OMG. America's newest star has arrived!! True frosh Donavan Brazier runs 1:45.93 in first-ever collegiate 800!!

Repeats old LR training wisdom stated: 20 to 30 races per year is most likely ideal number of races for a 800 metres runner. I agree. Brazier will race 45+ races a year for Texas A&M. Maybe he survives the OVER RACING with no ill affect. Maybe after racing so much after a couple of years, he'll weigh other options.

rojo wrote:

We spoke with Brazier today and have a profile piece up on him on the front page. The piece also includes a full race video:

http://www.letsrun.com/news/2016/01/145-93-opener-just-tip-iceberg-800-phenom-donavan-brazier/

Good stuff:

"So far, Brazier’s main workouts have consisted of fartleks of 60- and 90-second intervals on the grass near the Aggies’ outdoor track. He trains with the team’s 800 group, including the Hernandez brothers, Efrain (1:50.26 pb) and Hector (1:47.73 pb)."

“Our training on the track has not been very specific to this point,” Henry said. “I think once he gets into a situation where he’s really running some pace work on the track, he’s going to have a better handle on what he can do…"

If he's training with a 1:47 and 1:50 guy, shooting for a 1:47 the first meet, I certainly don't worry that he's overtraining.

ironside wrote:

Repeats old LR training wisdom stated: 20 to 30 races per year is most likely ideal number of races for a 800 metres runner. I agree. Brazier will race 45+ races a year for Texas A&M. Maybe he survives the OVER RACING with no ill affect. Maybe after racing so much after a couple of years, he'll weigh other options.

To race over 45 races for A&M he'd have to run in over 20 meets, but don't let that get in the way of a bad rant.

Rudisha racing a 400m in Feb. 2012, preparing for the London Olympics.

Obviously was doing speed work in January.

Worked out pretty good for him later that year.

Video of Rudisha racing a 400m in Feb. 2012.

Obviously speed work in January and 400m racing in February worked out pretty well for him by the time the Olympics rolled around later that year.

a mathematician: your either a child whom has not run track or your a life long hobby jogger who as never run track. This lad will race roughly 8 XC races, he'll race at least 6 to 8 indoor meets and he'll race a 12 to 14 outdoor meets for Texas A & M. When I state races, again, I'm including 400 metres legs on relays. He WILL race 45 to 55 races per year for Texas A&M. This is when you respond and state you were a high school & NCAA 800 metres runner and tell me I'm wrong. You won't!

Well, you're wrong about one thing at least. Brazier doesn't run XC for A&M.

just me: give some context. Are you a sibling/Texas A &M Coach/Texas A & M teammate of Brazier? If you are simply looking at varsity results for Texas A & M XC fall 2015, check JV results before you go out on a limb and state he didn't run XC, 2015. Because Brazier may or may not have run XC as a freshman doesn't mean Texas A & M will not have Brazier run XC in future seasons. I cannot image Texas A&M has enough good (8 & 10)K XC men so they do not need a sub-4:07 miler on the XC team.

I'm acquainted with Donavan. My daughter ran HS cross country/track with him last year at Kenowa Hills. What I do know for sure: he's a good kid, and he didn't run cross country this past fall. He didn't want to run cross at the collegiate level, and that was one of the selling points A&M hit during recruiting.

Beyond that, hey, I don't know. We're not close warm personal friends and he doesn't confide in me or anything. It's possible he'll end up running next fall. I doubt it, but I'm certainly not going to speak in absolutes and wouldn't dare speak for him anyway.

ironside wrote:

a mathematician: your either a child whom has not run track or your a life long hobby jogger who as never run track. This lad will race roughly 8 XC races, he'll race at least 6 to 8 indoor meets and he'll race a 12 to 14 outdoor meets for Texas A & M. When I state races, again, I'm including 400 metres legs on relays. He WILL race 45 to 55 races per year for Texas A&M. This is when you respond and state you were a high school & NCAA 800 metres runner and tell me I'm wrong. You won't!

Why don't you show us some examples of guys who ran 45 to 55 races per year? When I ran in the NCAA, most of the 800 guys didn't do cross country (Donavan didn't and won't). The ones who did both would run maybe 4-6 XC meets, 4-6 indoor, 6-8 outdoor. About 20 total.

Since you are so certain he will run 45-55 races this year, how much would you like to wager? Over/under 40. I will take under.

ironside, I have watched long enough. There is no way a kid like Barzier would ever run 45 races in a year in college, let alone 55.

You are way off.

I am intimately familiar with elites' college racing amounts and schedules and A & M's 4 x 4 has been so good, they may or mat not even need him on that.

A great parallel would have been Sam Ellison at Villanova and he no where near approached 35 races a year and that included 500 heats indoor ,DMR's, 4 x 8's and 4 x 4s.

As another example, a Jordy Williamsz may have run 28 times last year including XC, 4.. 3 of those in two days at Penn, two at Regionals, two at NC's

Trialswatcher: Unless you're a Texas A&M Coach, you cannot state Brazier won't race 45+ races per calendar year. Will a sub-4:07 miler not run XC in the future? How can he look his teammates in the eye and not help them during XC? How many current sub-4:07 milers do they have at Texas A&M? That's at least 8 races. Twenty or so meets a calendar year, indoor & outdoor. He'll race x2 in most meets. Some meets he'll race x3. Trialwatcher, he has been on 4x400 metres relay already this indoor season. You can't state that won't continue. I am sure Brazier will race his share of 400 metres & 800 metres on medleys and relays. Anecdotal cases of Sam Ellison & Jordy Williamsz do not necessarily apply. Trialwatcher, tell me you're a former high school & college middle distance runner. Tell me you're a high school or college coach. Tell me you have a sibling whom is or was a high school & college middle distance runner.

ironside wrote:

Trialswatcher: Unless you're a Texas A&M Coach, you cannot state Brazier won't race 45+ races per calendar year.

Yeah he can, anyone with common sense knows he will not race 45 times this year.

I assume you are a Texas A&M coach then, because you stated emphatically that he WILL race 45-55 times this year? What events do you coach there?

Mis spelled his name, horrible typing.. Brazier

First of all this shows how little you really know

No one runs 8 XC races anymore and have not for years.

Typically it is, one major Invite, one low key..Conf, regions, NCAA's IF you make it..IF

And questioning, my resume or sources or resources is laughable.I will not dignify with who and what I know.

You have no clue regarding this issue is all I will tell you. It starts with your XC presumptions on racing and he is not a college XC runner.

ventolin^3 wrote:

That is in January whilst just 1/2 way thru his winter training & virtually no speedwork as no one does speedwork in January

Gray's 1'42.59AR should definitely go this year

Erm, he's an 800 runner. What do you think he's been doing in the winter?

Do you not know what is involved in training an 800 meter runner? Base phase means endurance and basic speed. He will have been doing tons of base sprint training, lifting, plyos. You work from the outside (pure speed ... ... endurance) to the inside (800 specific work) as the season progresses.

I wish the best for the kid, but it seems premature to expect him to take down a record that has stood for 30 years this season.

Adding to the convo: I raced 30 to 35 races a year while in junior high school (no indoor track) XC & outdoor track. It increases as one moves up levels.

ironside wrote:

Adding to the convo: I raced 30 to 35 races a year while in junior high school (no indoor track) XC & outdoor track. It increases as one moves up levels.

How many did you race in college? Or are you currently still in junior high?

I've told too much person info on LetsRun. I don't want to risk you guys heckling my dad at master meets or heckling my kids at their athletic events.