Webb wins in 14:06ish

The Dude,

As per your request, I am responding here to your initial statement.

Since you didn't exactly either praise him or rip him, I can't really comment on your sort of non-comment. You say he looked relaxed - that's good at least for some first-hand account of the race, so thanks for that.

I'll just have to say that 14:06 for someone who isn't a 5,000 runner when he's just rounding into shape isn't bad. I think all the Webb bashing is silly.

A little perspective.

Hopefully everyone on this board understands the cumulative effect of training. Its not just what an athlete does this week or even this month that determines fitness; its what he has done in the last twelve months. If I run 30M/wk for 51 weeks then run 100M/wk, I can say I'm running 100M/wk. But am I as fit as someone that has been running 100M/wk for the other 51 weeks? Of course not. Given that consider Webbs last 12 months.

A year ago he was just coming off an Achilles injury and in the pool. He was in a differen system to boot. He runs a mediocre (for him) outdoor, then bags it, goes pro and takes the summer off (by the accounts I have seen). He then starts back up from scratch this fall. Even with that, he still runs an indoor mile PR.

Look, I'm not praising or bashing him or the way he trains. I'm just looking at the big picture, and this isn't someone I would expect to be tearing up the track right now. My prediction is that he improves this summer, maybe runs some "B" races in Europe (at least he said he was going), maybe PR's, maybe doesn't, but works on getting consistent and getting experience. I don't pick him to make the Worlds team, but I'll hardly be stunned if he does. However, come September, he is going to be light years ahead of where he was this past September, and next year is the year I would expect to see him begin to flirt with a huge breakthrough.

One final thought. The most reliable indicator of talent is the RATE of improvement. Ryun went from a non-runner to sub-four in, what two years or so? Shortly after Webb ran 3:53, I had chance to ask Steve Scott how long it was from the time he ran 4:06 (Webb's soph time) until he ran 3:53. Two years, he said. That's the same improvement rate as Webb. I don't know if he'll ever run 3:47 or never PR again, but I'm not going to get carried away one way or the other with what he does this year.

I agree with the above post. He was out with injuries a year ago. I think by Olympic time next summer is when we can be more critical.

Apparently the people on this board have never heard of a controlled workout. A workout does not automatically mean that he went all-out. Now if he runs like crap during the REAL track season this summer, then you guys can start ripping on him (even though that still is destructive and doesn't help anything). Until then, how about a little support for someone who is actually doing something to try to improve American T&F.

webb did look very controlled and strong throughout and finished relatively good. not really an explosive kick but enough to win. i was curious about why he didn't take a lap or two though. i was also wondering what the point of the race was since it wasn't to run fast but when a surge was made, he covered it quickly. was the purpose just to win? i don't see where the anger and criticism of him comes from, since he's really just trusting his coach and doing what he's been told. any criticism should go to his coach. wetmore gets clobbered all the time for anything regarding his athletes. it's part of a coach's job. so what's going on, coach raczko (sp?)?

Here's my problem with everyone on this board who bashes Webb. During indoor everyone states how poor Webb's tactics are. They clearly were awefull and they should be questioned. He goes straight to the front on some races and gets out kicked, then put himself farther back and can't make up the ground. Now in this race he runs a smart race of sitting with the leaders, a strategy he should of followed in the 15000 at NCAA's by the way, and wins and people still aren't satisfied. Why does Webb need to take the lead for a lap or two? He's done that before, we've all seen it. He's never really just sat on anyone till the end of a race, he does it this time and it works.

Here is a little food for thought for all of those people who are making the excuse that he ran the race as a "workout" Quit making excuses for a bad race. 14:06 is not anywhere good for a miler with Webb's credentials. If he can place in the top 15 in the nation for a NCAA 10k he should be able to run under 14min no matter what. I am sure if he was intended to do a workout then he would have done that instead of a race. Look at Lassiter for example he is one of america's top milers and he has run 13:30 or so for 5k. Being a 800/1500 runner is no excuse for a 14:06 from an "elite" runner. If people keep condoning slow races just to show "support" then america wil stay on the B level compared to the rest of the world.

So u want him to run like Lassiter. Where's he at, what's he doing? A whole lot of nothing. Pacing other runners in a team meet. Yeah, that doesn't put the US at a B level. Not to mention the key to your statement was "has run". He has run it, but he's not running it now.

It's the first meet of the season and he's peaking for September. If he would of ran hard u people would be saying he's peaking too early. No one in the race was about to go sub 14:00, much less 13:40, bottom line. This meet, while a big early meet, isn't anything major, he has no reason to run all out, except to silent all u skeptics and I'm pretty sure he's not up all night caring what u guys think.

