Webb article from Outside Mag

I really cannot understand all of the criticism on here. Here is a guy who only 8 months ago had everyone on the edge of their seat drooling with anticipation to see what he does next. He's brought running back to being exciting and thrilling. In the lull after Bob Kennedy left, Webb and Hall have given Americans something to be excited about.

I can understand people commenting on his championship race tactics but people flat out insult him by saying he has a 50/50 chance to make the Olympic team at all. Are you serious? Or do they just say it to be hurtful? While he adds a lot, many people on here try to take away from the sport.

I for one appreciate what he brings to the sport. I really can't wait to see what this amazing talent does in China.

Don't mind the haters.

backa wrote:

I really cannot understand all of the criticism on here. Here is a guy who only 8 months ago had everyone on the edge of their seat drooling with anticipation to see what he does next. He's brought running back to being exciting and thrilling. In the lull after Bob Kennedy left, Webb and Hall have given Americans something to be excited about.

I can understand people commenting on his championship race tactics but people flat out insult him by saying he has a 50/50 chance to make the Olympic team at all. Are you serious? Or do they just say it to be hurtful? While he adds a lot, many people on here try to take away from the sport.

I for one appreciate what he brings to the sport. I really can't wait to see what this amazing talent does in China.

Don't mind the haters.

I think he's a great runner and would love to see him make the team, I would want nothing more than for he and lagat to go 1-2 in beijing....if he does not make the team it is a huge blow to his career....

but you have to be realistic, he will cruise into the finals if he's smart, and we know lagat's on, and that manzano can kick with the best of them, and it comes down to can webb beat the slew of other guys there

if he's running well, this'll be easy for him...but what happened last week when people tried to kick? I'm not doubting his fitness as the 1200 workout showed, but it's gonna come down to the kick, and anything can happen in the kick....like teg missing a medal by .04 whatever seconds? cmon he's not as fast as those guys, but my point is if they come around 200,150,100 m and line up in a mad dash for the top three, with what he's shown this year, there is a good chance that one of the other guys can edge him out

its not an insult to his overall speed in the 1500, because I right now if he ran a time trial like race he could go sub 3:50, but that kind of running doesn't win this kind of races......and it'll be the kick

as I said, when alan's on top, he's one of the fastest kickers in the world (he beat lagat what, like 3 times last year in a kick) and his making the team depends solely on his speed over the last 100 m

I'm telling you it's all Julia Rudd's fault.

You people who seem to believe Webb should find a better coach are rather clueless. Give us the names of these great middle distance coaches that exist out there who would do a better job. There is not one coach in the entire United States or World, for that matter, who has routinely worked with and had success with a talent such as Webb. The only man who has consistently coached runners of Webb's caliber is Brother Colm O'Connel in Kenya. Virtually every runner with Webb's ability was a once in a lifetime experiment for their respective coaches. Gagliano had many disappointments with Holman. John Cook's only significant male success was Abdi Bile. Julie Henner has minimal experience coaching international caliber people. Steve Scott definitely isn't the answer. So who are these great experienced coaches Webb should flock to? If you don't think 1:43, 3:46, 13:10 and 27:32 indicate the ability to guide an athlete than you have no idea about the requirements of elite coaching. The fact is, anyone who would work with Webb would be feeling their way through it. Just because someone has coached some division one champions or all american' doesn't mean they would have clue of how to deal with a talent like Webb.

I am not sure what to expect from him this weekend, like he looked pretty worn out by the last lap at the Pre Classic... actually he looked pretty worn out throughout the race and his time, while I understand this wasn't his primary focus, made things look worse. I am a Webb fan but I have to say its looking bad.

The Coaching Fraternity wrote:

The fact is, anyone who would work with Webb would be feeling their way through it. Just because someone has coached some division one champions or all american' doesn't mean they would have clue of how to deal with a talent like Webb.

You seem to be suggesting that coaching is generally irrelevant. If there is no coach that is objectively more experienced and more successful than Webb's current coach, I guess we should stop relying on coaching in general.

Why don't we all just go read daniels et al and coach ourselves?

The Coaching Fraternity wrote:

If you don't think 1:43, 3:46, 13:10 and 27:32 indicate the ability to guide an athlete than you have no idea about the requirements of elite coaching. The factis, anyone who would work with Webb would be feeling their way through it. Just because someone has coached some division one champions or all american' doesn't mean they would have clue of how to deal with a talent like Webb.

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You nailed it.

Unbelievably awful quote from that fan below. Praise & criticism comes with the territory. But to purposely NOT cheer a H.S. kid, because 3:53 wasn't good enough.... Unbelievable. People with that high of standards FOR OTHER PEOPLE need to look in the mirror and do it themselves. If they don't have high standards for themselves, then don't bash a HS 3:53.

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/121419150983060.xml&coll=7

"As the Hayward Field crowd went bonkers after Alan Webb broke Jim Ryun's 36-year-old U.S. high school mile record in the 2001 Prefontaine Classic, one spectator refused to join the celebration.

Asked why not, the spectator replied: "There are 15 Kenyans his age who have run faster."..."

If you want to argue overall performance, I agree. However, Webb has rarely shown the ability to peak at the right moment. There are many coaches who have shown much more ability to get whole groups of athletes to peak for major meets.

If you want to argue overall performance, I agree. However, Webb has rarely shown the ability to peak at the right moment. There are many coaches who have shown much more ability to get whole groups of athletes to peak for major meets.

If you want to argue overall performance, I agree. However, Webb has rarely shown the ability to peak at the right moment. There are many coaches who have shown much more ability to get whole groups of athletes to peak for major meets.

Come again?

www wrote:

You seem to be suggesting that coaching is generally irrelevant. If there is no coach that is objectively more experienced and more successful than Webb's current coach, I guess we should stop relying on coaching in general.

Why don't we all just go read daniels et al and coach ourselves?

no...hes suggesting that every runner is different and different runners have different needs...

just because a coach has had success with other athletes doesnt mean hes in the best position to fulfill webbs particular needs...Webb seems to think that his high school coach is in that position and so far i think its paid off pretty damn well...

coaching isnt irrelevant but its not all about finding the coach with the most accolades and experience...its more about finding a coach that you have chemistry with and you can have confidence in...

Echo wrote:

Come again?

If you want to argue overall performance, I agree. However, Webb has rarely shown the ability to peak at the right moment. There are many coaches who have shown much more ability to get whole groups of athletes to peak for major meets.