She always struck me as someone good at shorter distances but not really marathon material. Obviously she could be pretty good, but doesn’t seem like she is the sort of person that would run equivalent times at the marathon distance. Horses for courses. Would love to be proven wrong.
Jenny is 37 and she is finished as a top competitor. She will be lucky to finish in the top 10. No chance she is ever on a US team for a global championship again.
How old was Keira D'Amato when she broke the US marathon record?
Bad comparison. Jenny was a mid-distance runner whose prime was 10 years ago. D'Amato was not even fast until her mid-30s. Do you also think Centro is also not too old to break the US marathon record?
Will drop out at 18 and show up in a spring marathon. Same will happen to about 10 of the top 50 seeds.
This is the more likely scenario. A newbie isn't prepared for what the gremlins will do. Especially a middle distance runner trying to run the marathon.
Jenny is 37 and she is finished as a top competitor. She will be lucky to finish in the top 10. No chance she is ever on a US team for a global championship again.
You say this with quite a bit of confidence. Why do you say this? Do you have an insight on her current training/status? Honestly curious. Surely someone saying that would have some type of inside knowledge?
Will drop out at 18 and show up in a spring marathon. Same will happen to about 10 of the top 50 seeds.
This is the more likely scenario. A newbie isn't prepared for what the gremlins will do. Especially a middle distance runner trying to run the marathon.
Jenny is 37 and she is finished as a top competitor. She will be lucky to finish in the top 10. No chance she is ever on a US team for a global championship again.
Carlos Lopes was 37 when he won the Olympic marathon. He was 38 when he set the world record.
Lopes wasn't a novice middle distance runner trying his first marathon. Heck, he couldn't even beat me in my debut. ;-)
This is the more likely scenario. A newbie isn't prepared for what the gremlins will do. Especially a middle distance runner trying to run the marathon.
I’d agree, but remember Rod Dixon…
Dixon was (past tense) a middle distance runner. By the time he ran the marathon he had been a seasoned long distance runner for years. His middle distance days were a distant memory.
This post was edited 5 minutes after it was posted.
Dixon was (past tense) a middle distance runner. By the time he ran the marathon he was a seasoned long distance for years. His middle distance days were a distant memory.
Malmo is absolutely correct. Rod also was only like 32, but more importantly, as Malmo notes, Rod was racing many 10K, 15K and 10 mile races as one of the most prolific road racers of that time.
Dixon was (past tense) a middle distance runner. By the time he ran the marathon he was a seasoned long distance for years. His middle distance days were a distant memory.
Malmo is absolutely correct. Rod also was only like 32, but more importantly, as Malmo notes, Rod was racing many 10K, 15K and 10 mile races as one of the most prolific road racers of that time.
Yes I know the history of the sport. Aberrations exist. Kipchoge is one, as is Bekele. Jenny Simpson is unlikely to be one.
Aberrations, eh?
Sara Hall, Keira D’Amato and Emily Sisson are probably the favorites to make the team. that means 2 women over 38.
Rupp was 35 and Abdi 44 in 2021. Shalane was 35 in 2016. Men was 41 in 2016 (37 in 2012 when he almost medalled). Etc etc.
when there are consistent “aberrations” maybe it’s time to consider that they aren’t aberrations
OK so age is not Jenny’s problem per se. Her problem may be that she is an old 37, as Galen is an old 37, due to both of them having been banged up and dealing with nagging injuries. So Jenny has done what exactly to make one think she can pull this off? I give her credit for trying. She has had a great career, but her 1:10:35 a year ago, while solid, is probably equivalent to about a 2:28, assuming she could extend her endurance that far. Is that good enough?
She is a baller and a multiple time WC medalist (including gold, albeit in 2011) and Olympic medalist. She wouldn’t compete if she didn’t believe she had a shot at making the team. I think she will be in the mix for a spot. Otherwise why not just take a payday and toe the line at Boston?
Just remember Mike Tysons quote "everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth."
Malmo is absolutely correct. Rod also was only like 32, but more importantly, as Malmo notes, Rod was racing many 10K, 15K and 10 mile races as one of the most prolific road racers of that time.
Don't forget the half marathon.
I thought I read that he once held the World Record in the Half Marathon, but he was not on the World Record progression list on Wikipedia. Did Herb Lindsay break it later the same day?