And to anyone who's wondering why he ran a 5k, what the heck? You people during indoor were asking why he was running 800's and 1000's now he does what u want and your are still not satisfied. All u people are rediculous and never happy. Wait till nationals, then u people can talk, but the bottom line is he won this race and now it's time to move on to the next one.

Okay, let's establish the simple facts of this race: Webb ran in control, Seaton was never a factor, a quality Georgetown runner kicked out of third place and tried to chase down Webb with 300 to go, Webb responded at the end, coasting in at perhaps third gear for him.

The fact is the guy ran a race. He ran to win. He won. I am not a big Alan Webb fan, and I do perhaps agree with a few of the posts that say he should have led for at least awhile. But the fact is that it's March. This is time for college runners like me who are just trying to get the 14:25 regional qualifier, not for the Ritzs, Sages, and Torres-types, and especially not for someone who has the burden of spurning the NCAA level for big money.

I realize that to a great many people Webb is the prototypical American runner screw-up (mainly because I held that view for a great while). He took the lure of big money, then runs against sub-par compeition (I mean, we all love Matt Ruhl, but...), and chokes in the big meets. But the fact is he has been choking, and every now and then you need to just get the feeling of a win in, and get some quality out of it too. Webb put himself in the race, stayed in the pack, followed the moves, and ultimately won. World Championship 1500s have been won in times over 3:45 at the height of the European season, so why complain about a 14:06 5K at the end of March in the middle of a wet North Carolina evening?

Most runners ready for a 13:40 type of 5K are not going to do it when everyone else is running 14:10.

If a prime Ritz was in THAT race, he would have gone no faster than 13:40's....even though he would be ready for the 13:20's.

What was Kennedy's fastest time in the slower U.S. type of 5K's?? A lot slower than in the faster European 5K's.

When all of the racers are hitting 14:10's and 14:20's, then winning in 14:06 is fine.

hey, "The Dude" - I think it's really cool how you refer to yourself as "The Dude." It makes you seem so cool and important.

Plus it is so Big Lebowski-ish!

Sudden Sam,

The Dude appreciates your compliments. For your efforts, The Dude will now refer to you at The Dude's Bitch. The Dude's Bitch can not counter The Dude's logic so The Dude's Bitch instead decided to attack The Dude's style. The Dude's Bitch is appropiately named.

Going mobile,

The Dude wonders why you attack The Dude. You stole your name from the B-Side of a The Who album. The Dude once heard a saying about people who live in glass houses throwing rock and roll. The Dude is much sharper than you believe.

With deepest respect,

His Most Livid Dudeness

I was in the race, and the conditions were, in fact, very good. It was a little muggy, but the temperature was good. Fast times could still have been run.

TTC

Yea it wouldn't have been a big deal if he lead from the gun, and only ran 1406. But he never lead, he was cherry pickin, I'm not knocking him, I'm just saying I don't think it was much of a workout. He never lead, it really looked like he was just trying to get some confidence for the future and get back to winning which is fine. He was very relaxed, but it looked weird when he sat back on a bunch of college kids and then kicked past them with ease. When I saw what kind of race he was running I just wanted to cheer for any one but him. If the race was just to get his head back in it, then he did a great job. If it was for a workout, it was an ok job, but he should have lead. He never did any of the work, never threw in surges, never did anything but sit and kick with 300m to go. It was a decent workout, didn't seem like there was a lot of effort, so not a great workout.

Maybe he just wanted to get back that winning attitude b/c he hasnt been winning any of the past few races he has run. If this is so, I think an easy win like this can give him back the confidence he was lacking.

How can a win against guys who probably won't even MAKE the NCAA meet be a confidence booster for someone who wants to take on Hicham and Bernard?

M

Everyone,

The Dude is a loser. The Dude is slow, stupid and ugly.

In short, The Dude sucks.

With deepest respect,

His Most Stupid Dudeness

The Dude imposter,

You can impersonate The Dude's Name but you can not impersonate The Dude. You have neither raced The Dude, seen The Dude, or mentally challenged The Dude. Therefore, you can not comment officially on thses aspects of The Dude. Where is the love for The Dude? (Perhaps, you are The Dude's Bitch again.) Hate The Dude all you want but you have not challenged The Dude's assertion about Webb's race because The Dude was there and has aptly relayed The Dude's observations. The Dude is always honest.

Deeply concerned and bothered,

His Most Astute Dudeness