I get fired up about this every year.  I don't know why this is such an issue for me.  Yes I do.  I can't stand unfulfilled potential.  It's why I continued to chase times and races 8 years after my college graduation when at that point I was only a measly 4:00 1500 / 1:53 800 guy.  I knew I could get faster and wanted to find out how much. 

I got fired up last year, such that I asked Lauren Fleshman (ever the patient ear) why more women didn't run USAXC World Trials.  Note: to her credit, she had planned on running last year but was forced out when she got sick.  She told me that it has a lot to do with financial incentive and a little also to do with the American competition schedule.  Indeed, if a girl can win $100K in Chicago or even $250K in Dubai, then why on earth would she spend her time worrying about three thousand bucks she might win at the U.S. Cross Nationals? 

Alright, maybe USATF can't afford a hundred Gs for every member of the World team to make it "worth their while," but where would the money come from?  Nike?  Warren Buffet?  Some anonymous donor who REALLY loves cross country?  Maybe one of those bailed out bankers who used my tax dollars to go on a family vacation in these stressful times? 

With all due respect to Emily Brown, and my sincere congratulations go out to you on your win and all the World Team qualifiers, but I sure noticed a lot of missing faces.  Back in 2005, the US women took the bronze at the World XC Championships in France.  Lauren, Blake, Shalane, Shayne, Amy M., and Melissa B. earned the USA that distinction and it was a shining moment in, not just women's, but in USA distance running.  Not only are those names familiar to those of us that follow the sport, but they are recognizable with only their first names!  Here's my thing: they got bronze in '05, now it's '09, most of them are still around, and guess what, they're better.  Lauren, Blake, and Shalane have all enjoyed breakthroughs since then, and I hear even Shayne is getting back in the groove after starting a family.  

Also there are new (and arguably, more talented) names to add to the pool of still active World medallists.  I have a hard time believing that any of the top 6 ranked distance runners were at US Nationals this year.  In no specific order, I would love to see any combination of Shalane, Kara, Deena, Jen, Lauren, Yoder-Beg, Blake, or Slattery (if I missed someone, I think my point remains) make a go at another podium spot at World XCs.  Am I the only one?  What needs to happen to make that a reality? 

Now I'm just ranting.