The female half marathon record is the most impressive IMO. No other times compare, with the 10k as probably the next closest. 1:02:52 is more than a minute faster than the male OTQ time. It'd be competitive in all but the best male races.
I really want her to be clean. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have suspicions. She runs AR half marathon pace on a course with some elevation, 74 degrees, and 94% humidity and brats Sisson? Hmmmm. I
Just to be sure, she is clean. Not only is she playing golf with someone else's clubs (no expectations), she doesn't have any of the stresses women coming out of college have. Who to marry, what to do for a living, when to have kids? Instead, her family is Team D'Amato - a multigenerational squad who is 100% supportive of her. She is a fierce competitor, but she is having fun. She didn't just "come out of nowhere," she has been training hard for these moments for a couple of years now, but she hasn't been beating her body up every year since college. Look at the results of the 2003 or 2004 NCAA XC championships. She had top 20 finishes in them both but look at some of the names of the people she beat...Amy Hastings, Shannon Rowbury, Molly Huddle, Desiree Davila, just to name a few.
Just to be sure, she is clean. Not only is she playing golf with someone else's clubs (no expectations), she doesn't have any of the stresses women coming out of college have. Who to marry, what to do for a living, when to have kids? Instead, her family is Team D'Amato - a multigenerational squad who is 100% supportive of her. She is a fierce competitor, but she is having fun. She didn't just "come out of nowhere," she has been training hard for these moments for a couple of years now, but she hasn't been beating her body up every year since college. Look at the results of the 2003 or 2004 NCAA XC championships. She had top 20 finishes in them both but look at some of the names of the people she beat...Amy Hastings, Shannon Rowbury, Molly Huddle, Desiree Davila, just to name a few.
None of that proves anything. Anyone can dope - and a lot do.
Just to be sure, she is clean. Not only is she playing golf with someone else's clubs (no expectations), she doesn't have any of the stresses women coming out of college have. Who to marry, what to do for a living, when to have kids? Instead, her family is Team D'Amato - a multigenerational squad who is 100% supportive of her. She is a fierce competitor, but she is having fun. She didn't just "come out of nowhere," she has been training hard for these moments for a couple of years now, but she hasn't been beating her body up every year since college. Look at the results of the 2003 or 2004 NCAA XC championships. She had top 20 finishes in them both but look at some of the names of the people she beat...Amy Hastings, Shannon Rowbury, Molly Huddle, Desiree Davila, just to name a few.
None of that proves anything. Anyone can dope - and a lot do.
And implying or stating you think she dopes proves even less. There are fast runners - and a lot don't dope.
None of that proves anything. Anyone can dope - and a lot do.
And implying or stating you think she dopes proves even less. There are fast runners - and a lot don't dope.
Armstrong, of course. But it's also a pretty reasonable explanation for her success, beyond being a jaded "she's fast and therefore must be doping," automaton. It's also consistent with someone like Sara Hall, who is also excelling at a more "advanced" age and shares the same "no worries" situation. Maybe there's something to that.
It is indeed difficult not to be at least a little skeptical-- and if this were any athlete from just about any other country, we certainly would be, and much more aggressively so.
It's not just the level of racing; it's the sheer volume of racing and the relentless consistency at distances from 5k to marathon. She went into World's with, what?, 4 weeks notice, ran very well, and was then back into racing the shorter stuff within a couple of weeks (again, with no decline in performance) all the while (we would assume) building for another marathon only 8-10 weeks later. In other words, she has been crushing races AND building for another marathon when the majority of athletes would still rebuilding from their last marathon-- if, that is, it was less than 7 weeks ago (Worlds was July 18!).
None of this actually proves anything, of course, but it's a bit disingenuous to suggest that there is nothing at least unusual going on here-- maybe unusual in a very good way, but still extremely uncommon. And this all without considering the background story (also, of course, unusual, but not at all implausible IMHO).
Would add: If she's been capable of all these recent performances in quick succession, while also recovering from/building for marathons, because they are actually a long way from her ability when completely fresh, that should just increase our skepticism.
She also has done all this on relatively low mileage for an elite. Past 12 weeks she maxed at 82 miles. Before she broke the AR she was running in the 60s. Does she do any cross training?
5:09 avg pace at 20k championship on a course with some elevation gain (250-275ft). That would put her a couple seconds ahead of the current half AR if she went for another .6.
Mantz's victory more impressive bc of the competition he beat, but Keira's time is more impressive to me. America has a real contender.
And implying or stating you think she dopes proves even less. There are fast runners - and a lot don't dope.
