On falling behind early…
I stuck to my race plan. I didn’t know it was Magdalena in front or I would have respected her more. No one else panicked, so I stayed calm too. I gave myself a little leeway in gradually picking the pace up.
On her judgment of the race…
I accomplished two major goals; first to make the team and secondly to win. Magdalena and Blake gave me quite a run for it and for a good portion of the middle; I thought I might have misjudged it.
On passing Magdalena…
We were on opposite sides of the street when I passed Magdalena but just because I was trying to get my water bottle. I missed the first water stop.
On the crowds…
The crowds were amazing today. No specific hometown favorites, just people supporting USA athletes. The B.A.A. put on a great show today, a great stage to run on.
On defining herself…
My coach told me before my first win (Chicago) to define myself. Today I drew on the strength of my teammates…A real testament to them.
On making the Olympic Team…
It is an absolute honor that this is my third Olympic Team, feels just as sweet the third time around.
On greeting Joan Benoit Samuelson at the finish line…
I said congratulations to Joan when she crossed the line. She’s always been an inspiration to me. She broke the American record for her age group and does so much for women’s running off the course.
Magdalena Lewy Boulet Press Conference
On her strategy…
The plan was to run the pace I was running. The plan was not to run by myself. There are a million things going through my head, Blake in 2004 was one. I didn’t want that to happen to me.
On the pace…
The pace wasn’t really that fast. I didn’t go out in 1:11; I went out in 1:14. I knew they would drop (the pace) after the half. The plan was to go out in around 1:15 and I knew the ladies would be there at the end.
On Deena coming from behind…
The gap was between 1:40 and 2:00. For a moment I thought I was going to win. I thought if I could keep it up, I could bring it home. But I knew Deena was coming.
On when she knew she had made the team…
Going into the fourth loop I knew I had enough strength. My pace was slowing, I ran a lot of 5:40’s and then 5:50’s. When Deena caught me, I ran a 5:55 mile. When she passed, I actually tried to jump and pull along and ran 5:40. And at that point, I knew I would be on the tea.
On making the team…
This is a dream come true for me, I can’t explain how exciting, I’ve been working so hard and wanted so badly for this.
On her son…
Having a son three years ago is probably the best thing to ever happen to me. Every single mile I run is so he can look at me and be proud of me.
Blake Russell Press Conference
On making the Olympic Team after finishing fourth in 2004…
Right now, I don’t really think it has sunk in. It’s something that after the disaster in 2004, my coach and I knew we had to sit down and develop a game plan to get where I am now. But really, at this point, it just hasn’t sunk in.
On what she’s learned since that race…
I learned in 2004 that a lot can happen. I told myself to relax and not panic. I knew that with three miles to go, I was feeling pretty good and I thought I had it.
On her strategy…
My race plan was to sit through 17 miles if nobody went and to go if anyone did. But when Magdalena went, and this is no disrespect to her, I just didn’t know who it was. It didn’t look like Magdalena and I didn’t if I would have felt good running with her at that pace.
On pollution concerns for Beijing…
I haven’t given any thought to pollution, really figuring I’d cross that bridge later. I know that I’m prepared and that the U.S. Team is working on how to prepare for these issues. I’m actually not as concerned about pollution as I am the about the heat, and there are things we can do for that as and Deena showed that last time.
On being hydrated…
I definitely practiced getting hydrated on my training runs. My coach has ridden with me on training runs, forcing me to drink. I used to avoid water because it would make me cramp. Out there today I missed the first stop and luckily I didn’t panic. And on the second I dropped my bottle, so there went another one, but I did get it on the third and I did feel a boost when I got a little water in me.
Joan Benoit Samuelson Press Conference
On having support at the finish line…
I’d like to congratulate Deena, Magdalena and Blake. For Magdalena to take it out and Deena to come back and Blake to make the team…Congratulations…Thank you for being there at the finish line and supporting me. I’m just happy to have this medal around my neck for finishing. The support around the course was amazing.
On her goals…
I ran conservative. I just wanted to finish and to break three hours. I didn’t think either was possible.
On the state of women’s running…
For the 100 or so women who beat me, I think it is great for the state of women’s distance running in the U.S. over the last two or three decades.
On finishing while wearing a Red Sox cap...
It was just as spontaneous today as it was in 1979 and there have been some up and down years, for myself and the Boston Red Sox.
