Shalane Flanagan tells one story. Her coach, John Cook, tells another.
Evidently, pinpointing the original idea for one of the United States' brightest track and field stars to try her hand in the 10,000 meters is harder to run down than Flanagan in the final 100 meters of a race.
It may be a point of contention for the coach and pupil, but in the grand scheme of things it hardly matters who hatched the plan.
Flanagan, the former Marblehead High School track and cross country phenom, set an American record in her first 10K, running 30:34.49 on May 4 at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif. Her first bid to qualify for the Summer Olympics in Beijing this August will be in that same event tomorrow night (9:20 p.m. Pacific Time) at the United States Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore.
Also the American record holder in the 5,000 meters, Flanagan will run the semifinals in that event at the Trials next Monday night (8:50 p.m. PST), with the finals taking place on Friday, July 4 (8:55 p.m. PST).
"Last fall my coach said maybe I should think about running the 10K," Flanagan said. "I thought he was crazy. It's hard to make it in one event; two is really hard. But given that my debut was an American record in the 10K and was the fastest time in six years, I thought maybe it's more my natural event."
Cook agrees that Flanagan, 26, may be the prototypical runner for the 10K, but he's not taking credit for her stellar performance in Palo Alto last month.
"There was a lot of deliberation but it was more her idea than mine, not to put the burden on her," Cook said.
"I don't have anything against it. Aerobically, she's always been genetically gifted and perhaps, even though last year we worked on a lot of speed, she just lends herself somewhat more toward the 10K."
Flanagan, regarded as one of the greatest middle distance runners in U.S. history, owns American records in the 3,000 meters (8:33.25) and 5,000 meters (14:44.80), as well as the 10,000 meter record that she recently broke.
Those impressive marks don't make her an automatic selection for the Olympic Team, however. It will take strong performances in Eugene, Ore., to qualify in both.
She's not unfamiliar with qualifying. Flanagan made the 2004 Olympic Team in the 5,000, where she placed 11th (15:34.63) in the Olympic semifinals in Athens, Greece.
She has a history with the 5K, but it's hard to overlook Flanagan's early success in the 10K.
"My heart is in the 5K, and I didn't want to give up one for the other," Flanagan said. "If they both go well, maybe I'll be doubling (at the Olympics). I think we'll have to take it one at a time and see how my body reacts. It's the same format (at the Trials) as the Olympics, so it should be a good test to see if I can do it."
Ultimately, it comes down to whichever event gives her the best chance to accomplish the ultimate goal — earning a medal at the Olympic Games.
"I think that we just knew if I really want to shoot for a medal, it appears to be a better chance in the 10K than in the 5K," Flanagan said. "We don't want to ignore Mother Nature. If I'm meant to run the 10, then I'm just meant to run it."
A Different Position
At the U.S. Olympic Trials four years ago, Flanagan was a 22-year-old unknown. She was really just an underdog who made a splash on a national level. Not much was expected of her outside of qualifying.
Four years later, Flanagan has come so far physically and mentally that the Trials are a far more stressful situation. No longer an underdog, she's a favorite in two events — which means she has a lot more to lose than she did four years ago.
"I was four years younger and naive. It's a really different position that I'm in now," Flanagan said. "Four years ago I wasn't a favorite to make it and I did. Now I have a huge target on my back. I'm really excited, but it's a completely different position."
Despite the new emotions Flanagan is having about her unexpected potential to qualify in two events, everyone around her is confident because of her overall physical fitness and focus.
It wasn't that long ago that Flanagan was recovering from foot surgery to remove an extra bone that she was born with.
"Last year was kind of a hit-and-miss year," said Cook, who started coaching Flanagan when she was rehabbing after surgery more than two years ago. "We got to know each other post-surgery, and now she's in pretty good shape. I'm cautious by nature, being a paranoid coach, but I think she's very fit."
Free from physical ailments right now, Flanagan is focused on staying strong mentally heading into the Trials.
"I had nothing to lose four years ago, and now I have a little bit of something to lose. I'm trying to go in with the same fresh mindset that I had then," Flanagan said. "I don't want to over-analyze things. I could almost psyche myself out knowing what's on the line. It's just another race; I'm trying to tell myself that.
"I want to keep it fresh and relaxed because I can't control my competition. I can only control my preparation and stay mentally fresh and hungry."
'Never on the same level'
All the coaches, teammates and training partners Flanagan has had over the years know she was born with a gift for running. But it's been her tremendous work ethic that has pushed her to the top of the American class.
Cook has opened the door to harder, more unique methods of training that have helped Flanagan avoid stagnancy.
Flanagan's primary training partner happens to be her husband, Steve Edwards, a former collegiate runner whom she met at the University of North Carolina. Even with his background as a sprinter, Edwards has difficulty keeping up with Flanagan.
"It's not that much fun, to be honest," Edwards said. "It's a great journey and it's easier for me to sleep at night knowing where she is (in her training), because I can see her form on a daily basis. It is very difficult, though.
"She keeps on improving; we're never on the same level. When I'm improving, she jumps up another level. I enjoy the aspect of husband and wife training together, but really it's not too enjoyable (physically)."
Cook has put more of a focus on weight training and encouraged Flanagan to do three months of altitude training in Mexico.
"It's a full-time job. People ask how many hours I put in and what my day consists of. I'm literally busy all day long," Flanagan said. "You can't run all day, but there is little maintenance that goes into it.
"My coach is big on being a total athlete. We spend more time doing other stuff than running. You have to commit to being away from your family and train in the mountains, but the rewards are so great when you actually put it together."
There are still a few rewards that remain for Flanagan — and no one doubts that she will put them together.
"She keeps on surprising me. I know I'm biased because I'm her husband, but she's as good as anybody," Edwards said. "She's just got the genetics, but a lot of people do. It's more important what they do with them.
"She's tough as nails, very dedicated, and she's a very intelligent trainer who really does a good job of knowing her body. Some people train too hard or not enough. She rides the fence and listens to her body.
"With 1,000 (meters) to go," he added, "I wouldn't want to be next to her."
An Olympic Resume
Name: Shalane Flanagan
Events: Middle Distance
Events being run at Olympic Trials: 10,000 meters and 5,000 meters
Height: 5-foot-5
Weight: 113 pounds
Personal records: 1,500 meters — 4:05.86 (2007); 3,000 meters — 8:33.25, American record (2007); 5,000 meters — 14:44.80, American record (2007); 10,000 meters — 30:34.49, American record (2008)
High School: Marblehead High School, Class of 2000
College: University of North Carolina, Class of 2004
Coach: John Cook
Club: Nike
United States Olympic Trials
Shalane Flanagan will compete in the following events:
Tomorrow at 9:20 p.m. (Pacific Time) — Women's 10,000 meter final
Monday, June 30 at 8:50 p.m. — Women's 5,000 meter semifinal
Friday, July 4 at 8:55 p.m. — Women's 5,000 meter final
