The Future Of US Women's Marathoning

From OregonLive.com…

Shalane Flanagan's NYC finish nudges the bar a little higher for U.S. marathoners

Published: Tuesday, November 16, 2010, 2:50 PM     Updated: Tuesday, November 16, 2010, 3:24 PM

Special to The Oregonian

Picture by The Associated Press - Shalane Flanagan crosses the New York City Marathon finish line in second place.

Every time Kara Goucher reaches a new racing milestone, it seems, Shalane Flanagan comes along and exceeds it.

"Anything I do, Shalane does it bigger and better a year later," Goucher said. "It's actually funny to me."

Both women, Portland residents who run professionally for Nike, are raising the profile of U.S. marathon running.

Both are beginning to target the 2012 Olympic Games in London, and both dream of winning a medal.

And yet, it may be too early to suggest that a recent U.S. running boom -- and an increasingly larger proportion of female participants -- is leading to more world-class performances.

Read on here.