Open Letter to the BTC
Dear Bowerman Track Club,
It’s been over five years since you welcomed me into your fold as a newly graduated 22-year-old, bright-eyed and clueless about the professional running world. There were only a few women on the team when I signed my first pro contract and moved to Portland. It was Shalane Flanagan, Emily Infeld, and Sammy Silva. Coach Schumacher (I wasn’t used to calling my coach by his first name at this point) had told me that he wanted to start growing his women’s team, but seemed like he was waiting for the female athletes to call him up instead of seeking them out. So I offered up my recruiting skills and started reaching out to the graduating athletes in my class who he was interested in coaching and I was interested in training with. A few months ago when I told Jerry (now I call him Jerry) that I might not be resigning with Nike and would have to leave the team, he reminisced on this time when we were building the “Bowerman Babes” and graciously gave me some credit for helping to build out the squad in those early years. I wasn’t afraid to message my competitors and tell them about the Bowerman Track Club because I knew that if we teamed up we would all be better athletes than we ever would be working separately. I still believe that and am proud of my role in helping grow what is now the most dominant group of female distance runners in the country and possibly the world.
Do you remember how it all started with us? I had a conversation with Coach Schumacher while sitting in the kitchen of my apartment in Tallahassee, Florida asking him questions about his training regimen and team culture. He told me about altitude training in St. Moritz, Switzerland where the team lived on top of a mountain in the Swiss Alps for a month before racing all over Europe in the summer. Then I visited Portland and stayed in Shalane’s basement for a weekend. I took selfies in her house and sent them to my friends back at FSU saying “I’m in Shalane Flanagan’s basement!” Before I knew it I was part of Team USA headed to Beijing, China for the 2015 World Championships as a professional athlete and member of the Bowerman Track Club.
BTC, you were the perfect place for a young athlete fresh out of college to land. If going pro had meant training alone at age 22, I don’t think I ever would have made it. You gave me teammates and coaches who supported me and my goals. While Coach Schumacher tightly controls workouts, travel schedules, race schedules, and other details, he isn’t the type of coach who calls up his athletes “just to check in” or shoots a text to “see how you’re doing.” That role falls to his assistant coach, Pascal Dobert. And thank goodness for Pascal, because in those early years I NEEDED someone to check in. My first year as a pro I spent the whole fall and much of the spring unable to run due to a string of injuries. First it was my hamstring, then plantar, then a stress reaction in my femur. There were plenty of tearful phone calls to my parents where I expressed doubt that I had made the right decision to go pro and doubt that I would ever even make it to the starting line at the Olympic Trials, much less finish in the top 3 and qualify for Rio 2016. My parents were supportive but worried. Pascal was supportive and confident. He kept reiterating to stay calm, stay patient, keep working on getting healthy, and keep the faith. He reminded me of my talent and that we had time to put it all together. I will forever be grateful for the support Pascal gave me that year and every single time I would later be sidelined due to injury. It takes a village to get an athlete to the Olympics, and Pascal is a crucial part of the village at the Bowerman Track Club.
There are so many teammates to thank it’s hard to know where to start. There’s a few OG’s who need to know how much they shaped my growth as a young athlete. There’s also newer teammates who I barely got to know this fall when they joined our troops. I have so much love and respect for every athlete who has ever had the honor to wear the BTC jersey and can’t wait to cheer for all of them whenever we see each other at meets.
Shalane Flanagan (AKA “mama” or “Shalazy”): Shalane, you opened your home to me from day 1. Literally. I lived in your basement that first summer I was on the team because I moved to Portland after making the USA team for Beijing and didn’t have anywhere to stay yet. You and Steve have been like a big sister and brother to me. Never have I been so comfortable in someone else’s home right off the bat like I was in the Flanagan-Edwards household. You and Steve both have always made me feel like I belonged in this group of elite athletes, even when I had some imposter syndrome and felt out of my league. Your friendship has always been easy, but never taken for granted. As expected, your transition to a coach was so smooth because you have always been a mentor and a leader on this team.
