Shannon Rowbury

2009-01-12T20:24:22-08:00

January 2009

Shannon is currently in Mexico training at altitude with Team Cook. For up to date information about their training and experiences in Mexico, click on the following link. Don't forget to subscribe to the blog's feed if you want Shannon's updates pushed into your email account.

The Long Run - Shannon's Blog on training, travel and other adventures on the road to the olympics 2012

Long Run in Paloma

2009-01-12T16:34:05-08:00

Today we did our first long run at altitude. We drove for about 30:00 to a trail German Silva had found. We started at about 6,800ft. and followed a dirt road past a couple tiny towns, many horses, and beautiful scenery. It was an out and back, with a steady climb most of the way out. (According to German, we climbed about 450-500ft.). One segment was continuously uphill for about 10:00, and my legs felt ready to fall off. That suffering was worth it, however, because it was followed by rolling hills and gorgeous, uncultivated hillsides punctuated by dry river gorges & occasional cacti. The beautiful solitude went on for miles. We turned around at 50:00, but according to German, we could have kept running out for two hours if we wanted to. I think all of us were a bit tempted.

Rowbury Blazes to a Second Place Finish at the Continental Airlines 5th Avenue Mile!

2008-09-21T14:21:22-07:00

Shannon Rowbury ended her amazing racing season with a blistering time of 4:19.2 to place a close second at the Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile in New York City. Lisa Dobriskey of Great Britain won the race in 4:18.6. Rowbury and Dobriskey's times were the 2nd and 3rd fastest marks ever at this long standing and historical road race.

Rose Kosgei of Kenya took the pace out hard from the gun with Rowbury and Dobriskey in tow. With 600 meters to go, Rowbury and Dobriskey pushed the pace to separate from Kosgei. They battled to the finish and with about 50 meters to go, Shannon stepped in a small pothole which broke her stride for a brief moment and allowed Dobriskey to pull away. It was a great effort by both athletes and a wonderful end to a fantastic 2008 track campaign.

Watch the entire race unfold on New York City's 5th Avenue: Race Footage

Here is great footage from a side angle showing Rowbury and Dobriskey battle it out in the final stages of the race: NYRR Race Highlights

Check out what Rowbury and Dobriskey have to say at the post race press conference

Listen to Shannon as she talks about her race, her overall track season and her wonderful Coach, John Cook, during interviews with Flotrack and Blip TV

Next up for Rowbury is a well deserved rest in her cherished City by the Bay with her family and friends who anxiously await her return home.

Congratulation to Shannon! It's been a magical year!

Rowbury Places 5th in Tight 1500m Race at World Athletic Finals in Stuttgart

2008-09-16T14:04:27-07:00

Shannon Rowbury finished up her tour on the 2008 European Racing Circuit by placing 5th at the World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, Germany on September 13, 2008. Shannon did her best to maintain her space and find her rhythm in what turned out to be a slow, tactical race with a very tight pack of runners through the first 1100 meters.

At the bell, Rowbury was in 7th place, but during the final lap, she was able to get a good position on the track and pass two runners, holding her 5th place position on the final straight all the way to the finish. Shannon's finishing time of 4:08.16, was less than two seconds off the winner, Maryam Jamal of Bahrain, who finished in a time of 4:06.59.

A video archive showing complete coverage of the World Athletics Finals can be found at UniversalSports.com. To watch Shannon's race, you will need to click on the fast-forward button below the tv screen ( looks like this >> ) to advance the footage until the counter reads 2:20.02. That's when the women's 1500 meter race begins.

Rowbury returns to the United States on Monday, September 15, where she will stopover in New York City to compete in the Continental Airlines 5th Avenue Mile. From there, she will fly home to San Francisco, for a much deserved break after a very long track season.

Rowbury Places Third in Rieti - 2nd Best All-Time for US Women at 1 mile

2008-09-07T18:59:49-07:00

Shannon Rowbury placed third in Rieti at the Grand Prix meet in what turned out to be a rematch of the top Olympic runners from Beijing. Rowbury's time of 4:20.34 ranks her 2nd best all-time for United States women at the 1 mile distance.

Shannon placed behind Gelete Burka of Ethiopia and Maryam Jamal of Bahrain, but beat the Beijing Olympics silver and Bronze medalists as well as Lisa Dobriskey of Great Britain who placed 4th in Beijing.

Rowbury's 3rd place finish clinched a berth for her at the IAAF World Athletics Final which will take place in Stuttgart, Germany on September 13 and 14, 2008.

Rowbury Ranked Second at 1500 Meters in World Point Standings

2008-09-04T10:55:41-07:00

Six months ago, Shannon Rowbury was virtually unknown at the world elite level. Today, she is ranked second in the world at 1500 meters. Below is a link to the World Points Standings for 2008 (as of 9/4/08):

The Final Sprint: World Points Standing - Women's Events

Great Effort in Lausanne!

