In latest days, there was loads of dialogue about US Olympic marathon runner Fiona O’Keeffe’s choice to attempt to run the Olympic marathon whereas injured and her subsequent DNF. O’Keeffe was proven hobbling properly behind the sector lower than 20-seconds into the race and solely made it a mile. Kimbia Athletics – her company headed by Tom Ratfcliffe “felt it was vital to deal with hypothesis surrounding Fiona O’Keeffe’s participation within the Olympic marathon final Sunday” so that they carried out a fast Q&A along with her this morning, which is pasted in full beneath.
How did the lead-in to Paris go for you?
The final 5 weeks or so main into it, we obtained in a very stable coaching block up at Mammoth Lakes. I used to be logging good marathon mileage, getting in good lengthy runs, preparing for the hills. I used to be feeling good in regards to the coaching and the place I used to be at. Issues weren’t good, however they by no means are and it was an excellent physique of labor that I used to be proud of.
When did the difficulty come up?
I did my final actual monitor exercise on Friday (August 2) and that was an excellent exercise. I felt robust, no points, after which on Saturday on my run I began having somewhat little bit of tightness within the left hip. I didn’t suppose an excessive amount of of it, however then the following day, Sunday, it was worse in the course of the run. I used to be purported to run 90 minutes, I ended up operating 80, however I assumed: OK, we’re simply being good. However then strolling round the remainder of the day didn’t really feel excellent in order that’s when it began. We determined to come back again to Paris. We had been up in Strasbourg. We got here again to see the docs and physio and attempt to prepare for the race.
What did they inform you?
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That’s the factor that’s somewhat complicated. It appears like no one’s been capable of pinpoint it up to now. I’ve seen a number of totally different folks and the Physios appear to primarily suppose it was a difficulty of how my hips had been aligned and I had an ongoing tight calf so it was presumably compensation as a result of it was on the alternative aspect. That’s one of the best clarification I’ve been capable of get. Later within the week, I did find yourself seeing the USATF physician and getting an MRI completed and their learn on the MRI was it was clear there was no proof of muscular injury or something within the bone. So going off that info, it was like: OK, based mostly on the knowledge now we have, there’s not going to be additional injury from operating on it so we might as properly try to see what’s doable.
On these closing days, had been you capable of run?
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Yeah, I used to be capable of run some. It was undoubtedly not pain-free, however I obtained a pair extra therapies. The final one was Friday morning and I felt fairly a bit higher strolling out of that workplace so we had been considering: OK, we’ll take the remainder of Friday off, see how that remedy settles, hopefully it units in in a single day. Then the following day we’ll run and hopefully we’re good to go. So I did run Saturday morning, simply a few miles and it wasn’t excellent, actually. However the deadline to declare or not for the race was Friday night. The deadline had handed and it might have been too late to sub in an alternate at that stage and I used to be like: OK, if this can be a nerve or one thing, possibly it’ll reply and I’ll get up on race morning and it’ll quiet down somewhat approach into the race or possibly I’ll get up and it’ll really feel totally different. I didn’t need to have that remorse of not having tried and never having given myself an opportunity.
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The morning of the race and within the race itself, what had been you feeling?
It was actually painful. It felt like my physique wouldn’t let me run the best way I wanted to from the get-go. I did a brief warm-up and I didn’t really feel like there was a lot level in persevering with on if I wasn’t capable of compete successfully. I believe I made it a couple of mile into the race and we knew it was undoubtedly doable I might drop out, I assumed I’d do it somewhat in a while in that case, however it was making an attempt to make a wise name for the day and for the upcoming months.
What’s the next move from right here?
I would like to determine what precisely is occurring with my physique as a result of I really feel like I don’t have the solutions. I must know what one of the best remedy method is. I used to be going to take break day now anyway with it being after a marathon, so it’s an excellent time to reset and begin assessing how I can prepare higher sooner or later so I can get to the beginning line absolutely wholesome and able to go.
Discuss O’Keeffe’s troublesome Olympics on the world-famous letsrun messageboard: No O’Keeffe in marathon?
