John Cook...

Indeed, Nebraska won the DMR in '96. George Mason won it in '97. Your memory of the '96 race was right on point!

You were one shy guy Malmo.

As "I used to know" has stated, what sets John Cook's strength program apart from other programs is that it has been specifically designed to assist in running fast. I am involved with a program that has a connection to Cook, and we use his strength program. This is not just sit-ups and crunches. It is not yoga or pilates. The program is extremely specific to running and aims to strengthen certain muscles that are essential in running and racing. It is unlike anything I've seen in my competitive racing days or in previous coaching jobs. It is important to note that the strength training never takes priority over simply running. Running comes first. But when the running is done, the strength training can provide a very real edge by increasing efficiency and reducing risk of injury. I am an old-school type who believes the best way to become a good runner is just to run. But I cannot deny that Cook's strength system helps reap very real benefits.

any info you can provide on the system?

I don't understand what the big secret is. They run hard.

Strength training specific muscles is what everyone is doing. The strength program that Hall and team use is all over the web. Pfaff's is another and the Wharton's also use muscle isolation techniques. Deana does hurdle drills and throws a medicine ball. Ryan does pilates/yoga. Oh yeah and he runs with an ipod!

Don't know about Hall's strength training routine, but I can verify he does (at least the time I saw him running recently) run with an ipod.

I used to know..... wrote:

Cook faked a DMR time in a panicked attempt to improve their place on the desending order list... and the NCAA committee almost threw the relay out of the meet during the challenge period. A stupid move by Cook, as his team was exceptional; I think they won the race that year, along with the team championship.

Just saw this old thread revived by the front page article about Rupp and the Reebok meet.

Cook indeed faked a DMR time in 1996 with George Mason. They actually won the race that year and may have set a then-collegiate record in the process.

As a result of Cook's unethical move, Harvard's DMR team was bumped to #11 on the list and was denied a chance to compete at NCAA's. In the week before the NCAA meet, Harvard believed their team was in, until learning that George Mason had allegedly run a qualifying time at a last chance "invitational" meet at their home track, later learned to be a phantom event.

gasdfad wrote:

is the man. Both Shalane and Shannon.

Bump

I used to know..... wrote:

The point is, Cook was/is innovative/creative compared to a lot of his coaching peers, just as both your HS and college coaches were. Sometimes putting in a lot of hard work is innovative compared to lots of other coaches/programs.

Not setting Cook, Budd, Groves, etc. on a pedestal, just making observations. Your observations here seem to be tinged with bitterness and defensiveness. The pedestal I've always had you on has been lowered a bit.

Listen, what Cook was good at was recruiting and talking. He could charm anyone to death with you fast talking approach. As noted, he ran a phantom qualifier and that was not the only time. I was at another meet where he did it and other coaches followed along. Needless to say, those "last, last chance" meets disappeared right after this.

So when we look at Cook at calling out Salazar, it is kind of the kettle calling the pot black.

I wouldn't trust either one of them with my retirement money.

And I have no bitterness or axe to grind, just telling you what I know having been there....

If you fire your coach, you are are firing your employee. Most people who get fired break off all relations with the former employer. So Cook saying he broke off all relations with Flanagan is a non issue.

I agree. But don't you think that Cook knew in this interview that his comments would be used in a way that the reporter would fit his agenda? The story?

Did he clarify that his break off of all relations, being interviewed about a dirt digging story, had nothing to do with his feelings about the program his athlete left him for? He might have and the reporter could have left that out. That would not surprise me.

If you would get every top American distance coach over the last 25 years, Everyone of them, even Lananna, Gags, Brooks Johnson, Martin Smith, Dave Smith, Schumacher, Mick Byrne, John Cook, Brad Hudson, Ron Warhurst, Joe Vigil, and Bob Sevene, all would all be conflicted about this NOP program with all the focus on medication and supplements.

Personally I feel what Salazar does is know and study everything about any edge he can get from chemistry and science to keep his runners able to train incredibly hard and recover to be able to get to the level that it takes to win at global levels. Within the legal limit, He knows its the only way. The sport is ruined for me but that is what it's come to. I could care less about world class running.

One thing is for sure: Robert Budd never found someone waddling around the Nike Campus 10 pounds overweight and made a champion out of her.

I agree , every reporter has an agenda before going out on an interview. I'm not against what Salazar does, just stay within the legal limits for the elite pro athletes.