2008-09-04T10:36:22-07:00

On September 2, Shannon Rowbury placed second to last year's World Champion at the IAAF Super Grand Prix in Lausanne, Switzerland. Shannon's finishing time of 4:01.97 solidified her status as a world class athlete.

Rowbury has maintained a high level of fitness since Mid May when she emerged on the elite scene during her race at the Adidas Track Classic in Carson, CA. Three and one-half months later, Shannon continues to run stellar marks while employing very smart racing tactics.

Below is a link to a video recording of Shannon's run in Lausanne. It is not clear how long this link will be active on the internet, but hopefully, when you click on it, it will be available for your viewing pleasure:

Video of Shannon's 1500 meter race in Lausanne

Here are the instructions to find Shannon's race once you click on the above link:

Click on the broadcast archive date: "Sep 2nd 2008 - 2:37 pm" (This link is located under the guy kicking the soccer ball in the center of the page - the type font for the link is in blue)
When you click on that link, the small tv screen to the left of the list of broadcast archive dates will start showing a soccer game
Click on the right arrow that looks like the "greater than or equal to" symbol (This arrow is located to the right of the blue bar, underneath the screen that is showing the soccer game)
Keep clicking on that arrow until the number 4:03 appears right next to the arrow
Let the blue bar advance all the way to the end of its box until it reaches the number 4:03
Grab and drag the black line in the blue bar until the clock that is counting below the blue bar reads 4:01.31. That's when Shannon's race begins

Enjoy the show...Next stop Rieti!

The Post Olympics European Circuit

2008-09-04T10:14:37-07:00

Immediately after the Olympics, Shannon left Beijing and headed to Europe where she is scheduled to finish up her season by racing in the following IAAF meets:

9.2.08 IAAF Super Grant Prix | Athletissima 2008 | Lausanne, Switzerland
9.7.08 IAAF Grand Prix | Rieti 2008 | Rieti, Italy
9.13.08 - 9.14.08 IAAF World Athletics Final | Stuttgart, Germany

Shannon's goal during the races in Lausanne and Rieti, is to earn enough points to qualify for the World Athletics Final in Stuttgart on September 13 & 14. She earns points based on how well she places in the following IAAF and GST races (each series offers a different point scale):

Adidas Track Classic (Carson, CA - May - 6 points)
Golden League Series (Paris - July - 16 points)
Super Grand Prix Series (Lausanne - September - 16 points)
Grand Prix Series (Rieti - September - 7 points)

There are additional meets contested throughout the summer and early fall for each of these series, however, Shannon's racing schedule is limited to those events noted above.

Points are accumulated for each athlete based on their top 5 efforts at any of the races in the above series. Once the points are tallied, the top 11 athletes in each event (1500 meters for Shannon) are invited to compete at the World Finals.

Update:
As of today, September 11, 2008, Shannon is in 4th place in the standings and she has solidified her spot at the World Athletics Finals in Stuttgart.

Media Coverage of Team Cook's Olympic Adventure

2008-08-08T08:49:53-07:00

Below are some great stories and pictures covering our Olympic experience:

"Papa Rot Sees!"

2008-08-07T16:15:00-07:00

That man keeps following me with a camera!

Now that we are back in the USA I have access to the site again and can post my photos. Here is Paula in the line for Japan, except we are flying nonstop to Beijing. It's always a good idea to allow enough time at the Airport. If you stand all the way in the back of the airplane you can open the window to get a little light to read by since the light over my seat was an energy saver,so to speak. Plus, with all that extra legroom it's nice to stretch your legs.

The Hotel was only a few days old so finding our way was a challenge but the taxi drivers were helpful and the cell phone helped to talk him in. Shannon was very occupied with preparations for her races but was able to get away for a trip to the Mu Tian Hu section of the Great Wall. Coach was a little worried, maybe all those stairs, but we took the ski lift up and we didn't walk too far. Just to see this small section climbing off into the distance on these precipitous cliffs knowing that it continues for hundreds of miles in both directions is awe inspiring. I did my best to get the tower to stick out of the top of Shannon's head but couldn't get it just right.

Coach thought we should take the ski lift down also, but tobogganing is so simple and faster. A few minutes shopping for a Chop and then hit the road. I hope that donkey lives to a ripe old age. And back to drop Shannon at Beijing Normal University for a workout and dinner.

The first round was cancelled but we had tickets so we went to the Bird's Nest to learn our way around and meet up with friends. Almost as many stairs as the Great Wall and great views of the Olympic Green.

Afterwards we went to the Noodle Loft for what else, noodles. That's not all on the menu though. I hope that donkey is doing okay up there at the Great Wall. I'm still trying to get that straw out of my nose. We tried the 22 meter noodle but I couldn't find the end and was forced to eat it from the middle out. Sorry, but I couldn't help another goofy photo.This time of Tomahawk.