In our RT Snap Q&A series, we’ve had the privilege of interviewing some of the world’s best runners, delving into their extraordinary journeys, celebrating their achievements, and exploring the unwavering dedication that defines their careers.

Lindsay Flanagan

  • Born: January 24, 1991
  • Nationality: American
  • Long distance runner
  • Has competed in various national and international long-distance events
  • Known for her strong performances in prestigious marathons
Photo by: U.S Olympic Team Trials

Career Highlights:

  • Chicago 2019: Crossed the finish line 7th in the marathon, posting a time of 2:28:08.
  • Paris 2022: Secured 10th place in the marathon with a finishing time of 2:26:54.
  • Gold Coast 2022: Clinched 1st position in the marathon, recording an impressive time of 2:24:43.
  • Tokyo 2023: Attained 8th place in the marathon, finishing with a time of 2:26:08.
  • World Championships 2023: Finished 9th in the marathon event, achieving a time of 2:27:47.
  • US Olympic Trials 2024: Earned 8th place in the marathon, clocking in at 2:26:14.

Notable Achievements:

  • Consistent top finisher in major marathons and road races
  • Personal best marathon time of 2:24:43 and 109.37
  • Recognized for endurance and performance in long-distance running

RT: Can you share with us one of your proudest achievements in long-distance running and what it meant to you personally?

Lindsay: One of my proudest achievements was placing 9th at the 2023 World Championships Marathon in Budapest last summer. Prior to this race, I historically struggled in hot marathons and was determined to make this experience a much different one. My coach Benita Willis and I introduced new variables into training to get aerobically stronger and better able to handle any element that came my way. I also worked with my hydration sponsor Precision Fuel and Hydration to dial in my exact fueling needs for the hot/humid weather and did a great deal of heat training in the sauna. So many people, including my coach, agent, family, friends, and Asics, invested time and energy into helping me have the best race possible and it was amazing to see all of our hard work and attention to detail pay off. It felt like a group win and showed that when you surround yourself with the best support system, and truly believe in your abilities, amazing things can happen.

 

RT: Every athlete encounters setbacks. Could you discuss a significant challenge you’ve faced in your career and how you navigated through it?

Lindsay: After a six-year stretch of being almost entirely injury-free, I suffered the biggest setback of my career this past March when I fractured my fibula. There was a bit of a misdiagnosis at first due to a poor-quality MRI and I believed I just tore my peroneal tendon. The pain was absolutely excruciating though and after several weeks of being unable to even touch my ankle without searing pain, I knew that the injury was far more severe than just a torn tendon. I went in for a repeat, much better quality, MRI which showed a Grade 4 fracture of the fibula. The location was quite rare for a runner and is usually something seen in soccer or football players who sustain acute injuries during play. But when I unknowingly took an awkward step while turning on wet, icy ground during an interval session, the force was too much for the bone. 

 I took 12 weeks off running and was on my Elliptigo bike 2 times a day. I’m not one who crosstrains regularly as my running volume is normally pretty high so this was definitely different. I tried hard not to let the injury be all-consuming and just focused on what I could control. I aimed for 2-2:30 hours of aerobic work every day, along with strength training and pilates. The cross-training was far more difficult than running- Elliptigo biking over hills, in the wind, and at altitude is no joke, and I stayed optimistic that the aerobic work would carry over well to my running. I never let myself wallow and just kept reminding myself that I was getting stronger in different ways and all of the non-impact work would ultimately be good for my legs. I’ve been back running for 6 weeks now and can confirm the cross-training made my body stronger. 

RT: How do you handle the pressure of competition and manage nerves on race day?

Lindsay: Pressure is something that comes with competing at a high level and I feel privileged to experience race day nerves and excitement. I’m much less anxious about my races now that I’m older and I believe this comes from taking a more process-oriented approach than an outcome one. When I was younger, I would obsess over end times/results and try to force paces in training and racing. I’ve learned my best performances come when I simply focus on what I can control and execute training the best I can.  I never go into a race saying I have to run x time in order to be successful and try not to put too much weight on any given event, no matter how prestigious it may be. There’s always another opportunity to showcase your fitness.

RT: What does a typical training week look like for you when preparing for a marathon?

Lindsay: When training for shorter races, I typically run a good amount of volume and have one speed, one tempo, and one quality long run each week. Marathon training follows a similar structure and everything, especially sessions, is just a bit longer. I’ll average about 120-140 miles per week in a build-up and typically run twice every day. The schedule looks something like this-

  • Monday-AM 70-75 minutes, PM 40-45 minutes + strides/drills
  • Tuesday- AM Interval/Track session, PM 45-50 minutes
  • Wednesday-AM Medium Length long run of up to two hours, PM 30 minutes easy
  • Thursday-AM 70-75 Min, PM 40-45 minutes +strides/drills
  • Friday- AM Longer tempo/marathon-specific workout (20-30k of work), PM 30-40 minutes
  • Saturday-Similar to Monday/Thursday, two easy runs
  • Sunday-AM steady long run (20-25 miles) with the majority 40-60 seconds slower than MP, or will do a bit of session toward the end, PM 30-minute jog

RT: What are some of the biggest sacrifices you’ve had to make in order to pursue your career as a professional athlete?

Lindsay: Being a professional athlete is an amazing, 24-7 job and the hardest part is having to miss out on family/social activities. I’ve missed countless holidays, weddings, birthdays, baby showers and it’s difficult not to be there for these memorable moments. I have very supportive family members and friends, all of whom understand my job, and I always try to make the most of my racing opportunities, knowing I sacrificed time with them to chase my goals. 

RT: What advice would you give to young athletes aspiring to pursue a career in long-distance running?

Lindsay: My biggest piece of advice is to take a long-term approach to training and racing and focus on consistency. It’s easy to get carried away trying to do too much too soon, trust me I made this mistake as a younger athlete, and it just leads to injuries and burnout. Simply showing up and stacking together consistent weeks/months/years of training is where the magic happens. If you love the process, surround yourself with positive people, and take good care of your body, great things will happen.

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