Deena Kastor

"There's no secret in our training programme", says Deena "...what really makes the athlete stand out from the next -- at an elite level -- is the amount of time you put into the exemplary things, the ancillary work, the stretching, massage therapy, the work in the gym, all the other things to make us a more well-rounded athlete."

Ooops. When you're having gut problems the LAST thing you want to hear is people shouting "Go, go!" at you... and holding up signs that say "Go Deena, go!"

Yes, poor Deena Kastor had her bid to win Boston wrecked by gut problems. Reminiscent of Paul Radcliffe in the Olympic marathon, she wasted energy before the start hunting for a bathroom, and had to stop during the race as well. But it seems that Boston is better-organized than the Olympics and Deena was spared the indignity of having to squat at the side of the road... there are portaloos on the course.

This has happened to me in races... and it is not pleasant!

"The reality is stark and harsh: no US runner has won the storied Boston Marathon since 1985 when Lisa Weidenbach wore the laurel wreath. On Monday, April 16 at the 111th Boston edition, Deena Kastor of Mammoth Lakes, California is the American hope to end the decades-old drought."

Read the rest of the Floridasports.com article here

Deena thrilled the YourRunning.com crew with her winning run in the National Cross-Copuntry Championship in Boulder a couple of months ago, so we're rooting for her.