Evan Jager, Dan Huling, Ryan Hill, Chris Derrick, Moh Ahmed, Lopez Lomong, Andrew Bumbalough (The OG boys): All of you boys intimidated me at first because you all had such a sense of ease and confidence in yourselves and your position in the group that as a “freshman” pro I had not yet learned or earned. I still remember the first time I did a speed workout with the team at altitude and ran a 44-second 300m you guys wigged out, making me feel like a rockstar on the track. You have all teased me in a big brotherly way for the past 5 years and I hope you never stop. You have all also reached out to me individually when you saw me struggle at one point or the other. I remember getting a text message from Dan Huling (the biggest teaser of all) after an especially tough workout at altitude camp in Park City before the Olympic Trials. I don’t remember exactly what it said but I definitely teared up when I read it and felt immensely grateful for my BTC family. I’ll always look up to my BTC big bros.
Emily Infeld: Emily, you and I were the original young babes. 💁🏼 We have been through SO many ups and downs together both in our careers (mostly due to injuries) and in our personal lives. If the BTC were to give an award for “Injury Queen,” you and I would have to be co-winners. But that struggle has bonded us together like nothing else could. SO many hours in the pool. SO many hours in JB’s office… I’ll never forget the time we flew to Phoenix and got a crappy hotel a couple miles from our favorite PT’s office and just stayed there until we were both able to run again. We became absolutely loopy by the end of the trip, but we survived and both made our first Olympic team a couple months later. I’ve picked up quite a few “Emilyisms” over the years. My favorite will always be “leggies.” Love you, Em.
Kate Grace and Marielle Hall: You are easily the two most mature, level-headed, intelligent, pragmatic, grownup women on the BTC. When you both joined the team in 2018 you brought a level of professionalism and genuine camaraderie that we were honestly lacking at the time. Neither of you women put up with gossip or allow anyone to talk shit on teammates behind their backs. Marielle, your biggest flex is running with your mouth closed, breathing in and out through your nose. I’ve never figured it out and always admired the ability. I also admire your ability to stay calm in the face of chaos and how generous you are with your time when a friend needs your help solving a problem. Kate, my fellow busy body buddy! I love how you always have multiple projects on your plate, interviews lined up, and outreach opportunities you’re chasing down. Kate and Marielle, it’s no surprise you both volunteer to be youth club coaches every fall. The world is a better place because of you both.
Karissa Schweizer, Courtney Frefrichs, Shelby Houlihan, Gwen Jorgensen, Vanessa Fraser, Elise Cranny, Sinclaire Johnson, Gabriela DeBues-Stafford: Just when I thought the Bowerman Babes were full, no more room, at capacity, more than Jerry could handle… he would add someone new. Each time I thought “are we sure?” or more precisely, “Jerry, do you have time for more athletes?” knowing that time with our coach was already precious and hard to come by. And YET, I can’t imagine our group without any one of you. Each of you have such great strengths that you bring to our dynamic and we always feel the void if anyone misses practice because of an injury, illness, travel, etc. From watching Vanessa learn how to cook at altitude camp to seeing Gwen become an amazing mother, I’ve witnessed some pretty incredible life changes with each of you. I’d challenge anyone to name a duo who has jumped more hurdles than Courtney and me. Go ahead, I’ll wait. If I had to pick a top chef in this group I’d have to say Elise. Top baker would go to Karissa. I’m only sad that I won’t get more altitude training camps and bonding time with our newest members, Gabriela and Sinclaire. Remember, ladies, whatever you do don’t let Shelby lead until at least the second half of the workout! 😜
Grant Fisher, Mark Scott, Josh Thompson, Woody Kincaid, Sean McGorty, Matthew Centrowitz, Amos Bartelsmeyer: These dudes have the most fun, for sure. I appreciate the lightness and laughter you all bring to practice every day. The energy is never low on our boys squad and I know that is a part of the secret to success. You all work damn hard, don’t get me wrong, but you also never seem to take yourselves too seriously in all of it and make sure to enjoy the journey. I’ll definitely try to follow this example in the next phase of my career.
