Mary Kane’s Journey Through Running and Recovery

Mary Kane’s path seemed set from an early age.

At 12, she joined her school’s varsity track team, impressively outpacing the older athletes. Before long, she was breaking records and claiming championships.

By 2013, at just 16, Kane had joined Nike’s Oregon Project, led by renowned coach Alberto Salazar. Located in Beaverton, Oregon, this elite club offered first-rate training amenities.

Carla Gaucher, another Oregon Project athlete, reflected in her 2023 memoir on how they had everything from medical care to coaching – it was all within reach.

Salazar, known for his work with top-tier runners, saw great potential in Kane. Shortly after joining the team, she became the youngest member of the U.S. World Championship Team.

It looked like she was on the fast track to the Olympics. But then, she encountered burnout.

Unfortunately, Kane didn’t qualify for the 2016 Olympics, leaving Nike’s prestigious team and largely retreating from the spotlight.

In 2019, however, she resurfaced, voicing her struggles with the Oregon Project. She claimed Salazar and other coaches pressured her into extreme weight loss and pushed her to train through serious injuries. By 2021, she had filed a $20 million lawsuit against Salazar and Nike.

By that point, Salazar had already faced a four-year coaching ban due to doping allegations, followed by a lifetime ban for sexual misconduct against Gaucher.

Now 29, Kane’s experiences are detailed in her memoir titled “This Is Not About Running,” set to release on April 28. She discusses the highs and devastating lows of her athletic career and sheds light on the toxic culture in youth sports.

Speaking from her dorm at Stanford University, where she’s in her second year of medical school, Kane admitted she’s not usually one for public appearances. But she felt compelled to share her story, hoping it could resonate with others.

In the foreword of her memoir, Kane clarifies that while it involves running, the core message concerns the normalization of abuse in sports.

“Sports executives profiting from young athletes, unchecked authority of coaches, teammates bullying each other, and a media environment eager to tear athletes down—all of it contributes to a brutal culture,” she explained.

Kane emphasized that her message reaches far beyond the realm of running.

“I aimed for those who might not identify as runners to still find value in this story. It’s far too common across all professions,” she noted. “People end up in situations where they’re exploited.”

Interestingly, Kane didn’t run away out of choice—perhaps that’s part of why her story is gripping.

Reflecting on her childhood, she recalled being active and loving games like tag in Westchester County, New York. Initially, her mother encouraged her and her sisters to swim, but Kane’s exceptional speed on the track drew attention and led her to join the track team.

Running provided her with clarity, a momentary escape from life’s chaos. “I loved being in the moment,” she said, recognizing how much more overwhelming life can get as we grow up.

Yet, the environment at Bronxville High School had its challenges. Her coach, a man in his 60s, overlooked her and instead focused on older girls. This made her uncomfortable, as did the taunting from teammates and issues at home.

By 10th grade, her situation intensified to the point where her parents contemplated transferring her to a different school. “There were real safety concerns,” she reflected. “And even an incident where I felt threatened by a teammate.”

Kane remembered another parent witnessing this frightening moment but failing to intervene. “She ran away crying,” Kane said sadly. “No one acknowledged what had just happened.”

Kane pointed out how some of those parents were runners themselves, projecting their aspirations onto their children.

Despite it all, she didn’t walk away easily: “I had this mentality like a Disney Channel movie, thinking the adults were clearly the bad guys,” she recalled. She combined a sense of hope with a lingering need for justice.

Then came October 2012. Just as she was set to enter 11th grade, Salazar reached out, inviting her to move to Portland to train at the Oregon Project.

Initially, excitement filled this new chapter. Kane was winning competitions and setting new personal records, and Salazar often commended her efforts.

However, things took a troubling turn when the team’s psychologist upped her anxiety levels. Conversations with Salazar crossed personal boundaries, and a single night at his house left her feeling uncomfortable.

“It’s hard to pinpoint the beginning of the abuse,” she reflected. “I remember receiving gifts that made me feel special, like gloves belonging to a former athlete he coached. It took time to view that in a different light.”

As her situation worsened and a stress fracture sidelined her, Kane’s well-being declined. Once she left the Oregon Project in 2016, she discovered the depth of the harm done.

By 20, she was underweight, suffering from bone density issues, and experiencing specific health complications linked to her past struggles. In 2019, she received a diagnosis of relative energy deficiency in sports (RED) and later found she had a condition that caused a blockage in her leg’s artery.

“I’ve dealt with this for several years now,” she shared, expressing her frustrations.

In 2023, she settled her lawsuit against Salazar and Nike, alleging both emotional and physical abuse. With resilience, she underwent surgery and worked closely with her doctor, furthering her passion for medical research.

In addition to schooling, Kane founded a nonprofit called Atalanta NYC, aimed at mentoring girls from underserved communities, and joined Athlete Survivors Assist to combat abuse in sports.

And, to her delight, she’s rediscovered running.

“It feels incredible to be back on the track, logging consistent miles each week,” she said with enthusiasm. “This past year has been transformative for me, and I’ve learned not to take these moments for granted.”