Update: After two years on the sideline, former Stanford standout (15 time All-American) Lauren Fleshman won the 5k at USAs last weekend with a super gutsy 600 meter kick. If her post race comments don't make you a fan (watch the video, it's only 16 seconds), maybe her blog will.
Being raised in Nike country, I had the uncommon luxury of seeing Lauren up close and personal a couple times a year at Nike-sponsored events. An outgoing blonde, she radiates fun. I've always been a fan of her silly dance moves, her wide smile, her glittery collection of bright Nike graphic tees, not to mention her down-to-earth advice and glowing passion for running and competing.
I'll pretend not to be offended when most of you haven't heard of her.
To be honest, there are a ton of professional runners out there. Races are constantly being contested and people are always fading and coming on, so to stay up to date requires a level of dedication that seems worthless unless you're trying to impress some cute track junkie. I can assure you that's not my reason for ranting about Lauren Fleshman. Just as we all keep tabs on our high school teams and Mal will continue to check up on the Schellberg Monster, having a personal connection makes us that much more excited about a certain meet or stellar performance.
If you're bored at work this summer or if you're ever looking for a little inspiration, I recommend you check this chick out. This video is from this time last year, a year after failing to make the Olympic team and just beginning to get fit again after an injury to her navicular bone which threatened to end her running career for good. I can't rave enough about her refreshing perspective on life and how easy she is to relate to. The last 3 minutes (from 8:10 to the end) capture the gist of her spirit if you don't want to watch the whole thing.
If you like what you hear, bookmark her blog and check it out when you want to procrastinate online. The link in the first paragraph of this post is to her journal, but the home page of her site is "Question of the Day," a forum in which nothing is out of bounds. She usually only updates a couple times a week but her responses are always very thorough. You can submit questions and vote for which ones you want her to answer. Previous responses are categorized under mentality, nutrition, core, pre-race, shoes, recovery, competing, workouts, injuries, rehab, pilates, weight loss, pregnancy...you name it. I've genuinely learned a lot from reading it.
Oh and by the way, L and I saw her at the grocery store in Eugene this past weekend after the Prefontaine Classic...just another reason why my teammates should come visit!
**Bonus Video: Lauren's goals and "best year"
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