Nick Symmonds 3rd to Last at Stanford. 3:44.22

One person in the stands said he looked overweight.

One person said he was just down from altitude and might be having adjustment troubles.

And he looked flipping tan, like real tan, not tanning salon, and not training in the sun tan, he looked vanity tan.

It's early.

wejo wrote:

(I deleted another thread on Nick because the title was false)

Only part of it was false - the middle part. It was called:

Stick a fork in him? Nick Symmonds DFL at Stanford. 3:44.22!!

The beginning and end are correct.

I live in Stanford, so I got a first hand view of the race. Per his MO, Symmonds sat in the back of the pack, hoping to kick down the competition. Unfortunately this was a 1500m, and the longer distance had drained a lot from his legs. Also looked like he was lacking some form, perhaps due to his other obligations. Still a good run by him.

hard without the drugs I guess

Not much to discuss. I thought his time was reasonable considering he hasn't race in a long time. Fitness wise he's there. If he ran 3:40 and was close to the win would that indicate he'd have a better chance at Worlds? Not really. In fact, it's a good thing he's a bit off the pack. It'll give him some motivation for sure. He didn't peak now in a 3:38 so who knows what he's got left in the tank.

At the very least, by training for the 1500 he'll be fit for the 8 if he chooses to step down. Wait, didn't he run like 8:20 for the 3k this winter? 3:44 is a step in the right direction.

It's not an en couraging sign. The 8:20 was in February. That's a long time to improve form. I think it might be a sign of his training and focus. This isn't how guys who are going to contend for a world team start their seasons. He will improve, but he won't be able to compete agains Centro, Torrence, Manzano, and many of the folks in the field tonight without a serious change in form. His focus is on Ninja Warrior, Beer Miles and Gum. He's getting older.and acting like a guy who knows his time is running out...and trying to remain in the public's eye any way possible. Without the running there's not much to care about...it comes across as desperate. You open yourself up to criticism when you say you can run well with outside distractions...and put that type of performance on the track.Put a fork in him...not yet...but maybe soon.

RancidCupNoodle wrote:

Not much to discuss. I thought his time was reasonable considering he hasn't race in a long time. Fitness wise he's there. If he ran 3:40 and was close to the win would that indicate he'd have a better chance at Worlds? Not really. In fact, it's a good thing he's a bit off the pack. It'll give him some motivation for sure. He didn't peak now in a 3:38 so who knows what he's got left in the tank.

At the very least, by training for the 1500 he'll be fit for the 8 if he chooses to step down. Wait, didn't he run like 8:20 for the 3k this winter? 3:44 is a step in the right direction.

He just needs more races. He'll be fine

I attribute this race to simply bad racing tactics on his part. I think yesterday he probably was fit enough to at least run a 3:40, but his sitting in the back too long rather than not being able to handle the pace was the problem. He wanted to draft off of the second slowest guy and then just foolishly didn't move up when that guy started to fall off pace. His kicking smoothly way past two runners at the end though suggests 3:44 was way slower than his wheelhouse as if that was really the best he could manage, he would have to fight tooth and nail to achieve that time. I just hope he learned from this tactical error because right now he's racing like the old Robby Andrews.

I see this as a positive result.. He did one 3k in feb, and is stepping up to 1500. I think some of you have forgotten what its like to run. I know he has run 1500 before but this is a rust buster for this season. He will need more racing if he wants to get back into the form that is required to compete with the top americans. Im not saying he will be able to mix it up with the likes of centro and manzano. I just don't think its fair to act as if he has no chance after opening in 3:44.

So he finished one spot behind Nate Brannen and ahead of Craig Miller and Andy Bayer who all are decent 1500m runners.

3:44 for a starter shows good general fitness.

Star wrote:

So he finished one spot behind Nate Brannen and ahead of Craig Miller and Andy Bayer who all are decent 1500m runners.

3:44 for a starter shows good general fitness.

And not quite as fast as Grant Fisher.

Symmonds has been an amazingly consistent 800 meter performer at the championship level over the last 8 years. He has run 1:42, won 7 U.S. titles (2 indoors), and qualified for the last 6 consecutive U.S. teams (4 World Championships and 2 Olympics). He has made the last 4 world level finals in in a row (the only competitor from any country to do so), culminating with a silver medal at the 2013 World Championships.

Following that long stretch in the 800 and injury problems in 2014, it's not surprising to see Symmonds trying his hand at a different event (1500) this year for the sake of variety and to build endurance ahead of a probable Olympic year focus on the 800 in 2016.

Symmonds did look very heavy, he needs to drop 5-10 pounds to race the 1500 at an elite level. He is running the 800 at Oxy, I expect a 1:47 ish there which will be another step in the right direction. He still needs to run 3:39.00 to even get into USAs so he has some work to do.

Alsalzheart wrote:

hard without the drugs I guess

He still has his stupid running gum though.

former miler dk wrote:

His focus is on Ninja Warrior, Beer Miles and Gum. He's getting older.and acting like a guy who knows his time is running out...and trying to remain in the public's eye any way possible. Without the running there's not much to care about...it comes across as desperate. You open yourself up to criticism when you say you can run well with outside distractions...and put that type of performance on the track.

Put a fork in him...not yet...but maybe soon.

I agree that his focus is off, but I struggle to let age play such a role; it always seems like an easy cop-out. So quickly we forget Gray and KD's longevity.

Star wrote:

So he finished one spot behind Nate Brannen and ahead of Craig Miller and Andy Bayer who all are decent 1500m runners.

3:44 for a starter shows good general fitness.

And none of them will be on the starting line in China this summer

People on here never seem to understand that careers to not go on forever, and he's had a very long one. I'd put him now in same category as Lauren Fleshman or Kara Goucher, folks trying to figure out how to make a lucrative living in the sport when their best competitive days are over.

He won a lot of USATF titles, two or three Olympic Trials (I am not looking it up), made two Olympic finals, but a World Championships silver. As Frank Sinatra would say, his career is in the autumn of its years.

I say he needs to consult with his "fellow beer mile colleagues" and figure how they are going to challenge The Beast that is James Nielsen. He seems sore that he couldn't be the one to crack 5:00.

I\'d prefer to see Symmonds stick with the 800m and go for gold in 2016; as we saw in 2000, anything can happen in the final. No chance Symmonds will collect metal in the 1500m, whether it is the WC or another circuit.