amen!
amen!
OK. I guess I am also guilty of over analyzing. But that's what we do here at Letsrun.
Everyone who has a 3:53 PR, raise your hand. That's what I thought.
All those who have run 3.53 and then not been under 4 minutes in the ensuing 23 months, please raise your hand.
That's what I thought, just one hand raised.
The number of guys that are jealous that Webb broke 4 in HS never ceases to amaze me.
BTW - Waldrop ran his 3:53 in '74 at the Penn relays in April, then never ran faster - or even fast - again, despite all the hype. And it wasn't due to medical school being on the horizon. If you're going to pick on Webb as an example of wasted potential, or someone who peaked early and blew it, then use another name.
Look up the Washington Post article on the front page, he ran 3:59 and change THIS SEASON
World Championships finalists in recent years:
2001-McMullen, Broe (no Mt.SAC)
1999-Holman, Kennedy, Goucher (no Mt.SAC)
1997-Kenah, Everett, Kennedy, Croghan (no Mt.SAC)
The world championships are August, not April. Hopefully, the top Americans are being wise enough to peak for the right month and not planning their training around a silly time trial four months earlier.
can anyone verify that his 1.51 half from this weekend is true?
What in the bejesus is this guy doing racing at Kansas and Azuza Pacific?
He should be in Morroco, training with ElGuerrouj, getting ready for Europe!
I hope that this is a "building" period and that come 2004/2005 he will make us all eat crow, but personally I can't figure out the f*** he is doing!
fortunately, it isnt webb's job to make sure all the chickens on letsrun are certain of his intentions.
fortunately...
JasonInKunming wrote:What in the bejesus is this guy doing racing at Kansas and Azuza Pacific?
. . .
I hope that this is a "building" period and that come 2004/2005 he will make us all eat crow, but personally I can't figure out the f*** he is doing!
Here's what I think they are doing and why. Not endorsing or criticising; just my take on what they are thinking.
Webb is very short on racing experience for someone with 3:53 on his resume. It really showed at indoor nationals. I suspect he is still under a very heavy training load but they realized he needed more races under his belt. So, they are getting him into some races where he can at least be competitive without having to taper for them. If so, then they are probably subsituting these races for some comparable workouts. Just my hunch.
I said several months ago it's not how a runner trains this week or this month that is important. Its what they have been doing the last twelve months, or longer. Often we see a lot of records the year after an Olympic year, as people's preparation for the Olympics carries over. If I run 30 miles a week for 51 weeks then run a 100 mile week, I am not as fit as someone that has been running 100 miles a week for the last year. Training has a cumulative effect over time.
Now, let's examine Webb's last twelve months.
One year ago now, he was at Michigan. He was injured and in the pool. When he was running, he was running in a vastly different system than he had previously. He comes back outdoors, does OK, not great. He then bags Michigan, comes home, and takes (according to most reports) most if not all of the summer off. He then starts over from scratch in the fall and builds where he is today.
In other words, Webb's last year has been the most inconsistent year he has had thus far in sport where consistency in training is of paramount importance. He has also had more down time in the last year than any other year. Yet, despite that, he still PR's indoors!
I don't look for him to make huge drops this year outdoors. He'll work on getting consistent, getting experience, and hopefully PR, but probably not by much. Maybe hit Europe, run some "B" races. I don't pick him to make the World Championships team, but I won't be shocked if he does. Then, come September, he has a solid year under his belt as a pro and a lot more experience. He heads into the Olympic year light years ahead of where he was the year before. If that all plays out, I'd probably will pick him to make the Olympic team in 2004. And maybe even win the Trials.
First of all what is everybody saying Webb is dodging the stars? For all of those people who forgot Charlie Grubber placed thrid at indoor nationals and that would have been higher if those panzies who went 1-2 wouldn't have just sat back and would have manned up and taken the lead. So Webb isn't avoiding anything. Also a couple SMS guys who have gone under 3.42 and 4.00 are in the race. So sounds like a good race.
Second Webb is the big ticket here so probably getting good appearance money and being put in the spotlight. Sure it may not be as competitive as Mt. Sac but he wouldn't be the star our there. At Kansas he is the STAR and at the same time getting in a huge race. I'm sure Webb, Nike and everybody at Kansas is happy with this and those who can't getg him at their race are pissed. Oh well, good choice Webb and best of luck.
ME wrote:
I have always stuck up for alan and always kinda at least could understand why he was doing the things he was doing, but this I do not get. He def should be racing at Mt. Sac. Its almost like he's ducking the fast races. He can't build confidence and get faster against 4:00-4:05 milers.
Okay, short-sighted people, let's consider past examples of runners. Where did Steve Scott go when easing into shape for his European season beginning with the US nationals in late June...Mt. Sac--the place for everyone to go to get their NCAA qualifiers--or Drake, a lower key meet that doesn't force you to mortgage the farm in training to avoid looking bad in front of some peaking collegians?
Webb isn't college anymore. Stop judging his season by those parameters as to what he "should" be doing right now..
PS-If Webb is training right, it traditionally takes two years for each big break-through. Not that any of the armchair generals on this board are mature enough to wait that long. The patience level on this board would make Lydiard puke.
Amused, Tony Waldrop had more talent in his little finger than any American since (including Steve Scott). He didn't improve on that 3:53 because running was very low on his priority list. Any suggestion otherwise is just not factual.