and most of those guys mentioned earlier were also working full time without a full time professional back up system in place. We are raving on about getting one guy on a level close to the worlds top 30 or so and he is genetically an african... is our system that bad????
13.31 wrote:
and most of those guys mentioned earlier were also working full time without a full time professional back up system in place. We are raving on about getting one guy on a level close to the worlds top 30 or so and he is genetically an african... is our system that bad????
It shows that the system has worked for Farah. He's using the system and is getting results from it. Maybe it'll convince the powers that be to extend the system to other talented Brits. The more people that get the opportunity to focus like Farah, the more success we'll have.
It tells us that back in the day, working life was a lot less stressful and that world class atheltics standards were lower. All of the best atheltes in the work today train full time. Mo is just doing what they do to get the best out of himself.
so what exactly is the system?
take foreign athletes and put them into houses with other foreign athletes where they just run/sleep/eat.
what system wrote:
so what exactly is the system?
take foreign athletes and put them into houses with other foreign athletes where they just run/sleep/eat.
Should be "take athletes eligible to run for Britain and put them into houses with other athletes (British or not, just good) where they just run/sleep/eat."
Farah's Somalian origins are irrelevant. The same system should apply to McCormick, Riley, Thompson, Davies, etc
And Jesus has some wheels too. He won the Milla de Cornella 2 years ago here in Barcelona in a sprint finish against some of the best milers here in Spain.
davidch wrote:your last point - I'm working out a way to go to Ladbrookes and place a canny bet without looking like the saddest idiot savant on the planet but anyway try Jesus Espana in a not-superfast race but with a v quick last 300 where he's always well placed. PB 13.15. It can be done, clean, by white fellas.
so did 'British Athletics' put him in teh house?
Mo has produced a fantastic performance but he has had the best of everything all the way along the line, he has recieved fantastic support, he has been exposed to the top athletes and seen how they train, live, from a young age, his story is an uplifting one, he has stuck at it in the difficult early senior years and has obviously been well looked after by his coach but the questions which should be asked now is why was he the only one out of his age group who is producing, he didn't have it all his own way in the junior ranks by any means, Lee McCash anyone?
There's got to be an athlete-specific judgement call on whether this will suit a runner and if so at what stage/age it will suit them. What might facilitate the breakthrough at age 23 might make the athlete pack in the sport through sheer tedium (2 massages a day, everyday!) at age 17.Just as there are plenty of Brits who've made massive progress in USA colleges while others offered the same deal come back having hated the experience.
If there's an undercurrent that people are concerned about the cost per athlete, anyone can chip into the UKSport website, get the figure for world class programme per sport and divide by number of athletes supported to get a per capita figure. Rents in Teddington don't come so cheap tho sacks of ugali ingredients at the local Tesco probably do.
(apols for personal agenda here) Matt we must compare notes one day, before you get into world cup 2010 sweepstake commitments. The Manchester 10k is 12 August, sub 32 QT, info on UKA and BMC websites. If you are going from London direction with car any chance you could give a lift to a SOuth African clubmate doing the race who's a bit naive on getting about our green and pleasant land. If so we can liaise off the board somehow, Cheers
thommo has recognised that the intense stuff has been hurting him and he has made changes to rectify this! the 50mile a week isnt a boast of how little he is doing, it is a truthfull realisation that he is nowhere near where he needs to be at the moment. he has been using a ski machine to replace runs whilst he comes back from the injury and knows that he must do far more in the future when his body is ready.
Now that he is with John Nuttell is taking a far more professional approach to his running and is not just hammering out session after session as he was in the past. The 50miles quote was a "wow i cant believe im in this shape already - im still being catious after the injury." not "im this good off only 50miles a week."
hes havin a great season all things considered and if he can stay healthy and have a full winter he will be even better next year and start catching MO.
McCash had different qualities, and would have moved up the distances more quickly. However Lee did not have the same character as Mo, and left St Marys so he could have more of a social life. He returned home, started work and stopped running. So I suppose that McCash and Farah show quite clearly that you cannot make an athlete - all you can do is provide the environment that they can flourish in and the athlete has to do the rest.
McCash was (and probably still is) talented and tough, but he wasnt able to apply himself in the way that Mo did and does.
David: Send me an e-mail:
mattnorminton at hotmail.com
Mo's just gone to fourth on the UK all-time list for 3k
1 Korir Shadrack KEN 7:37.50
2 Ebuya Joseph KEN 7:37.65
3 Farah Mohammed GBR 7:38.15
4 Hierro Iván ESP 7:40.39
5 Limo Benjamin KEN 7:42.64
6 Bett Mark KEN 7:59.04
7 Petrovic Slavko CRO 8:07.17
Bett Charles Kiplangat KEN DNF
Kipsang Churchill KEN DNF
Bashir Daham Najim QAT DNS
Please post the list. Who is ahead of him now?
Steve Jones? Steve Cram? Seb Coe? David Moorcroft? David Bedford?
Probaly 3 of the above!
I seen Farahs run, very impressed. Hes took chunks off his times this year so he sure to carry on improving next year. Close to 7:30!
3000 METRES
1. 7:32.79 Dave Moorcroft
2. 7:35.1 Brendan Foster
3. 7:36.40 John Nuttall
4. 7:38 Mo
5. 7:39.55 Rob Denmark
6. 7:40.4 Nick Rose
7. 7:40.43 Jack Buckner
8. 7:40.94 Eamonn Martin
9. 7:41.3 Steve Ovett
10.7:41.79 Gary Staines
Give Mo a few years and he will get that record!
Brilliant time. He has made great progress this year.Aparting from his change of lifestyle what changes to training has he made? How many track or speed sessions, tempo runs per week and does anyone know examples of his training week?
Mo is a shining example and an inspiration and it would be great to compare his work with McCormick's and Thommos.
All 3 coaches are approachable and were at the last UKA Endurance seminar at Stratford upon Avon. Dunn gave a great talk on his approach and training.
Usually UKA and BMC try to bring in foreign coaches to headline that seminar but perhaps a domestic panel might appeal more ?
Mo is da man!!!!!