Lauren Fleshman

Lauren Fleshman (born September 26, 1981) is a former American track and field athlete. She was the U.S. 5000 meters champion in 2006 and 2010, and has competed at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in 2003, 2005, and 2011. In the 5000 meter final of the 2011 IAAF World Championships she finished 7th place, equaling what was at the time the highest ever finish by an American woman in that event (in 2013 Molly Huddle finished 6th).

She competes in a variety of middle and long distance events, ranging from the 1500 meters and mile to the 5,000 meters. She debuted in the Marathon November 6, 2011 at the ING New York City Marathon, finishing 12th. She trained in Eugene, Oregon as part of the Nike funded professional team Oregon Track Club Elite until 2012 when she joined Oiselle, a running apparel company focused on promoting and supporting female athletes, when she split with Nike. She now resides in Bend, Oregon with her husband, professional triathlete Jesse Thomasand their son Jude Eiger Thomas.

Fleshman has a website where she answers questions from running fans and maintains an online journal.

After graduating from Canyon High School in Los Angeles suburb of Santa Clarita, California, Fleshman attended Stanford University, where she graduated in 2003. At Stanford, Fleshman was a 15-time All-American and five-time NCAA champion. She won consecutive NCAA outdoor national titles in the 5,000 meters in 2001, 2002 and 2003, and won the 2002 NCAA indoor 3000-meters. She also finished in the top five at the NCAA Cross Country Championship three times. In the 1500 meters, Fleshman was Pac-10 runner-up three times, and the 2001 Pac-10 cross-country champion.

• Mark Rowland, OTC Elite: 2009 to 2012
• Vin Lananna: 2007-2008
• Terrence Mahon, Team Running USA Mammoth: 2006
• Vin Lananna with Assistant Dena Evans, Stanford University: 1999-2005
• Dave DeLong with Assistant Tracy McCauley, Canyon High School: 1995-1999

• BA Human Biology, Stanford University 2003, concentration in "Women's Health and Athletic Performance"
• MA Education, Stanford University 2004, with a specialty in "Social Sciences in Education."

Fleshman is the Co-Founder and Brand Director of a gluten and dairy free energy bar company, Picky Bars, founded in 2010.

She is also a Co-Founder with Roisin McGettigan of Believe I Am, a business creating sport psychology tools for female athletes including a self-published mind/body training journal and t-shirt designs.

Lauren Fleshman participates in a variety of appearances at sporting events, has done television commentary, coaches a recreational running group in Eugene, OR, and does motivational speaking for members of the running community with an emphasis on youth.

She appeared on the cover of the November 2011 Runner's World magazine.

Fleshman married professional triathlete Jesse Thomas in Bend, Oregon on September 30, 2007. She is the daughter of Joyce and Frank Fleshman and has one younger sister, Lindsay Fleshman, who is a nurse. Fleshman gave birth to Jude Eiger Thomas at 10:03pm on June 10, 2013.

Fleshman, her 15:53.02 in March 2014, despite a quick 4:50 opening mile, at the Sydney Track Classic in Australia marked her first 3.1-mile race since she ran in the U.S. Olympic Trial Finals in June 2012.