Doubling her efforts

Flanagan peaking at right time to make a run at two medals

Making her 10,000-meter debut in May, Shalane Flanagan "didn't freak out too much" when splits showed she would shatter the American record by 15 seconds. The night before, Flanagan and her coach, John Cook, talked about a record time. The prerace conversation kept Flanagan confident during the last 5,000 meters as she entered unfamiliar territory. With her arms stretched to the side and her delicate features expressing a mix of triumph and relief, Flanagan crossed the finish line in 30 minutes 34.49 seconds.

The American record (by 17 seconds) remains the fastest 10,000 run this year, automatically qualifying Flanagan for any conversation about Olympic medal contenders. Again, unfamiliar territory for an athlete who still considers herself a 1,500- and 5,000-meter runner. Medal talk is also new for American female distance runners, despite a surprising bronze medal by Kara Goucher at the 2007 World Championships in the 10,000. With Flanagan and Goucher entered in the 5,000 and 10,000, the Americans should be on par with the Kenyans and Ethiopians in Beijing.

"Maybe you don't share it with everyone, but deep down you hope this is the level you can attain," said Flanagan. "You don't really know how you're going to get there. You don't know how things are going to play out. But I've always hoped that I'd be in this position. That's why I'm so excited about doubling, to be considered a medal hopeful. This is what I've dreamed of, being considered one of the best in the world."

But without making some big decisions and bold moves in recent years, Flanagan might have found herself in a much different position. Her journey from Marblehead High School phenom to NCAA champion at North Carolina to American record-holder hasn't been easy. Since finishing 11th in the 5,000 semifinals at the 2004 Athens Olympics, Flanagan has come back from major foot surgery, teamed with a new coach, and developed a more tactical approach to racing, with a stronger finishing kick.

Watching Flanagan display impressive strength and speed winning the 10,000 at the US Olympic trials, then recover well enough to place third in the 5,000, she appears ready for big performances in Beijing. Flanagan used the trials as a dress rehearsal. She could be one of the lucky few with perfect timing, putting together the proper training, mental approach, and race experience on the Olympic stage. Flanagan's best shot at a medal will come Aug. 15 in the 10,000 final.

"If Shalane stays Shalane and stays simple, she's going to be great," said Cook. "I think she'll become America's best distance runner ever. And she may already be."

For an admittedly hard-line coach who doesn't waste time with flattery, that is high praise. But the 27-year-old Flanagan doesn't need Cook to tell her a rare opportunity awaits. She recognizes the chance for a true international breakthrough, skipping tonight's opening ceremonies to stay off her feet and focus on the competition.

"I'm a lot more business-oriented this time," said Flanagan. "Last time, I would describe myself as kind of a spectator. I really didn't have any major goals at hand. I felt lucky to be there. Now, I feel I've earned my way there and have much bigger intentions."

A large part of that confidence comes from Cook's unusual training methods. Once a week, Flanagan heads to the track for workouts consisting of medicine ball tosses, slow-motion hurdling, and 40-yard sprints. Her husband and frequent training partner, Steve Edwards, is never far from her side as she completes the circuit-style session. Flanagan acknowledges the workout seems more appropriate for a sprinter than a 5,000 or 10,000 runner.

With her career at a crossroads 2 1/2 years ago, Flanagan realized she needed a full-time coach outside her "comfort zone" at UNC. Upon the recommendation of her Tar Heels coach as well as former teammate Erin Donohue, Flanagan decided to team with Cook.

The former George Mason men's track and field coach works toward developing all-around athletes, not just runners. He emphasizes core strength, speed, and agility, in addition to high-altitude training and proper weekly mileage. For Flanagan, it has been the perfect approach. Since joining Cook, Flanagan has set American records in the 3,000 (indoor), 5,000, and 10,000. In Cook's estimation, Flanagan also has developed a 10,000 finishing kick that is at a world-class level, allowing her to "run with anybody and finish with anybody." With heat and humidity destined to create a tactical race, Flanagan's medal chances will probably depend upon how quickly she can run the final lap.

"There's nothing natural about me sprinting," said Flanagan. "In terms of genetics, I have really great lungs, VO2 [max], but as my coach said, 'You can't breeze your way to the finish line.' You have to have some speed and some agility and be an athlete. I can't outrun everyone all the time, so I have to be able to make decisions, be able to sprint. I feel I've always lacked that tactician's sense. For me to make those decisions when racing gives me a lot of confidence. It has to all come together in those big championship races."

In the months before she teamed with Cook to reenergize her career, Flanagan wondered if she would compete in any more championship races. A mysterious left foot injury surfaced shortly after the 2004 Olympics, testing her patience and derailing her career. Despite shooting pain every time she pushed off her left foot, she continued to compete for almost a year.

"I didn't have the resources or the knowledge to know that something was kind of wrong until right after the World Championships in 2005," said Flanagan. "Then, I just said to myself, 'I'm shutting down this operation because it's getting to the point of being debilitating.' "

Even worse, doctors could not diagnose the problem. Finally, a standing X-ray revealed an extra bone in her foot. Flanagan had the extra bone removed in April 2006, but did not run for 11 weeks.

"I was a nervous wreck from when she started having pain up to when she ran that 3,000 race in January 2007 at the Boston Indoor Games," said Edwards. "She broke the American indoor record [in 8:33.25], and I wasn't even able to look at the clock. I was just praying she wouldn't walk off the track and hold her foot. It's not over yet. She still strengthens her foot every day. She constantly has to rehab."

The final diagnosis was an ironic twist for an athlete who won the genetic lottery with two elite distance-running parents. Petite, long-legged and naturally efficient, the 5-foot-5-inch, 113-pound Flanagan could not be physically better suited for her chosen sport. Her mother, Cheryl Treworgy, was among the pioneers in American women's distance running, once holding the women's marathon world record and competing in five world cross-country championships. With a laugh, her father, Steve Flanagan, described himself as "one of those guys never in danger of making an Olympic team, but part of a continuum that made sure the top three guys were better than they should have been." He trained with runners like Frank Shorter, living in Boulder, Colo., for a decade.

Running cross-country and track came easily to Flanagan, who did not follow her parents' passion seriously until high school. Raised by her father, Flanagan was encouraged to pursue swimming and soccer before winning state championships in cross-country and track. In many ways, Steve Flanagan's athletic philosophy partners well with Cook's approach.

"I knew how physically gifted she was, but I made a really big effort not to expose her to this sport," said Steve Flanagan. "I thought if she's really good, we might as well as go slow. If she's not, we might as well go slow anyway and stress balance . . . Now, she's living the dream."

And that dream keeps getting bigger.