Armstrong, of course. But it's also a pretty reasonable explanation for her success, beyond being a jaded "she's fast and therefore must be doping," automaton. It's also consistent with someone like Sara Hall, who is also excelling at a more "advanced" age and shares the same "no worries" situation. Maybe there's something to that.
Look at the college career of Sara Hall vs. Keira. Not even close. Sara never left the running scene and developed a lifetime base. I wouldn't guarantee Sara is clean, but not as many red flags as Keira IMO.
It is indeed difficult not to be at least a little skeptical-- and if this were any athlete from just about any other country, we certainly would be, and much more aggressively so.
It's not just the level of racing; it's the sheer volume of racing and the relentless consistency at distances from 5k to marathon. She went into World's with, what?, 4 weeks notice, ran very well, and was then back into racing the shorter stuff within a couple of weeks (again, with no decline in performance) all the while (we would assume) building for another marathon only 8-10 weeks later. In other words, she has been crushing races AND building for another marathon when the majority of athletes would still rebuilding from their last marathon-- if, that is, it was less than 7 weeks ago (Worlds was July 18!).
None of this actually proves anything, of course, but it's a bit disingenuous to suggest that there is nothing at least unusual going on here-- maybe unusual in a very good way, but still extremely uncommon. And this all without considering the background story (also, of course, unusual, but not at all implausible IMHO).
Rapid ascent to world class running can and probably should raise eyebrows given history. However, there is no proof of wrongdoing. Openly suggesting it is slander and the moderators should not allow it. But this is LetsRun and journalism rules do not apply...
Armstrong, of course. But it's also a pretty reasonable explanation for her success, beyond being a jaded "she's fast and therefore must be doping," automaton. It's also consistent with someone like Sara Hall, who is also excelling at a more "advanced" age and shares the same "no worries" situation. Maybe there's something to that.
Look at the college career of Sara Hall vs. Keira. Not even close. Sara never left the running scene and developed a lifetime base. I wouldn't guarantee Sara is clean, but not as many red flags as Keira IMO.
Exactly, 2 years is a ridiculously short period of time to suddenly come out and become the best female distance runner of all time in the marathon for the USA, especially at her age. It would be more reasonable if she bounced back to running and just "made the olympic team" or made top 5 in a marathon major, that would be very worthy of praise and believable. This story of hers just smells like pure fantasy that Nike has bought into because it will help them sell shoes to people in their 30's trying to make a "come back" similar to hers and be relevant again in the higher echelons of the running world (you know, all those top 20 division 1 finishers from back in the day who have given up on their olympic dream, she gives them hope again that they too can break records, *just buy the nike shoes*)
It's so blatantly obvious it is at least unettling if not almost sickening. I don't like it when people make a mockery of the sport through cheating, this road she is on is far far "too easy" to be credulously believed. And I bet this post will be taken down becuase Nike shills will complain and Letsrun is beholden to them, oh well, maybe some will be able to read it before it does and start to understand how crazy her performances have been.
The New Haven 20k has hosted the national championship for nearly 30 years. Don’t remember a year we have not been tested. Top 2 always tested along with one random finisher. Nearly 200 tests and no issues. Rupp, korir, DeReuck, true, Tuttle, aliphine, hasay, sisson, r hall, s hall, huddle and many more tested. I am sure these athletes get tested a number of times annually. Tired of all the posters claiming that many US athletes are dirty when they know little about the testing process. Keira was an ideal athlete doing pre and post race interviews and thanking sponsors and community.
isn't she being drug tested at every one of these races?
Pretty sure she's mentioned it on the citius podcasts she's been on recently. Remember she also organized drug testing out of pocket for the 10mi AR she did. If she's doing she's on a Lance Armstrong level of arrogance
The New Haven 20k has hosted the national championship for nearly 30 years. Don’t remember a year we have not been tested. Top 2 always tested along with one random finisher. Nearly 200 tests and no issues. Rupp, korir, DeReuck, true, Tuttle, aliphine, hasay, sisson, r hall, s hall, huddle and many more tested. I am sure these athletes get tested a number of times annually. Tired of all the posters claiming that many US athletes are dirty when they know little about the testing process. Keira was an ideal athlete doing pre and post race interviews and thanking sponsors and community.
Testing makes athletes more careful. But it doesn't make them clean. It's been known since Marion Jones' era that athletes can mask their doping. I would expect they would be even better at that today. As David Howman has said, "doping remains more sophisticated than antidoping". And Richard Pound - also formerly of WADA - "only the dumb and the careless get caught". D'Amato could be tested till the cows come home and still dope.