i think it's a bad idea, as well. you gotta mix it up with the big boys. in this oregon race they'll be up front with rabbits. in europe they'd have to fight their way through the pack and then see what they could do. plus, they'd get to know their competition. get out of the bubble!
sounds like wheating is scheduled for a 1500 and symmonds for a 1000. I wonder who will be involved for rabbits and competition. I'm sure there are plenty of people in town still to make a little magic happen.
can wheating pull off a PR for 1500? he only raced one 1500 and one mile this year, PRing by solid margins in both. has been a long time since he race one though, could feel like a long race to him at this point.
i didn't think they would hit head to head in an 800 this close to the olympics. kind of self destructive to do that in eugene without other big competitors.
One thing to keep in mind is that none of these races in Europe are going to be anything like a championship race, let alone an Olympic race. These races he's skipping are going to be relatively fast, rabbited affairs. He's been there, done that. Not that he can't learn from that style of racing, but I think a runner can only learn championship-style race tactics from racing in championship-style races.
Plus, anyone can screw up a championship race, no matter how prepared, or how favored. The best example being Seb Coe in the 800 in '80. Symmonds is doing what's best for Symmonds, and I ain't gonna argue with that.
symmonds also said he will be doing 2 time trials prior to Bejing; a 1000m 3 weeks out and then a 400m time trial. those should help get him race ready.
citius99 wrote:
symmonds also said he will be doing 2 time trials prior to Bejing; a 1000m 3 weeks out and then a 400m time trial. those should help get him race ready.
Time trials have nothing to do with being race ready, ask Alan Webb.
Race ready means you're comfortable going out and running hard and having a bunch of fast guys next to you.
I don't see why this is so hard to understand. Unless you're the top dog - El G, etc. - you've got to race. It might not be much different physically from a time trial, but it sure is different psychologically. Someone brought up Coe blowing the 800 in '80 - but he still wound up with the silver medal, to a Ovett, who was a stud.
We're talking about a guy in Symmonds, who has never even made an international final, and posters here are talking about a potential medal if he makes the final! As it stands right now, 6 guys have run faster than Symmonds this season, with guys like Borza and Reed rounding into form (and the Herculis meet tomorrow.)
Bottom line: not racing is pretty foolish, and I'd be surprised if Symmonds makes the semi-finals and shocked if he makes the finals.
citius99 wrote:
symmonds also said he will be doing 2 time trials prior to Bejing; a 1000m 3 weeks out and then a 400m time trial. those should help get him race ready.
how do you know?
Are they running in some meet in Eugene? Symmonds in the 1000m and Wheating in the 1500?
Here is a thought...
What is wrong with American distance running and the underdevelopment of the aerobic system of young athletes....
Over-racing. Competition after competition will not have them as ready for the olympics as well as controlled training.
These guys are going about this the smart way. Symmonds clearly knows how to race, and that's really the only benefit to racing in Europe. Can't say the same for Wheating, yet. Both have a nose for the finish line and great instincts, though.
A couple weeks of mental and physical recuperation followed by some aggressive yet sane training will have them poised to run well in Bejing. They may lose a bit of their edge, but some sharpening workouts starting 4 weeks out from the game will have them further ahead of where they were in June/July.
Go USA distance squad!
It will be interesting to compare Smith and Symmonds in Beijing- same coach, different overall strategies.
If Symmonds was legit tired says he was at the OT, watch out if he's rested!
We're talking about a guy in Symmonds, who has never even made an international final
wrong. symmonds made the final of the world indoors this year.
Ridiculous wrote:
Here is a thought...
What is wrong with American distance running and the underdevelopment of the aerobic system of young athletes....
Over-racing. Competition after competition will not have them as ready for the olympics as well as controlled training.
These guys are going about this the smart way. Symmonds clearly knows how to race, and that's really the only benefit to racing in Europe. Can't say the same for Wheating, yet. Both have a nose for the finish line and great instincts, though.
A couple weeks of mental and physical recuperation followed by some aggressive yet sane training will have them poised to run well in Bejing. They may lose a bit of their edge, but some sharpening workouts starting 4 weeks out from the game will have them further ahead of where they were in June/July.
Go USA distance squad!
I absolutely agree. I think you have to look at the emotional part of the trials too. You need to get away from it all- I don't think jumping in a bunch of races is the answer. I think that adding more to their plate right now will just accumulate. There are guys racing now, but not all countries have the same stress as our Olympic Trials do. As for Symmonds, he's raced the same way from day one. He knows what he's up to and against.
remember rodger bannisters approach to the 1500m at his olympics, helsinki i think... and he was an overwhelming favourite to, not like 10th best in the world... dude should be going in competetive races,, not time trials.
400-1500 coach wrote:
It will be interesting to compare Smith and Symmonds in Beijing- same coach, different overall strategies.
wrong ---not the same coach
Gottlief Taubert wrote:
We're talking about a guy in Symmonds, who has never even made an international final
You shouldn't comment on things you know nothing about. This sentence shows that you don't pay that close of attention to international track and field so I think you have no place to question what Symmonds should and shouldn't do.
Read the article people, do you think it would be wise to head to Europe run down and plod along to a few 1:46s, completely ruining his confidence? The way he is doing it is the best thing for him, sure other people do it other ways but he isn't other people.
Wheating will run the 1500 and Symmonds the 1000 tomorrow.
Don't you mean Thursday? The 31st?
Seems they've changed the races to the 30th. Still no word on the times...
Symmonds & Wheating should just follow Borzakovskiy for the last 300m in Beijing and pounce at the end.
Good idea if it works, bad idea if it doesn't. Isn't that how it works on LetsRun?
Perfect planning. Every one knows the best way to blow out the cobwebs and get sharp for an important upcoming meet is to run a race longer than what you're be running in the championships. Think of Paul Treacy running that 50k before his LA silver in the marathon; or Brendon Foster throwing down that 20k before the '76 10,000 final. This is definitely the way to go, especially for two runners who've been complaining of fatigue during and after the trials. One more 3k for them next week and they'll be ready!