Hobbs Kessler should decommit from NAU

foe sho wrote:

SDSU Aztec wrote:

Kessler ran XC in HS and things seemed to work out for him. Do people think that Smith is too stupid to have Kessler run shorter intervals during track season? A continuation of whatever Hobbs is doing right now would be perfect.

Please do not come in here and act like XC in high school and XC in college are even remotely close to the same thing.

Steve Scott ran XC when he was at Irvine and continued to do so during his pro career and even ran road races. Ryun and Wottle also ran NCAA XC.

You're saying that Kessler should not run any races for 5-6 months? Why do you believe an XC season would be detrimental? He could run whatever mpw that Smith would believe to be appropriate.

Webb ran xc in college and won regionals. His best season, 2007, came after training to run 10000m in 2006, the year he ran 27:34, beating Ritz early on. This would be a big change. The altitude wouldn't hurt. I'm not sure that a program that focuses on 5000m/10000m and xc is his best fit, though. Nick Willis trains big miles but this is more of a speed-focused miler so far. He will run a very, very good 5000m in time, with that 8:39 closing in 55 and this indicating mid 8:20s for 2M in a pro race. But I'd think Oregon would be a better fit in terms of training.

In this discussion has anyone considered that his first live is rock climbing and not running? The flagstaff area is a mecca for outdoorsy types. A lot of rocks to climb, great trails for hiking and running, 100” of snow in the winter. Perhaps all of that went into his decision making process.

Calvin and Hobbs wrote:

I am counting on it. 3:51 outdoor and runs in the trials and goes pro.

Damn Calvin.... nice call buddy

Cocoa wrote:

He is a speed based kid, running 30-50mpw rn. Warhurst is heavy on hills and intervals. This is the complete opposite approach from Smith and NAU (not saying Smith is a bad coach, he is excellent for aerobic monsters). I worry he will go there and crumble under that mileage and lack of intensity.

If he PR’s again this indoor or outdoor seasons and runs in the 3:55-3:56 range, I’d rather see him turn pro and continue to work with Willis and Warhurst. Take classes and get your degree, but take control of your own running!!

Well this aged extremely well

SDSU Aztec wrote:

foe sho wrote:

Please do not come in here and act like XC in high school and XC in college are even remotely close to the same thing.

Steve Scott ran XC when he was at Irvine and continued to do so during his pro career and even ran road races. Ryun and Wottle also ran NCAA XC.

You're saying that Kessler should not run any races for 5-6 months? Why do you believe an XC season would be detrimental? He could run whatever mpw that Smith would believe to be appropriate.

1. Never said that.

2. Running in the NCAA is a waste of time completely. If he wants to run XC at worlds like Jakob then sure.

3. Should stay with Warhurst.

let him do what he wants wrote:

In this discussion has anyone considered that his first live is rock climbing and not running? The flagstaff area is a mecca for outdoorsy types. A lot of rocks to climb, great trails for hiking and running, 100” of snow in the winter. Perhaps all of that went into his decision making process.

Yeah ok but at some point one has to realize that if you have the potential to be the best American ever at mid-d running, you gotta make some sacrifices. I love basketball, but when my college coach told me no more basketball, I decided to sacrifice to make myself the best runner I could be since my talents were in running.

foe sho wrote:

SDSU Aztec wrote:

Steve Scott ran XC when he was at Irvine and continued to do so during his pro career and even ran road races. Ryun and Wottle also ran NCAA XC.

You're saying that Kessler should not run any races for 5-6 months? Why do you believe an XC season would be detrimental? He could run whatever mpw that Smith would believe to be appropriate.

1. Never said that.

2. Running in the NCAA is a waste of time completely. If he wants to run XC at worlds like Jakob then sure.

3. Should stay with Warhurst.

It's his decision, not yours and he's likely to be just as good either way. I suppose it comes down to whether he wants to cash out now or risk having a meh college career and then maybe getting a smaller contract.

If he’s a climber he probably enjoys the mountain scene. Which means the best options are Colorado and NAU. It will be interesting to see if Smith lets Warhurst have an “advisor” role. Kinda like when Rupp ran for Oregon but was really coached privately by Salazar.

Ideally September through November he builds a base by running XC at NAU. That team atmosphere will be a lot of fun and the altitude huge. Then December - August Warhurst and Smith work together to get him on world teams.

NAU could care less about team scores in track. That would be more ideal then say Oregon who would want to grind points out of him in indoor and outdoor when his focus should be making US Teams.

Did you mean that they could not care less?

English is the best wrote:

Did you mean that they could not care less?

"Could care less" is the popularly accepted usage though the meaning is "could [not] care less." A lot of phrases are like this like "shove it..." You're being pedantic.

It is? Nobody says that or writes it where I am from. I confuses me when I see it on Letsrun because I don't see it anywhere else.

That's language for you.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/could-couldnt-care-less

Sham 69 wrote:

I think that he just had a lucky race. Maybe he breaks 4 again, but it's going to be a year or two before he dips under 3:55. It was just a fluke IMO.

Oh No! Sham!

Absolute no brainer to stick with Warhurst and his pro training partners and to go pro if someone is offering a significant contract.

The last thing he needs to do is go pound miles at NAU for XC. We are talking an untapped generational mid-distance talent being trained by a coach with significant success in that area.