Biggest Disappointments in Professional Running History

Kind of sad that Jeremy Wariner fell off from dominant world class @ the age of 26.

Smoothest runner evah

There have no been no disappointments at all. Just things that happened.

(Those handful of seconds that robbed Bekeke of the Marathon worl records)

X 2

Almost forgot Chris Solinsky, if only he had left the dog at home that day. Talk about butterfly effect.

The day when Aouita did a stupid error against Cram 1985 (Meeting Nice).

Doesn’t have access to burritos apparently.

Shalane, post-retirement

Nope, just a coach who was found highly likely to have violated anti-doping protocols while at NOP. Spare us with the moral high ground

Ben True never making an Olympic team despite being so mf close numerous times

Drew Hunter. Should have gone to Oregon.

He got unlucky with his ankle injury last year + covid this year, but he finally got back to PR shape a couple weeks ago. I think he'll break 13 next year, but it's hard to say if he'll get to Fisher's level just because of how good Fisher has gotten.

If Kipchoge were torturing his body, he would have nothing like this longevity. It is rather because he maintains a remarkably consistent training program that he can handle and is exceptionally disciplined off the track that he has been the best marathoner in the world for longer than anyone in my memory. He doesn't go for crazy workouts. He knows what works for him and sticks to that.

Andrew Wheating, from an American context, was the most disappointing runner of the last thirty years. This is a guy with a mammoth kick who ran multiple NCAA titles and 3:30 in his first European 1500m race the year he graduated from Oregon. The idea that he could challenge the world record was by no means pie in the sky, yet he never came close to 3:30 again.

Shacarri. Thought she was it.

After nationals this year, I was feeling the same way. He'd had some good races but hadn't put it together for a whole outdoor season in years. He finally looked good after the 5k title in December and a few good indoor races, but he went out in the heats in Eugene. Then he ran 3:54 and then 3:34! Now I think he may end up being a really good story: A top high schooler who struggled for years under a lot of pressure, but persisted and became world class.

When Galen Rupp was chasing the AR in the 10k and was switching up locations between OR and Stanford dues to weather. Salazar wanted "perfected" conditions.... It was weeks long build up the included a 5k tune up in Berkeley of all places..... Then he goes out there and gets absolutely TROUNCED by Chris Solinsky who was a near nobody and ended up breaking 27. Still love that.... and the call made on flotrack. look it up, well worth the watch

I'm confused. Where was the disappointment?

Easy, the 100m/marathon double gold. 100m/200m? Yawn. 5k/10k? Also yawn. If the races are too close in distance a double doesn't impress me. Even the 10k and marathon are too close

And I mean at the same games.

Bolt faking his injury in the 2017 World Championships 4x100