Link to Results, Webb 3:45, Solinsky 3:42, Bumb 3:40

I agree that 3:45 is VERY bad. He seems to be regressing in his fitness since he started racing: 13:37, 13:46, 3:45. I figured after that 13:37 he'd be starting to round into shape over the next month or so and be running under 13:20 by now, seems like he's actually in worse shape. Anyway, as he said in the interview, he was injured and not running as recently as january. This makes his 13:37 in april seem very good but his last two races still don't make sense.

Anyway, hopefully he'll pull a 180 and start getting faster instead of slower as the summer comes on. I'm still waiting to see what he can do when he's had healthy consistent training for a full year. Last year and this year have been confusing because he doesn't seem to get into good shape very quickly, as he used to and as you would expect of someone of his talent. Last time he looked to be the same old Alan Webb, but just not in top shape yet, was under Salazar in his short summer season in August/September of 2010, and then he beat Rupp in that 5k road race in the 13:30's that fall. Like I said, still waiting to see what he's like with a full year of training behind him, which he hasn't had since '07/08.

I do appreciate a little nostalgia though, and the mention of the magical 10K in Palo Alto with Webb against Ritz and Fam in 2006. I was fortunate to be there. What a monster battle that was, neither man giving an inch. No tactics, just will. Now what Webb did 7 years ago in his 10K debut was very special. It was also a massive breakthrough race for Fam who keyed off the battle upfront.

Potential? wrote:

I really wish we could close the book on Webb.

Feel free to close your book on anyone you like. Many of us still root for him to do well.

Elliott Heath, Bumbalough, and Fernandez have yet to run their event (5k). Are they qualified for USA's? Webb isn't and he said he's not running it this year. The Schumacher group has the dream team for 5k but they haven't done much. Maybe that will change.

Lomong, Jager, Huling and Derrick are the only ones in that group running well. Bumbalough, Teg, Sol, Heath, Fernandez, and Webb should be running better. Solinsky is getting there.

Teg is doing road races in 2013. Bumby will get there. Jager, Lomong and Derrick had great races this weekend.

I have always pulled for Webb; remember seeing him at the Pre meet break Jim Ryan's HS record, etc. I still wish him well, however, I have come to believe that his biggest problem is what's between his ears. A real head case. I don't know if he has tried seeing a sports psychologist, but it might be well worth it if he hasn't. IMHO.

Is Bumbi going to race again before the Trials? Assuming he's been training for the 5000 and using the 10000 and 1500 to work on his strength and speed, and looking back to his 8:13 2-mile, he should be ready to roll come trials. 4 flat mile equivalent for Solinsky isn't bad at all. 13:23/4 flat isn't where he wants to be I'm sure, but further along than I thought he'd be. Glad to hear Webb is staying positive in the face of what I think most would consider a fairly disastrous run.

A bad tactical race for Webb doesn't show what he may actually be capable of running. Lack of tactical sense is a handicap that has frequently kept Webb from showing what he's capable of doing.

I wouldn't judge what he is capable of doing until he runs a more time trial race or actually runs a race and gets the tactics more or less right. Of course he's got to hope that when he does that it's in a race that counts.

Here's hoping he can put the pieces together before he gets too old.