Posters, with all due respect. Do any of you, especially Alan, realize how difficult running a 2:30 marathon is? Why would anyone disrespect someone who runs a 2:30 marathon by calling them a 'hobby jogger'? I get the concept of how competitive WCAP, that they want and desire Olympic caliber athletes but.... There are competitive athletes who cannot run a 1:15:00 half-marathon, let alone two-back to back half's. If someone calls a runner a 'hobby jogger' (not saying you Alan as I am sure you have run much faster considering your comment) but, in general, for conversation sake, and cannot run 1:15 for the half or better what right do that person have to call an athlete who can throw down a 2:30:00 marathon a 'hobby' minded athlete?
WCAP indeed wants world-class athletes. 100% correct. A 2:30 marathon is not world-class but is extremely fast and as a coach myself, tells me a LOT. Very few runners can maintain that kind of pace and much can be done with an athlete with that capability, a 2:30ish marathon is dangerous. A sub 2:20 and a 2:30 marathon are light years a part, although I went 2:19, 11 minutes faster than 2:30, the standards at WCAP SHOULD be sky high. If a 2:30 is a 'hobby jogger' what is sub 2:20? 'recreational runner'? Big, BIG difference between the two times and 2:15:00 or better is another level up. Try running 2:30 first for yourself and see how difficult that is to put up before determing who is in it for a hobby or not. I have a friend in the military who ran 2:31:54 for the marathon last year who, like me, works and trains full-time in the Army. One of our best and is the Guam National record holder for the distance. To me, having run under 2:20 I have enormous respect for anyone who can run a 2:31, hardly 'hobby jogger'. It is an extremely respectable time that very few men and women run each year. The problem is we have too many pro runner groupies who are constantly salivating over the Paul Tergats, Kenny Bekele and Mo Farah's of the world forgeting those with the willingness to sacrifice to get better. You get gold by digging, sifting through the dirt, takes effort. Anyone who has the capability and desire can get to WCAP but I can assure you, if you don't live and breathe it, forget about it, respectfully.
We had Soldiers there who did not take their opportunity seriously enough doing stupid things like DUI's and other antics like any other unit. I witnessed Soldiers getting booted from the unit as they should. Any Soldier in the line units at Fort Carson would have done anything to have been a part of WCAP. I took what I had there very, very seriously and grant it I never had the type of talent and pedigree as many of past WCAPers or current crop but anyone in that unit will know, especially those who trained with me, can attest that I was very serious and wasn't afraid of the work. I got my a** kicked week in, week out by guys like Cheseret, Browne and Mickowski and I pushed them as well, all of which simply had better leg speed. I was that 'hobby jogger', the guy that supposedly didn't belong. If you have not at least broken 2:30 for the marathon, what right do you have to call someone a 'hobby jogger' that has the guts to seek out what will, most certainly, be required of them at WCAP?
Be wary of the 2:30 marathoner 'hobby joggers' as this class of marathoner has incredible potential, are dangerous and that is what I think the WCAP needs to keep in mind. Don't just rule these folks out. You give them a solid 3 years of uninterrupted training, allow them to take their licks in training and goof up some races along the way and they hit a home run somewhere, preferably at the Trials, Games or World Championships, it is worth it. One of the hardest workers and most talented athletes I have ever trained with was CPT Kenny Foster who came in with a 2:29 mid PR and left with a 2:19:49. If you would have saw what I saw from that so-called 'hobby jogger' you or anyone else would think twice calling them in it for a hobby. That dude was/is hungry and he also improved his half to 1:05 while there, respectfully.
He and I are proof that giving Soldier-athletes with some form of ability with even more heart and determination, can make jumps. Make no mistake about it, WCAP is very stringent unit as it should be. I know Soldiers who should have been there who were far better than me and never got the opportunity that I had so while I was there I worked as hard as I could and Dan, Cheseret, Foster, Harrison, John Mickowski (sub 4 min miler), Chirlee, all whom I spent a great deal of time training with, among others can attest to my work ethic. I failed several times but unless any of you are willing to fail than don't bother getting in the war. I 100% agree WCAP should have the highest of standards. The marathon standard JUST to get a look from them back when I was there was 2:22:00 or faster. Anyone who has done that will tell you, it takes more than being in a 'hobby' mindset to run that kind of time. You had best want it, sub 2:15:00 is now the requirement, a vast difference from 2:22 or sub 2:20.
I'd never call an athlete a 'hobby jogger'. You had best have an insane amount of guts and work ethic to even try to break 2:20, sub 2:15 requires even more capability. I know of less than 10 who have run under 2:20 at WCAP and only 3 have gone 2:15:00 or better for the marathon distance. Kenyan or America-born, respectfully.
None of us had a full three years to truly develop but what we did have was an opportunity and we made some big improvements once we were taken from our regular support and line unit duties and given the chance to train full-time. We are Soldier's First. I have trained extensively with Dan and the guy is a complete work horse. He was extremely competitive while at West Point and far better than I ever was. 2:11:35 to my 2:19:35, two-time Olympian. No one pushed me as hard as he did.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I acknowledge you need some genetic talent to run a sub 2:15:00 or under 2:20:00 but I respect far more the athlete willing to put in the work, regardless of ability level who has some guts.
Nathan