With surgery in past, she's heavy favorite

By Don Norcross
STAFF WRITER

February 16, 2008

Forget running. After Shalane Flanagan underwent surgery on her left foot 22 months ago to remove an extra bone, her concerns were far more basic.

“After surgery I would look at my foot and it was so mangled-looking that I thought, 'How am I even going to walk, let alone run on this foot?' ” Flanagan told The Denver Post.

After not competing for more than a year, Flanagan, a 2004 Olympian in the 5,000 meters, put together a stunning comeback last year, setting American records in the 3,000 and 5,000.