No Doubter wrote:
Even El G went through a small time period just before his last olympics when he was having a hard time. It's just part of the sport. In another year, Webb will be the best mile runner in America. Probably the 5k too.
The difference between El G and Webb is that a bad race for El G is a 3:29, whereas for Webb he doesn't make the Olympic team.
I've heard several people say they think Webb will move up to the 5k. Why would a 1:43 800m runner move up? Webb just needs to run and not worry about everything else. He's been a headcase since last spring.
Alan,
If you're reading...stop reading and run baby!!!
hmmmmm wrote:
2012 Olympic Team
10000 meter
3. Matt Tegenkamp
I'm pretty sure Teg doesn't run the 10,000.
us distance wrote:
2012 Olympic Team
3000 Steeple
2. Chris Solinsky
Unlike the last post of mine, this might actually add to the discourse...
Does/can Chris Solinsky run the steeplechase? Solinsky's a great runner with a lot of guts but I've always thought of Steeplechasers as being smaller/lighter/nimbler than their compatriots running 3-5k flat.
I think Solinsky and the steeple is a good fit...he can muscle his way over the barriers and is fairly tall.
what about Luke Puskedra, I think him doing the steeple would be absolutely phenomenal. I think he is 8:15 capable with his height and speed and gutsy race style. I see the big 3 freshman being the highlights of the2012 Olympic trials and the us best bet to beat the Africans in distance races along with Rupp, Webb and Dathan in the 10k, 5k and marathon respectively.
He needs to shave off the stupid rug and get aerodynamic, once again. Webb's head is messed up, and I am not referring to his psyche.
Listen its been less than 1 year since his slump began - his IS capable of sub 3:30! Like people have said hes probably pounding the miles. I KNOW this spring and summer he will smash both ARs! GO ALAN MAKE USA PROUD!
I'm as big a Webb fan as any, but I do not believe that he can regain his previous form. It's all downhill from here, at least until he changes distances. Would love to see him go long.
If he's just pounding miles, then why is he racing so often? And why did he say in that video interview that was on LetsRun that he expected to run very fast the last few races after busting off the rust in his 4:04 or whatever it was he opened in. I'm worried.
Well of course Webb on a bad day is not going to be as good as El G on a bad day. Webb is no El G and never did I claim he was in the same league. But I think it's fair to say that when he gets back into the swing of things, he will easily be competitive Nick Willis.
Has it occurred to you guys that it's FEBRUARY?
Given that Webb/Razcko don't have Lagat/Li's expertise with peaking (to put it delicately), it seems to me that a gradual, progressive buildup may give better results than the peak really early and not come back to rebuild base of 2007, and the train REALLY hard during base and end up overtrained of 2008.
His 3:57 indoors is not far from his best times from all of last year, and I imagine that he and his coach are feeling somewhat relieved about that.
There's some reason to worry. He runs behind guys he should beat and he has nothing on his kick and he races frequently trying to get right, and then never gets it the whole year. Later we hear of ailments. That's the bad year. But he did just run a 3:57 and he's probably not doing any finishing speed work. I don't think that this will be a busted year. Let's wait until the end of June to see his progress. If he doesn't have it then, he won't have it the whole year, to judge by his past years.
What is with you morons (aside from the fact that you are morons, that is)? He's showing bad form indoors for a couple of meets so suddenly he "is done". Like he was done after leaving Michigan, eh?
The next time one of you feels the need to whine about why track and field is so unpopular, take a look at yourselves.
Webb is a total headcase - this is obvious. But it wasn't long ago at all that he was running 3:46. Be patient. 3:57 indoors isn't terrible. He has a great shot at breaking 3:50 and being competitive again this summer, and if he does, then he can build on that into 2010 and regain his near-best-in-the-world form.
As one of the biggest Webb fans since HS, here is what I see.
German who is great is one of the flavors of the day, so was Webb at 3:53.x in HS.
Webb runs:
3:46.x mile
1:43.8 800
8:11 two Mile or about 7:36 3K? I am guessing on that, I admit
13:10 5K
27:34 10K
If he never did another thing, he ran faster that any American as a combo at these things and faster than almost all at most.
There is not one American runner with this profile at all.
i said he was done last year when he started ditching races and dropped out of carlsbad last year with 800m to go. he is on the same path.
he needs to make some drastic changes and soon. i don't get it, there are several promising young male runners who are not living up to their potential, primarily due to their coaches, meanwhile, team flanagan ditches her free coach at the top of her game.
Webb needs to move out to Oregon and train under Salazar. Razco is not cutting it.
Honest to god, and I believe this to true, in this kicking race, Willis and Myers went 1-3, if Webb went back to Warhurst he would be better than he is now. Leaner, fitter , a better miler/ 3K/5K guy.
Ron has 13 sub 4 guys, multiple Olympians, guys that are running 3:58.x now and THE Bronze medalist at 1500 and can get this done, my own opinion. Not one U.S. current coach can claim that, like it or not.
I always look at the profile.
The 3:30/1:43 club is one of the most elite in all athletics. El Guerrouj, Lagat, and Ovett are NOT members...but Alan Webb is.