Fan Fiction wrote:
Either way, finishing a second behind Bekele is a victory for True.
Finishing in the top 3 Americans is a victory for True.
Fan Fiction wrote:
Either way, finishing a second behind Bekele is a victory for True.
Finishing in the top 3 Americans is a victory for True.
#freesalazar wrote:
41 years ago, a 22 year old college senior won NYC in 2:09:41 in his debut.
Short course.
Probably blood-doping, too.
SDSU Aztec wrote:
No, it's not time for Fisher to move up to the marathon. Does the event really have more money and prestige? With all the Kenyans, he would be looking at top 5 finishes in the U.S. marathon and the world majors are too fast. If he wanted to, there's no difference in training so he could run 1-2 per year without leaving the track.
Oh, there's very much more prestige in the marathon in the U.S. than in the 10,000 meters.
Millions of hobby joggers do marathons and get so pumped about the sport. They look up (they know the names of!) to Deena, Meb, Kara Goucher, Shalane, Ryan Hall, Sara Hall, Galen Rupp (despite his best efforts to not be famous), Molly Seidel...hell, Molly Huddle (and many didn't know who she was when she was just on the track).
The list would be longer except...not enough people move up to the marathon!
Honestly, if you're a Grant Fisher and you start doing one major a year (be it Chicago or Boston or NYC, though I'd only recommend the latter after he's blasted a 2:07 on a fast course, thus becoming a U.S. running legend), there is so much freaking upside. Come in 3rd at Boston, or 2nd, and BAM! Look at Des; she won a crazy Boston Marathon in like the slowest time in ages and is now a freaking legend.
But our guys just keep grinding it out on the track way too long, Olympic cycle after Olympic cycle.
Case in point -- I'd posit the average American hubby jogger knows Jared Ward more than they know Fisher. Ward, who came in 6th in Rio Marathon vs Fisher, who came in 5th at the Tokyo 10,000.
And with this name recognition there is both prestige and $$$$$
radleracb wrote:
SDSU Aztec wrote:
No, it's not time for Fisher to move up to the marathon. Does the event really have more money and prestige? With all the Kenyans, he would be looking at top 5 finishes in the U.S. marathon and the world majors are too fast. If he wanted to, there's no difference in training so he could run 1-2 per year without leaving the track.
Oh, there's very much more prestige in the marathon in the U.S. than in the 10,000 meters.
Millions of hobby joggers do marathons and get so pumped about the sport. They look up (they know the names of!) to Deena, Meb, Kara Goucher, Shalane, Ryan Hall, Sara Hall, Galen Rupp (despite his best efforts to not be famous), Molly Seidel...hell, Molly Huddle (and many didn't know who she was when she was just on the track).
The list would be longer except...not enough people move up to the marathon!
Honestly, if you're a Grant Fisher and you start doing one major a year (be it Chicago or Boston or NYC, though I'd only recommend the latter after he's blasted a 2:07 on a fast course, thus becoming a U.S. running legend), there is so much freaking upside. Come in 3rd at Boston, or 2nd, and BAM! Look at Des; she won a crazy Boston Marathon in like the slowest time in ages and is now a freaking legend.
But our guys just keep grinding it out on the track way too long, Olympic cycle after Olympic cycle.
Case in point -- I'd posit the average American hubby jogger knows Jared Ward more than they know Fisher. Ward, who came in 6th in Rio Marathon vs Fisher, who came in 5th at the Tokyo 10,000.
And with this name recognition there is both prestige and $$$$$
Idk about the last point of Ward vs. Fisher but I agree with this. Track exists in a small bubble. The masses participate in road marathons, that's where all the prestige and $ is. If you want to get good at the marathon, you have to have more guys going for it in their prime. That's what Japan does, and while they sacrifice track pedigree they're able to do much better the the U.S. in the marathon, where all the prestige lies.
I agree that marathons have far more prestige than track events (especially the 5k and 10k). The big ones are in the country's biggest media markets. They get put on (inter)national TV. The average American expects the top runners to be Kenyan or Ethiopian, but will he super impressed/inspired if it's an American. And then if you happen to win in a fluke, you wind up on Colbert or something and can basically spend the rest of your life milking your big day on the motivational speaking tour and showing up at random road races around the country (plus free pasta dinners).
Basically, average people do road races. They don't do track meets
So what-- Bekele still GOAT--what more does he have to prove to people--that his is the Energizer Bunny?
Actually the Duel in the Sun in 1982 he had with Dick Beardsley was probably the fastest legit marathon he ever ran though Boston would never count as a WR anyway.
radleracb wrote:
SDSU Aztec wrote:
No, it's not time for Fisher to move up to the marathon. Does the event really have more money and prestige? With all the Kenyans, he would be looking at top 5 finishes in the U.S. marathon and the world majors are too fast. If he wanted to, there's no difference in training so he could run 1-2 per year without leaving the track.
Oh, there's very much more prestige in the marathon in the U.S. than in the 10,000 meters.
Millions of hobby joggers do marathons and get so pumped about the sport. They look up (they know the names of!) to Deena, Meb, Kara Goucher, Shalane, Ryan Hall, Sara Hall, Galen Rupp (despite his best efforts to not be famous), Molly Seidel...hell, Molly Huddle (and many didn't know who she was when she was just on the track).
The list would be longer except...not enough people move up to the marathon!
Honestly, if you're a Grant Fisher and you start doing one major a year (be it Chicago or Boston or NYC, though I'd only recommend the latter after he's blasted a 2:07 on a fast course, thus becoming a U.S. running legend), there is so much freaking upside. Come in 3rd at Boston, or 2nd, and BAM! Look at Des; she won a crazy Boston Marathon in like the slowest time in ages and is now a freaking legend.
But our guys just keep grinding it out on the track way too long, Olympic cycle after Olympic cycle.
Case in point -- I'd posit the average American hubby jogger knows Jared Ward more than they know Fisher. Ward, who came in 6th in Rio Marathon vs Fisher, who came in 5th at the Tokyo 10,000.
And with this name recognition there is both prestige and $$$$$
Couldn't agree more. We need to abolish the idea that longer, endurance events is where athletes go to retire. This mentality is also rampant within triathlon, with ITU athletes progressing to long course events as they get older and "lose their top-end speed." Why not train long course/marathon in younger athletes and have them specialize earlier, while they're still in their prime? Few do this, but I can think of some young 20 somethings who got right to it and had success.
That said, longer events are no doubt more forgiving to us older folk.
He's hot. I've had a crush on him forever.
I think True did a great effort and I also think this preps were good, but not at all enough to show his potential. He has just transitioned to marathon since august after a failed olympic qualification and hip problems during the spring. I do not know True's strength, but would not be suprised he can improve this a lot.
Lars Sqweebles wrote:
True runs a smart race finishing a second behind fading Bekele
Noah Droddy self implodes
Seidel runs well, and go Annie Frisbie!!!
Had Ben True ran one second behind Bekele in the 2:03...2:04...2:05...2:06 range...hell I'll give you a 2:08 range, yeah significant. At 2:12 ??? a worn out, burnt our Bekele after running 2:06 something a few weeks ago? Insignificant. I can tell you get aroused over anything.