Flanagan looks to the future – She also plans to compete at the 2007 AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships February 24-25 in Boston, Ma.

American record holder Shalane Flanagan on Wednesday spoke to the press via USA Track & Field Teleconference. Flanagan, who broke the women’s American record for 3,000 meters on Saturday at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games (8:33.25), will follow up her record run by competing at the USA Cross Country Championships February 10 in Boulder, Colorado.

A two-time USA cross country championship over 4km, Flanagan will compete in what is now a one-race cross country championship event, over 8 km, in Boulder. She is a two-time NCAA cross country champion and the 2005 USA outdoor champ at 5,000 meters.

She also plans to compete at the 2007 AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships February 24-25 in Boston, Ma.

Below are excerpts from Wednesday’s call.

Q: Tell us about Saturday and the race, and how you’re doing now.

A: I think I’m still kind of on a high from this past weekend. I literally couldn’t sleep the night after my race. Having gone through a tough year and a half, they’re the kind of races you try to treasure. I embraced it because for a year and a half, I didn’t have anything to show for my hard work. Being at home [in Boston] for me was kind of a magical night, surrounded by people I love and who care about me. I’m grateful to put together a great performance.

The race itself was pretty flawless. There was maybe one tactical move I regret now. With 500 meters to go, I kind of challenged Defar. I was feeling pretty good at the time, but my coach yelled at me not to go for too much. I kind of lost momentum when I hesitated. I think in hindsight, we both agree that I should trust my own judgment. With the Ethiopians you can’t really play their game. For me, my speed hasn’t been developed to the level that hers has so it would have been advantageous if I had gone with 500 to go. I think having me on her shoulder really made her nervous. I think she’s fitter than me, but I think she wasn’t expecting anyone with her. Overall I’m really, really, really, really happy. I think there’s still some room for improvement, and that has made me re-evaluate some of my goals for the rest of my career. This was really a debut for my professional career. I finally am training like the rest of my competitors.

Q: What are your goals for the USA Cross Country Championships?

A. Just to stick my nose in there. Deena [Kastor] has really set the bar for what the rest of us need to be achieving. Deena has got to be considered the favorite, and I’d like to see how long I can hang with her.

Q: You seemed genuinely surprised in Boston when you crossed the line in 8:33. A performance like this, is it life-changing?

A: I think my training in the past year and a half has changed drastically. I’ve changed my lifestyle, and running is more of a priority now. Running was almost like a hobby, and now I’ve stepped it up. It’s a whole new confidence level for me. Before I’d get on the line and wonder if I belonged. Now I know I’m working hard enough to belong there.

Q: What are some of the changes in your life and lifestyle?

A: I’ve changed coaches and moved to Portland, Ore. I just think with the program now, I am an overall better athlete. I feel a lot stronger. We do a lot of core strength and a lot of drills to be more efficient. We do a 3-week cycle that goes from 60, 70 to 80 miles, so it’s pretty high quality. We do strides after every run now. For me, to train my muscles to be fast will be a huge advantage. I used to just go run – I literally never did anything else. It’s a new stimulus to my body.

Q: Who is your coach now?

A: John Cook.

Q: Cook is based in Florida and you’re in Oregon. How has that worked?

A: We’re re-evaluating that. My husband and I are getting a little bit homesick, so we might be moving back to North Carolina. We still have a home there, and we’re looking for a coach to be in the area who is more hands-on. Coach Cook is a great administrator but I think he’s looking to be a little less hands-on.

Q: Who is your husband and when did you get married?

A: His name is Steve Edwards. We got married in October, 2005.

Q: While you were off because of your injury, did you keep the faith about your ability to make a comeback?

A: I knew I was doing everything possible to try to get back. It was just up to my foot. I had a great, great support system. I had a lot of great therapists I got to work with, and a really great surgeon. After surgery I would look at my foot, and it was so mangled, I wondered how I am I going to be able to walk? I thought I might never be able to run indoors or cross country again, just because of the torque. I feel really, really lucky. I think luck and patience in holding out for the right surgeon worked out well.

Q: Is there a possibility you could re-injure your foot?

A: Before I could walk, we were doing exercises to strengthen my foot. There is always the possibility (of re-injury), so I have to take care of it. I try to see a physical therapist once per week. My doctor said my foot will never be the same. My scar is pretty big and can get irritated. I had to tape my foot for the race. I am pleased to find that after the race, my foot wasn’t that sore.

Q: When and where was your surgery?

A: In April in Palo Alto, Calif.

Q: What was the diagnosis?

A: I was just born with this extra bone near my navicular, and it was starting to tear on my tendon. I could barely push off for a year and could barely use my big toe. It was flat-footed running, pretty much.

Q: Were your plans to run USA Cross Country and USA Indoors in place before running at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games last Saturday?

A: The focus had been cross [country]. I was hoping to get the jitters out and shake out some rust [in Boston]. That may be the highlight. I am coming down with a nasty cold so hopefully I can recover pretty quickly. It’s nice to have some early rewards like this one.

Q: Have you done much training at altitude? [Boulder, site of USA Cross Country, is at altitude.]

A: I did a quick stint for 3 weeks in Mammoth [Calif.], so basically I haven’t done any at all. Luckily in the past I’ve never had much problem adapting to altitude. I’m going to get in [to Boulder] Thursday night, race, and get out. I’ll be pretty conservative for the first part [of the race] just to see how I feel.

Q: How do you feel about the return toa single race for USA and World Cross Country?

A: I am really excited about the single race. It gives us a great opportunity to have all competitors together and test ourselves in one great race. In terms of Worlds, I’ve been planning on it. I’ll consult some people I really trust and some doctors and make sure I’m prepared for possible negatives. Right now I don’t see why I wouldn’t go. Hopefully we can gather a nice team. I would encourage a lot of people to go if they make it.

Q: What will be your focus outdoors?

A: Mainly the 5k. I’d like to try to get as many A standards as possible – it’s nice to have options for the Olympic Trials if things don’t go as you plan. I’d like to get in a good 1500 and a 10k as well.

Q: Do you have training partners?

A: Erin Donohue and I are here together in the Scottsdale area right now, but she has a calf injury so ironically we have not worked out together. But she’s a great friend to have around. We have some friends who go to ASU and we hang out, but the majority of my workouts have been with my husband.

Q: In re-evaluating your goals, is it too much to think you might break the outdoor 5,000m American record?

A: Absolutely. There’s actually a bunch of women this spring who can take a shot at it. I think we’re all very motivated to break that record. All of us, whoever it happens to, we’ll be very happy for her.

Q: I got the sense in Boston that you were as happy that the American record fell as you were that it was you who broke it. Is there a sense that people are looking to break Regina Jacobs‘ records?

A: That’s right on the money. There is an undertone, and I’ve talked to multiple 5,000 meter women in the U.S., and I think whoever breaks it, we are all going to be happy for her. It’s great to take down those kinds of records, and to do it with athletes who are doing it the right way.

Q: What did you do on Sunday, after the race?

A: I was told I was being inducted into the Massachusetts Hall of Fame later this week, but I didn’t want to hang around in the Boston weather for training, so they were able to arrange something for me to get the trophy and the induction. I was able to hang out with kids and sign some posters. It’s always nice to feel you are appreciated back home, where they remember you.

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