Areson out of Nike OP? Any women left?

why would Areson stay there, as the absolutely lowest priority athlete for AlSal and Co? Magness is a nice guy (used to talk to him all the time on Dyestat), apparently pretty intelligent, but is still incredibly green at the highest levels of the sport.

crazy person wrote:

Really makes you ask questions about what causes people to leave the Oregon Project with such regularity.

I feel the cause of the regular turnover has something to do with one of the constants... Alsal

thyroid meds.......

This is just another example of an athlete not being able to accept responsibility for themselves.

SHE PERFORMED LIKE SHIT AT THE TRIALS.

Why did she choke? Her performance made no sense based on how well she raced a month earlier. Look in the mirror and ask yourself why you performed so poorly on the biggest stage. When your conclusion is that it is someone elses fault, then you are doomed to repeat the problem.

Its all speculation wrote:

crazy person wrote:

Really makes you ask questions about what causes people to leave the Oregon Project with such regularity.

I feel the cause of the regular turnover has something to do with one of the constants... Alsal

He managed to get one of those sweet gigs where job security is not dependent on job performance.

As an employee and recreational runner out at Nike I can shed light on much of this. Some crap on here is just that, crap. Regarding the women: ---Begay and Grunnagel(sp?)were never in the group. Just brought on by AlSal to train them before the trials.

-Lindsey is still in the group but injured

Not sure about Ciran from Ireland

-There was a lot of talk about the relationship between Areson and Magness. I personally don't know enough but I have to think it was a reason for Steve being fired.

-Steve had two athletes: Areson under-performed greatly and Ciran left

This obviously isn't up to the standard AlSal sets so it we an easy decision.

Are we really supposed to believe you?

If you knew anything about it in reality you would know that it is Ciaran, not Ciran. You made that mistake twice.

Steve was not fired, he made the choice on his own to leave. He made it long before the trials.

So how many people are left in the Nike OP total? Is AlSal the only primary athlete coach now?

So now, Alberto has Rupp, Ritz, Farah, and Dorian Ulrey.

Also, Matt Centrowitz was wearing an Oregon Project uni at the Trials, although he is still in Eugene and being coached by Andy Powell.

As an outsider and interested observer, noting all the turnover since Alberto started the group about 10 years ago (different name then) with athletes like Dan Browne sleeping in the Nike altitude-adjusted house, it does appear the group has always had its focus on producing men who could perform on the international stage in the 10k and marathon. Kara Goucher was probably the most successful of the women with her 10k bronze medal and fast marathon showings.

None of the mid-distance types have ever shown any longevity with the program. Maybe they were brough in primarily to help Galen with his speed. However, from what we just saw from Galen, it appears he could help them with their speed. I don't think Galen or Mo need miler around anymore to "help" them.

So, where does that leave Ulrey and Centro?

Also, what happens with the OP roster after the Olympics are over? Does Alberto bring in new runners just out of college? Or, cap the program the way it is and just continue training the current group until they decide to retire then terminate the Oregon Project?

Centro is still primarily coached by Andy Powell in that he's setting his schedule. AlSal is the man on the ground for him though and is supervising his workouts because Powell can't coach a team and be going to Park City.

Steve coached Jackie and the Irish fellow.

They both ran like crap.

Steve begged borrowed and stealed to get a spot with Salazar. At first Steve was working for free. Steve thinks his ideas and training is the end all be all. At first he and Alberto got along as Steve was in the background listening. Alberto liked Steve and even let him coach a few people which is unheard of. Steve then back stabbed Alberto and talked trash on his training. It got real negative real quick.

Wish one side the best of luck.

I'm sorry I spelled Ciarans name wrong. He was out at Nike for such a short time I never even noticed nor cared how to spell his name. Ciaran wouldn't even finish top 6 in the US 1500 so why does it even matter?

If you think Steve left on his own you are mistaken. I know with 100% certainty that he was fired following Jackies performance in the Prelims but it was a long time coming.

So who all was Steve coaching? From what I can gather it was at least Ciaran and Areson, and he was a sometimes pacer for Galen. I'm not surprised he'd get fired after what Areson did in the prelims combined with Ciaran getting hurt, plus I've heard him say some not so positive things about Alberto's training. I think overall it was a bad move to have him coaching anyone by himself. When Alberto first got him I assumed that to be a long term learning thing for Steve so he could basically take over the Oregon Project after Salazar retired. Unfortunately they threw a guy who should be coaching at the high school level straight into the big leagues. Salazar should have known better.

You are an idiot. You are on here solely to destroy someone's name. Steve did a great job with Jackie and Ciaran when he was there. He personally can't control everything.

From what Alberto said in a Flotrack interview Steve was having to train Ciaran around Salazar's rabbitting plans. No wonder why Ciaran left.

Get a life. Steve's got a great resume and will be fine doing whatever he wants.

I did not say one negative thing about Steve.

Ciaran ran 3:34 last year, I really don't think that was too bad of a job there... He didn't have quite the breakout year that Centrowitz did obviously, but considering that seemed to be the first time he had really focused on the 15, solid year I would say..

Not sure what Nike OP plans are post Olympics, but it may make sense to retool the ranks and refocus on the marathon and half marathon distances.

It would be a good time for Rupp to move up to the half and marathon on a regular basis, Ritz is already a 10k-marathon runner, and with the change over in other athletes and coach, refocusing on the marathon (which was the original purpose of the OP) and bringing in another coach who focuses on the marathon distance (and is use to working with women), and then adding a good new group of men and women may be the way to go.

Cirian was not running with Sal last year; he did not join the crew until some time right around or just after WC's.

I heard that Nike was trying to hire a "marathon specific" coach to add to the ranks last year at the request of Kara and others. I don't know if that is still in the plans or not. It seems like maybe Jerry is going to fill that role. Although I don't know if that is a great idea with the rough go that both Nelson and Bairu have experienced in the marathon.