @stevefleck | Blog

I wonder if this is a bucket list item that she does just once and walks away from, or the sense of disappointment sucks her back in at some time in the near future when her running is still near her peak. Lisa Bentley ran around 2:47 at Boston long after retirement at age 46 or 47. Would have loved to see how fast Lisa would have gone at her peak. I am thinking she'd be mid 2:30's.

http://triathlonmagazine.ca/...ory-boston-marathon/

or the sense of disappointment sucks her back in at some time in the near future when her running is still near her peak.


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Doubtful. She's now following the Nicola Spirig post gold medal winning family plan. That's the priority they've talked about for several years once Rio show was done.

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Brooks Doughtie, M.S.
Exercise Physiology
-USAT Level II

Having kids does not preclude getting back to full competition (of any kind) later. Could be several years for now. Even Joan Benoit ran 2:51 at around 50 years old. Gwen could come back 4-8 years from now and still be close to her all time best. Erin Baker did all her fast marathon times after becoming a mother.

Yes but you asked if this would somehow motivate her to actually going into full marathon training in the near future. No that ain't going to happen.

That ain't going to happen til likely post Tokyo.

Which I think by then GJ becomes just a runner/spectator/motivational speaker for sports. Lives off being the greatest female triathlete, paid speaking gigs.

Do I think she runs faster and and another marathon? Yes. Do I think she becomes some full time marathon trained athlete? No

ETA: I think it's a no brainer. Hell I think she could run another one in 2018 and nail a race and still focus on Tokyo for the whole qualifying period (she'll be easily qualified for the ITU races, etc). I just don't think she's going to do one anytime soon (next year). I think her priority is going to shift on family right now. Then build back up for Tokyo when required.

Hell she can make more money being a mom and speaking at corporations for 18 months and sorta do basic stay in shape training and make more bank than race ITU circuit.

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Brooks Doughtie, M.S.
Exercise Physiology
-USAT Level II

B_Doughtie wrote:

She's now following the Nicola Spirig post gold medal winning family plan.

Quite literally.

Olympic Gold Medalist Nicola Spirig Expecting A Baby
Gwen Jorgensen Reflects On Her First Marathon