Gwen Takes Next Step, Winning Stanford Invite
Saying after the prestigious Stanford Invitational that her goal was to "race for the win… not necessarily go for a fast time," triathlon's reigning gold medalist accomplished her goal, coming home in what was still a PR for her, 31:55.
Now racing officially for the Bowerman Track Club, Gwen came down from a month at altitude with Shalane Flanagan and other Bowerman TC runners. "I wish I would've run faster tonight," she said, and she might've had she not saved quite a bit up for the sprint. "I didn't know that I had that much left in the tank."
Gwen also thinks a few more races will give her the ability to experience the "race hurt" that only racing give you.
"Super proud to be able to run under Jerry," she said after the race, speaking of Bowerman TC coach Jerry Schumacher.
Of note, Gwen did not wear spikes, as she did in the Husky Classic indoor 5000 meters last month, rather in what appears to be Nike Zoom Vaporfly 4%, road race shoes. (But, this time briefs rather than the old school split run shorts she ran in the Husky Classic.)
What's next? She'd like to race a half-marathon, but her racing schedule is up to Schumacher, whom she trusts and who has so-far delivered, if her first two races are any gauge (she ran 15:15 for 5000 meters last month indoors, her first race since becoming a new mom).
For those interested in Gwen's race, and in her future, there is a discussion on the Slowtwitch Reader Forum. And finally, yes, this was the "invitational" race. The fast race.
Video and image: Courtesy Talbot Cox, who has provided the recent videos and still images of Mirinda Carfrae and Lionel Sanders. Follow him on Instagram.