Emily Pritt, Elliott Heath, Chris Cook, and the BTC Youth Club: I came out for youth club practice my first fall as a pro and honestly that sense of community really helped me get through a difficult time when I was injured in a new city with a new team and a new coach and didn’t yet quite feel like I belonged. Being part of our club as a whole, from the youth team to the masters and elite runners, always gave me purpose and immense pride when I got to put on the jersey. This community wouldn’t be the same without the (often thankless) behind-the-scenes work that Emily, Elliott, and Chris have done for years. Thank you.
The Bowerman Track Club is more than a bunch of athletes. Everyone from our youth athletes to our elites, masters, and pros all have an immense sense of pride when we put on the jersey because we know we are running for something bigger than ourselves. Community is so important and is a key to an athlete’s success. I am excited and nervous for this next step in my career. In many ways it feels like I am leaving the nest where it was warm and comfortable and leaping into the unknown. It’s a step I know I’m ready to take, but I’m also giving myself the time and space to say goodbye to you, my good friend, the Bowerman Track Club. Whenever I see my old teammates at meets I will be rooting for them all the way and I know they will do the same for me.
Thank you for the memories, for the lessons learned through trial and error, the triumphs, the love of teammates, and all the countless laps around the track. I take it all with me into this next chapter.
Love,
Colleen
Favorite Memories in the BTC Jersey:
The 2016 Olympic Trials where I finished 3rd despite having been injured the majority of the year leading up to the race. When I saw my family on the victory lap at Hayward field we were all crying. 6 BTC babes qualified for Rio that summer. It was epic.
Stumptown Twilight meet in Portland where I went from last to first in the final lap of the 1500m, sharpening my legs and my confidence two weeks before the Olympic Trials.
2019 Indoor USA Champs where I won my first National Title. I crossed the line with a big “F$%* yeah!” which was an ode to Shalane’s finish at the NYC Marathon.
Setting a world record in the 4x1500 in the middle of a pandemic with Shelby, Karissa, and Elise at a low key meet in Portland last summer… nuff said.
Being part of a trio of BTC athletes to break the Indoor 3k American record last winter. This was the last race we did before COVID hit and it was epic. Kate paced us and Karissa took the W and the record, but when we finished the entire squad swarmed the track and made it feel like we all won the thing.
Taking the W at my first ever Millrose Games in the Wanamaker Mile. I surprised myself with this one and the victory was sweeter than I ever imagined!
Finishing 2nd to Jenny Simpson at the Fifth Ave mile and setting my road mile PR of 4:20. I was so proud of myself to be the only woman brave enough to chase after Jenny in the final stages of the race. After being injured all summer, this was a redeeming day.
Coming back to my old stomping grounds in Tallahassee for Club Cross Championships and Seminole chopping my way across the finish line in first place, feeling a huge sense of pride to be part of both the Seminole and BTC families.
Non-Jersey BTC Memories
Having the honor of being a BTC youth coach every single fall I was on the team. Even the first year I was on the team, as injured as I was, being at youth practice always filled me up from the inside and gave me purpose on the track.
Going to the White House with #TeamUSA and all my BTC teammates. We had a squad in Washington and we stuck together all weekend because celebrating is so much more fun when you get to do it with those you put the work in with.
Being in Chicago for a week before the Chicago Marathon visiting local high school track practices to talk to the kids and put them through workouts. The way the kids looked at my teammates made me realize that what I do matters and that it’s about way more than medals and records.
Being able to host three braids bars to celebrate the #FastBraidFriday movement with my fans. This may have been more “my thing” but everything I did I knew I was also representing my club and always sought to act in a way that would make my team proud.
The community runs the BTC hosted at various times throughout the year to help support the running community in Portland and invite our local fans to get to know us a little more personally. I’ve always been proud of how approachable the BTC makes itself, showing our fans and followers that we are just people too!
ALL of the NXNs!!! NXN is so special to me because the young athletes who qualify are so amped to be there that it always ends up inspiring me to work even harder at my own goals.
Eating lunch at our favorite cafe in Chiavenna, Italy after a hard workout during our Switzerland high altitude training camps (“ciao bella!”)
