Monday, October 18, 2010

NYC bound: Shalane Flanagan

Shalane Flanagan has yet to run a marathon, but she has already felt the electric energy that envelops race morning. Flanagan rose before dawn along with the runners of the 2009 Boston Marathon to make sure she could ride in the press truck that is driven ahead of the leaders. She embraced the runners’ nervous anticipation.

“I’ll never forget riding the elevator as I was going to the truck,” she said. “I knew the race was cool for a spectator. But being with the participants — they were giddy.

Flanagan’s voice became pitched. Her eyes grew wide as she mimicked an excited toddler surrounded by a pile of gifts.

“It was if it was Christmas: ‘Today’s the marathon, I can’t believe it’s here,’ ” she said.

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