Shalane Flanagan Leaning Toward Retirement After Third-Place New York City Marathon Finish

By Adam Kopet

Shalane Flanagan returned to the TCS New York City Marathon with a goal of winning for the second year in a row. She finished third in 2:26:22, running 31 seconds faster than her winning effort in 2017.

Now 37, Flanagan appears ready for retirement, according to Reuters. In her post-race press conference, she talked about serving others instead of focusing on her own running.

Outside of her own training and performances, Flanagan has released two cookbooks and has previously served as a volunteer assistant coach with Portland State University.

Should Flanagan decide to hang up her racing shoes and turn to coaching, she may not go far. She has helped attract a talented contingent of women in the Bowerman Track Club and she could stay and transition from teammate to coach.

Whatever decision Flanagan makes, do not expect it to come soon. She expressed how she is leaning in her post-race comments, but she also emphasized that she will need time to decompress from her latest race.