Flanagan

I disagree, thought it was a decent first time job. She was understated but knowledgeable. A big step up from the self promoting Josh Cox.

Hounddogharrier wrote:

I disagree, thought it was a decent first time job. She was understated but knowledgeable. A big step up from the self promoting Josh Cox.

+1

She gave a good show of resilience.

Thanks for sharing your opinion, Chip. I'm sure you're a whiz at your opening gig. I'll hope you record it for us to judge as well.

Yeah, love her and it was horrible.

Was it Paula? Was way better.

Tollefson has much more personality. Enjoyed listening to her on the NBC Sports Gold broadcasts over the summer. Flanagan should be put on the pace car or moto to report from the track. Too much air time caused her to run out of cliches. Kept repeating herself and sounded much like she did during the INEOS stream. Meh.

She has done broadcasting a few times...she is only OK in my opinion.

I thought Sage Steele got a bit carried away with her complex questions for the winners. Obviously they aren't primarily english speakers. I'm not sure anyone could follow her jibber jabber after a race

She talked too much, and when she was talking about Keitany when you couldn't even see her, it was embarrassingly stupid.

I was impressed with Shalane. IT WAS HER FIRST TIME for god's sake...Yes there were times when I thought she was overthinking or over explaining, but overall I thought she did better than I thought she might. I'm sure she will study her performance and learn from it.

bloviating wrote:

I know we are all supposed to like her and respect her but, sheez, she is not a good commentator. Stiff and boring

Totally agree, I thought she was absolute trash. I'll give her a pass since it was her first time, though I don't expect it to get any better- we'll see. I think that you either have it or you don't, and it seems like she doesn't have it. Could have been anyone else (aka someone who knows nothing about running) or just a piece of cardboard and it would have been the same.

Booooooring wrote:

bloviating wrote:

I know we are all supposed to like her and respect her but, sheez, she is not a good commentator. Stiff and boring

Totally agree, I thought she was absolute trash. I'll give her a pass since it was her first time, though I don't expect it to get any better- we'll see. I think that you either have it or you don't, and it seems like she doesn't have it. Could have been anyone else (aka someone who knows nothing about running) or just a piece of cardboard and it would have been the same.

"Absolute trash" - I think you're being too kind. She was filth, putrid and revolting. Crucify her!

Booooooring wrote:

bloviating wrote:

I know we are all supposed to like her and respect her but, sheez, she is not a good commentator. Stiff and boring

Totally agree, I thought she was absolute trash. I'll give her a pass since it was her first time, though I don't expect it to get any better- we'll see. I think that you either have it or you don't, and it seems like she doesn't have it. Could have been anyone else (aka someone who knows nothing about running) or just a piece of cardboard and it would have been the same.

Get out of here with this nonsense. She was somewhere between perfectly fine and good. I hope they continue to have her doing commentary for future races.

This was her SECOND broadcast. She did INEOS.

bloviating wrote:

I know we are all supposed to like her and respect her but, sheez, she is not a good commentator. Stiff and boring

You're a jealous biological female, and Shalane did a GREAT JOB!

bloviating wrote:

I know we are all supposed to like her and respect her but, sheez, she is not a good commentator. Stiff and boring

Agreed, she was somewhat lacking, but how good were you on your first day at work? She will definitely get better, but I'm not sure she will every be great. Shalane's personally is perfectly suited for distance running, commentating is something she's going to have to work really hard at.

bloviating wrote:

I know we are all supposed to like her and respect her but, sheez, she is not a good commentator. Stiff and boring

I much prefer hearing from the pros, like her, who know exactly what they are talking about.

I thought she was great, and in my opinion she got better as the race went on. I give her an A- this time, but I think she has a very bright future if she wants it. Everything she said made sense and came from experience.

I think Tollefson is pretty good as well, but Shalane seems a little more suited for the booth.

What will be very interesting is what Shalane will say when she's covering the Oly Marathon and T&F Trials next year and has to commentate on athletes she's now helping to coach on the BTC.

Will she state in advance: "Ladies and gentlemen, for the sake of full disclosure, I am a Nike employee who's job title is assistant coach with the Bowerman Track Club which means I help coach several athletes who are competing at these Trials?"