Shalane Flanagan Returns to Running After Four Months Off After Knee Surgery

By Adam Kopet

Shalane Flanagan ran for the first time Monday after missing four months following reconstructive knee surgery earlier this year.

 

 

 

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I still know how to run! 🙌🏼 After 4months recovery from reconstructive knee surgery, I wondered many times if I would ever be able to run again. I was sooooooooooo excited for today that I actually laid out my running clothes last night (just like I would do before the first day of school when I was a kid 🤣). Today I ran 12 bliss filled minutes. 2minute run with 1minute walk X 6 At 70-77% of my body weight. I’m celebrating 🥳 this reunion and milestone!!! Lots of ups and downs to come, but so grateful for today! Super duper thanks to my longtime massage Therapist Ryan and PT super star Colleen. 📷: Colleen Little

A post shared by Shalane Flanagan (@shalaneflanagan) on Aug 12, 2019 at 3:22pm PDT

Flanagan missed the spring marathon season due to the knee injury she sustained in her build-up to the 2018 New York City Marathon. Despite running in pain, Flanagan finished third, running 2:26:22. That was faster than her winning time from the 2017 New York City Marathon.

The knee injury came while Flanagan was considering retirement, a decision she has been thinking about since she won in New York City two years ago. She has not made an official statement either way.

In Flanagan's time off from running, she has acted as cheerleader and coach to her Nike Bowerman Track Club teammates, including traveling to Aarhus, Denmark for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships.

Should Flanagan wish, she could try to make a racing return for the U.S. Olympic Trials marathon. She has already qualified for the Feb. 29 race and she would not need the Olympic standard in advance of the race. Should Flanagan race at the Trials and qualify for the Olympics, the 2020 Games would be her fifth Olympics.

That decision, however, is still a ways off. Flanagan made her return to running with a short stint on a treadmill, running at less than full body weight.