# @shalaneflanagan on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CU4hma7rRIt
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/18754122-shalaneflanagan-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/96400dee77.jpg
- **Posted:** 2021-10-11T09:24:26.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Shalane Flanagan (@shalaneflanagan) — https://gondola.cc/shalaneflanagan

## Caption

Today, I am home. Back in the very place that raised me. Back to the streets where I watched my father run the Boston Marathon as a little girl. Back to where running changed my life. I played a lot of sports growing up in Boston, but there was nothing quite like running. I don’t know if it was the sense of accomplishment it gave me, or the energy it was surrounded with, or if it was simply cheering on my Dad all those Monday’s in April….but what I do know, is that running gave me a future. 

I recently learned that girls drop out of sports at 1.5x the rate of boys by age 14. To make things worse, it’s been identified that by age 17, more than half of girls will quit playing sports all together. Whether that be from thinking they aren’t good enough, to feeling like the don’t belong, to not being able to find a proper role model - I want to encourage young women and girls everywhere to make sport a part of their lives, for it can do so much to shape your future. 

Today, my runway look is courtesy of the young girls from the Marathon Kids Run Club in Austin, TX. I am honored to have the extra strength and girl power from their beautiful illustrations on my kit for race day! Next to me will be my incredible friend and former BTC teammate abumbalough. A longtime partner in miles, Bumbi is the one who originally thought of the idea to call this project an ‘eclipse’! I can’t wait to share the roads with him today- in our matching kits (girl dads rule)!

I know it’s not April, but it’s definitely still Boston. Boylston, I am coming for you. Remember, we don’t have to do this…we GET to do this! See you out there fam. 💙💛

📸: cortneywhite_ 

#nikerunning #projecteclipse

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- **Likes:** 48,631
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## Tags

projecteclipse, nikerunning

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