Steve Scott video interview > he gives advice for Alan Webb

BobE wrote:

With all do respect to Steve Scott he has no idea if Webb is over-trained.

Scott clearly says that he doesn't know the specifics of Webb's training ('doesn't know all of the pieces of the puzzle'), but that he feels his problem could be over-training. Overtraining is very likely.

Usually people forget about the amount of work it took for them to reach a certain level after a long pause in training. Webb didn't have a long pause - the downward spiral began shortly after his AR run in the mile - which was a time trial in front of a few hundred people on foreign soil.

We all know Webb has tons of talent, many guess that he does not respond well to pressure. Since running his amazing HS record in a loaded field (although he was not expected to compete with the front runners) when has he run well in a big race with international competition?

He did not mature as a runner like he would have had he remained in college. Sure the college system can require people to over-race, but this would not have happened to Webb at Michigan. There was just as much pressure on Warhurst for Webb to have a successful career as there was on Webb - maybe even more. Webb's current coaching situation is no longer working - he is no longer progressing. He needs a change - Nike should almost demand that he gets himself in a new training environment.

I do disagree with Scott's assessment of Webb being 'so young'. Rarely do distance runners enjoy the longevity of a Steve Scott. After 2012 passes Webb's window of opportunity to do something significant on the World stage will have passed. I hope he gets things turned around, but he has to be motivated enough and explore other coaching options or it just won't happen. When in peak form he is so much better than anyone else America has to offer - at least right now.

Regardless of what the negative lot say, America is showing signs of a resurgence in distance running. We certainly have our fair share of younger (than Webb) stars - and yes they have some catching up to do with the foreign elite, but we have more depth in the pipeline they we have in a while:

Rupp, Ritz, Hall, Fernandez, Jager, Symmonds, Wheating, Centro, - these guys and others have the potential, through progressive development and avoiding injury, to compete at the international level in the coming years.

"say no to drugs!"

Overtraining is such a generalized term.

Is he running too much mileage?

Is he running too less mileage and too much speed work?

Is he lifting too much weights?

Is he eating too many hot dogs on 4th of July?

More candidates (some controversial) for best American miler ever:

Glenn Cunningham (WR, OG silver)--very similar to Ryun

Wes Santee (4:00.2 and 4:00.3 when record was 3:59.4--

then banned for "professionalism")

Mary Decker (indoor/outdoor WRs, great range, double WC

gold)

Bernard Lagat (American since pre-2004 OG)

First draft:

1. Decker

=2. Cunningham

=2. Ryun

4. Lagat

5. Scott

5. Santee

7. D. Burleson

8. F. Larrieu

9. M. Liquori

10. J. Spivey

Santee should be #6, not =5.

Video Professor wrote:

BobE wrote:

With all due respect to Steve Scott he has no idea...

BobE wrote:

I personally think that...

Maybe Steve Scott has no idea, but who the heck are you that you know better?

Get a grip, VP. BE didn't say he knew better, only his personal opinion. Why do you get to express your opinion but BE does not! Where's your tolerance of the opinions of others???

Don't put a person who tested positive for drug use on the top of an all time list.

Thanks.

I'm BobE! Can't you read!

Music Man wrote:

We all know Webb has tons of talent, many guess that he does not respond well to pressure. Since running his amazing HS record in a loaded field (although he was not expected to compete with the front runners) when has he run well in a big race with international competition?

In 2005 he won Ostravia in 3:32 against top international competition. Also that year he made it to the World Championships finals and went to the front. He faded but nearly everyone ahead of him had a better PR.

In 2007 he won in Paris against Baala which held up to be the fastest time in the World that year. He beat world class competion with his 1:43.9 800. I am sure there are other international races I could list. Plus three dominating Outdoor National Championships.

He is really judged on two races: The 2004 Olympic prelims and 2007 World finals in which he didn't race up to expectations.

The last 2 years he hasn't been race fit- be it from overtraining, under racing, under training, lack of sharpness (mis-timed training), health or injury I don't know. I would guess Steve Scott would have a good perspective on this.

CANCER.... enough said