http://trackfocus.com/distance/alan-webb-leaving-the-oregon-project#I spoke with Alberto Salazar Wednesday evening and he told me that Alan Webb’s decision to move out of the Oregon Project and into a another group has been brewing “for about a month.”
This is not an acrimonious split, according to Salazar.
“I have nothing but good things to say about working with Alan,” he said.
The problem for Webb is that he was becoming the odd man out, without a suitable mid-distance training partner. Dathan Ritzenhein is recovering from injury and doesn’t train like a miler even when he’s healthy. Galen Rupp and Mo Farah are certainly capable of doing workouts with Webb, but neither of them ran a step last week. They are emerging from a rest period and will move back into training together.
Salazar said he didn’t know where Webb would land but that he was considering more than one option. That’ll be Webb’s news to reveal.
Salazar said he would continue to offer himself as a resource to aid Webb’s transition to whatever comes next.
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Earlier Wednesday, a Nike spokesperson confirmed that Alan Webb is going to leave Salazar’s training group.
Here is Nike’s official statement on Wednesday’s news:
“We can confirm that Alan Webb has decided to make a change in coaches and training groups. He will pursue a group where he can train with more middle distance runners. We wish Alan all the best and continued success as one of the all-time great milers.”
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In other words, it's not a joke