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This is to another video from Desi Davila’s comeback from a femoral (femur) shaft stress fracture that forced her to miss the 2012 Olympic Marathon and 2013 Boston Marathon. I first watched this today as I was cross-training on a stationary bike, and man did it get me fired up to get back out there on the road! Very solid workout in cold conditions.

Here’s the short description from the Flo Track website:

In one of her first workouts back, Desi Davila knocks out a 6 mile cutdown in the cold Michigan winter.

Desi Davila is absolutely one of my favorite runners in the world. This video is the first time she has spoken publicly since dropping out of the 2012 London Olympic marathon after only a couple of miles. At the time of the marathon, she was dealing with an undiagnosed upper-leg injury, which was later discovered to be a femoral (femur) stress fracture. This is the same injury that I’ve now experienced twice over the past seven months, and seeing this video gets me fired up about getting back on the road. I know she hasn’t announced any future races other than the 2016 Olympics, but I’m kid of hoping she decides to make her comeback at the New York City Marathon this November. Would be cool to have both of our comebacks at the same race!

Here’s the description of the video from the Flo Track website:

She’s back. In her first interview since the London Olympics, Desi Davila opens up about the highs and lows of the Games. Leading up to the Olympic Marathon, Davila knew something was wrong, but hadn’t found a firm diagnosis. After 2.2 miles, she was forced to step off the course left wondering “what could have been.”

It wasn’t tendonitis or some mystery injury. After another MRI, doctors found a stress fracture at the top of her right femoral shaft. She’s fully recovered, but how long will it take her to regain her Olympic form?

Not too long.

Desi Davila ‘Miserable,’ Barely Running (RunnersWorld.com)

Congratulations to Tiki Gelana, Priscah Jeptoo, and Tatyana Petrova Arkhipova on finishing 1-2-3 at yesterday’s Olympic Women’s Marathon in London. It was pretty impressive to watch them pull away during final miles. I was especially impressed by Arkhipova who seemed to be losing contact with the leaders, and then had a surge to catch back up. You don’t see that very often.

However, I’ll admit I was pretty disappointed after the race from an American perspective. It was tough to watch Desi with such a noticeable limp in her running gate, and then have to pull out after only 5k. I also thought that Shalane had a legitimate chance at a medal, but this obviously didn’t come to fruition. However, I know Shalane and Kara poured their guts out during the race, and I’m proud of them for finishing strong. It was also cool to see Kara helping Shalane as they walked off the course together arm in arm. Hoping to see all three of them bounce back quickly, and can’t wait to cheer for them in their next race.

I know this has been blowing up on the net and Twitter since the Detroit Free Press claimed to have received an email from her coach, Kevin Hanson, saying that Desiree Davila had withdrawn due to her lingering hip injury…

Shortly after that story broke, Desi went to Twitter with this…

Not sure exactly what is going on, but the Free Press has now retracted the story….

Cool to see her getting support from her U.S. teammates…

Also, the Free Press is getting a lot of heat for running the story…

Regardless of what happened, I really hope Desi gets to race. She is absolutely my favorite runner in the 2012 Olympic Games. Go Desi!!

Update: Joe Battaglia with NBC just posted an article, which provides further clarification. Looks like Desi and Kevin are on a different page.

Update #2: Looks more and more like the email did indeed go out from Kevin to the Detroit Free Press, but obviously Desi was not OK with it…

Update #3: More confirmation that Desi has not withdrawn from the Marathon. This tweet from her Olympic roommate and college teammate Amy Hastings…

Update #4: The following has been posted on the Hansons Brooks Original Distance Project Facebook Page…

Sorry for the misunderstanding earlier. Desi was frustrated with the fact that she is a long way from 100% both fitness wise and health. She had decided that it was probably best to pull out of the Marathon. After discussing her options with the Olympic coaches and medical staff, they convinced her that she deserves the entire experience and that means giving herself every chance to make it to the starting line.

London 2012 Olympic Marathon: Paula Radcliffe Ruled Out

Davila Will Make Marathon Decision Soon

Game Changers: Desiree Davila (ESPN) – Awesome video and article by Bonnie Ford of ESPN on American Olympic Marathon Qualifier Desiree Davila. Definitely worth a watch and a read. While I have serious doubts about the ability of our men’s team to compete for a medal in London, our Women’s team is gonna be tough. I’m especially pulling for Desi. Go U.S.A.!

Big congrats to @ShalaneFlanagan @des_davila & @KaraGoucher for making the 2012 US Olympic Marathon team. #Houston2012 – What an awesome group of women to represent our country. USA! USA! USA!

Official Times:

1. Flanagan 2:25:38
2. Davila 2:25:55
3. Goucher 2:26:06
4. Hastings 2:27:17

All under old Trials record.

Hansons Brooks Simulator Workout: 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials Training – I love watching these videos of elite athletes like Desiree Davila training for the Olympic Marathon Trials. It is quite humbling to see how fast they are, but also very cool. Also very cool to see them running through neighborhoods, dodging traffic, garbage trucks, etc.

Description: A video by www.Vo2maxProductions.com . Desiree Davila and her Hansons-Brooks Distance Project teammates run the fabled marathon Simulator workout of 26.2km (16.28 miles) at Marathon Goal pace. It is the hardest workout of their training segment leading into the 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials (which will be in Houston in 4 weeks). Video includes paces, 10k splits and post-workout comments.