Shalane Flanagan: Her Career in Photos

Runner's World has covered Flanagan's entire career. Watch as she reacts to her marathon debut, makes Olympic teams, and describes her dream job.

Flanagan ran track and cross country at Marblehead High School in Marblehead, Massachusetts. She competed at the University of North Carolina in college, winning the the 2002 and 2003 NCAA cross-country titles as a Tar Heel. After graduating in 2004, she signed with Nike.

In 2004, Flanagan made her first of four Olympic teams, competing in the 5,000 meters in Athens. She finished 11th in her first-round heat and did not advance to the final.

At the U.S. Olympic Track Trials in Eugene, Oregon, Flanagan won the 10,000 meters in 31:34.81, giving her a spot on the Olympic team headed to Beijing. She also finished third in the 5,000 meters. In Beijing, she finished third in the 10,000 to win the bronze medal and broke her own American record, running 30:22.22. Her bronze was later upgraded to silver after Turkish runner Elvan Abeylegesse tested positive for a banned substance. The silver medal makes Flanagan the top-placing American woman in the 10,000 meters in Olympic history.

In 2009, Flanagan moved to Portland, Oregon, and began working with a new coach, Jerry Schumacher. She made her half marathon debut early in 2010 in Houston, winning in a course-record time of 1:09:45.

From there, she moved up to 26.2 miles, making her debut in November at the New York City Marathon. It was an impressive first crack, as Flanagan finished second in 2:28:40. Her debut was the best performance by an American woman in 20 years in New York, a sign of things to come from her in the Big Apple.

Flanagan won bronze at the 2011 world cross-country championships in Punta Umbria, Spain, an event traditionally dominated by runners from Kenya and Ethiopia. Flanagan’s third-place finish in the 8K race that day helped Americans win bronze in the team competition as well.

In January 2012, Flanagan secured a place on her third Olympic team when she won the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Houston in an event record of 2:25:38. She was joined by Kara Goucher and Desiree (Davila) Linden for the Games in London. Flanagan went on to finish ninth at the Games in 2:25:51.

At the 2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Los Angeles, Flanagan placed third in 2:29:19 to make her fourth Olympic team. She did it the hard way: After leading much of the race with her Bowerman Track Club teammate Amy Cragg, Flanagan started suffering from dehydration over the final miles. Cragg had to hold her up after Flanagan crossed the finish line. She went on to finish sixth at the 2016 Rio Olympics in 2:25:26.

[Shalane Flanagan on Dehydration, Delirium, and Drama at the Olympic Trials]

With coauthor Elyse Kopecky (a teammate at North Carolina), Flanagan publishes a cookbook, Run Fast. Eat Slow, in 2016. Filled with healthy recipes for runners, the book quickly became a New York Times bestseller. The duo released their second book, Run Fast. Cook Fast. Eat Slow, in 2018.

[The Food That Fuels Shalane]

With a breakway in Central Park, Flanagan broke the tape at the 2017 New York City Marathon in 2:26:53 over Kenya’s Mary Keitany, who had won the race the three previous years. Flanagan became the first American woman to win the event in 40 years.

On the heels of her New York victory, Flanagan ran her hometown race, the 2018 Boston Marathon. But the epic rain and wind kept many pros from running their best that day. Flanagan finished seventh in 2:46:31, saying at the time that it was likely her last time running the race she dreamed of winning as a child.

Flanagan returned to the NYC Marathon in 2018 and placed third in 2:26:22. She could be seen mouthing “I love you” to the New York City spectators as she approached the finish line. Flanagan underwent surgery on her right knee in April. She has been coaching with her Bowerman Track Club and working as a broadcaster, providing color commentary at events like the Eliud Kipchoge INEOS 1:59 Challenge.

On October 21, 2019, Flanagan announced her retirement from pro running on her Instagram account, adding that she will now be a full-time coach for the Bowerman Track Club.

“This amazing opportunity in front of me, to give back to the sport, that gave me so much, is not lost on me. I’ve pinched myself numerous times to make sure this is real. I am well aware that retirement for professional athletes can be an extremely hard transition. I am lucky, as I know already, that coaching will bring me as much joy and heartache that my own running career gave me.”

Flanagan won 16 national championships and retires still holding several American records, including the indoor 3,000 meters (8:33.25), indoor 5,000 meters (14:47.62), 8K road record (24:45), and 15K road record (47:00).

At one time she held national marks in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, but those have since been broken. But Flanagan set a high bar for others to reach. She was willing to help her Bowerman Track Club teammates reach their own lofty heights, as she did when she paced Shelby Houlihan to the American record in the 5,000 meters in 2018.

Along with her four Olympic appearances, she also competed in six world championships, won bronze in three world cross-country championships (two team, and one individual), and made the podium in four World Marathon Majors.