Dear Hansons PLEASE take over Marathon Development for USA

Why the bashing of Chad Johnson? I don't think that he or the Hansons have predicted he will run sub 2:18 in the Detroit Marathon. I think that it is pretty cool that he still enjoys running in his twilight years. If it is still fun and his sponsors still are willing to support him, what is the harm.

If there is some interview where the Hansons or Chad predict a sub 2:15, then I agree with you. Otherwise, I don't get it.

they didn't send their top marathoners

what does it mean to be a productive member of a destructive society?

I stated that Chad Johnson was using the Crim 10-mile as a tempo run as part of his marathon training. Not sure what's so unusual or wrong about him doing that.

And I made no prediction about what Chad would actually run in the marathon; only that whatever he does, you or

others like you will still complain about it.

I stand by both assertions.

By the way, 2:15 to 2:17 will put Chad in the hunt to win Detroit. I hope he does.

No sir, I'm not complaining about what he runs. I'm calling a spade a spade, get it? As far as using the Crim for a tempo run.......see my easy to follow reasoning in the first part of my post. Clint was going for the record last year, remember. He was no where near that pace coming out of the tunnel which isn't even half way, I was there! He was literally throwing his hands up to get the post tunnel crowd going and he was not in first place and way off his prediction of going for the record. His words in the Free Press, not mine.

Now Chad is going for 2:15 to 2:17. At the Freep on that course, Chad will NOT break 2:17, that's a fact pal. He's a nice guy, I've seen him at the Lake Orion store many times. It's not personal, it's a fact that unfortunately, he's not that good, or should I say good enough to run 2:15 on that course. I've run it, up the bridge and down the bridge. Down the tunnel and up the tunnel. It is not the toughest course in the world, but it's not the easiest either. I've run it 4 times and did not get under 2:30 once, but I did it in Columbus on my first try there, believe it or not. Like I said, Chad is not running 2:15 on that course, no way! I'll be the first person to post and eat crow at the same time if I'm wrong, but I don't think that'll happen. If you do, fine, it's your opinion and that's your right. I'm not bashing him, I'm just being realistic, there's a difference.

Seems to me a lot of these guys are running marathons...just not as fast as they could be. As far as not being worthwhile, I would rather be the fourth ranked US marathoner than the 35th ranked 10,000 runner. Hansons and McMillan together should be able to produce 20 sub 2:16 guys. Maybe Zap, OTC, Indiana Elite, Asics Aggies, Strands etc. focus on the track but these 29 minute guys are obviously training hard. Once upon a time they would just add a long run to their training, toe the line and run a good time...like the UCLA kid I mentioned in my original post did in '86. Maybe we're just making the training too complicated?

what % of hansons athletes get the A standard annually?

how many of those qualify for team USA?

how many of olympic/world medals has hansons managed to bring home?

lets face it, the amazing parts about hansons aren't their training techniques or support structure. hansons recruits collegiate athletes who are workhorses. they're tough and committed to the sport, but they're the 99.9% of us who need something to fall back on. these athletes garner a couple all-american honors in college and show steady progress through their careers, so hansons provides accomodations for the runners to continue their progress for a few more years. hansons are an extension of an upward trend, not a source of it.

sadly, the entire hanson's program is depressingly reminiscent of a restaurant staffed by middle-aged waiters waiting for their big break on broadway. hansons is torturously dragging on the onset of reality for their athletes, i just hope they studied in college

I agree with a lot of what you say. The truth, which is obvious to most, is that Brooks is there because of the volume of runners which in turn gives them advertising. All of those runners show up and you see all of those singlets. They finish grouped together or very close and spectators and announcer say here come a bunch of Hanson runners. Examples are the Houston Half, Chicago, among others. It's advertising. Believe me, if they cut their team down drastically, so would Brooks.

If Desi and Brian were mainly the only 2 runners on the team, with maybe 2 or 3 others at most, there would be no support from Brooks, or very, very little. Brian is as good as gone, yes I know that for a fact. If his house sold tomorrow, he'd be gone shortly after. Michigan is a very, very hard place to sell a house right now without taking a HUGE hit.

God Bless him for doing what he's done for the Hanson brothers. He really put them on the map. He could have gone elsewhere, but he chose Kevin and Keith from the beginning and he chose to stay. He could have left in 04', his 20k time really opened some eyes. Brian is smart, he's going to dental school and will do well.

20/20 is right and his or her post was spot on accurate and well put. I too hope they studied in college. Without a Brian Sell, they will have no one but a bunch of Kyle's (gone) or Chad's (soon), and that doesn't cut it. Yeah, they deserved a chance and I for one am glad they HAD their chance, BUT with years and years of training, they couldn't cut it. Kyle has argued with posters in the past, but they were actually right. Sad, but true. Who does really well in the long run, 2 guys do. I don't begrudge them at all, but my statement is still true.

This happens everytime something positive happens with the Hansens. The tired old argument that Kyle sucks and that he should leave. Now that he has, the bitter old fools still try to beat on him. Clint is useless and Chad should retire. Even though both of them are still having fun.

The other argument is that once Sell leaves that the Hansens will crumble to the ground. Well it looks like Desiree proved that wrong already.

I will be willing to bet dollars to donuts that a decade from now the Hansens will still be around and that they will have additional athletes that were overlooked by NIKE and ASICS, suprising everyone.

Hansens continue to make the sport exciting.

sure, we believe ya, not!!!!! wrote:

I've run it 4 times and did not get under 2:30 once,

Very funny. So you are not as good as Davila. I knew it.

Very funny, but I'm better than you. If you could read you see that I did break it, in Columbus. Education and reading "comprehension" can be your friend, if you use it properly.

So you ran 2:29.xx on your fifth attempt. Why didn't you just give up, do something better with your time, use all that knowledge and reading comprehension to contribute in a meaningful way? Probably because you were having fun, enjoying life; the benefits of training both physically and mentally. Even though I think you're being quite an idiot in your posts, I don't doubt your capacity to do those things.

The H-B runners that you mention are doing the same thing. None of them have come out and said they're going to break world records or anything of the sort. However, they are, day by day, challenging themselves to perform at the best of their abilities, and displaying incredible excellence and dedication. This, more than anything is probably why Brooks recognizes the value inherent in this group, the excitement they foster, and the respect they (outside of the letsrun crowd) garner.

Also, if you had thought about it for about 3 seconds more before you posted, you would have realized that Chad's girlfriend was running the 10 mile championships that same morning, and as he most likely had a workout to get in, jumping in the race for a tempo run made perfect sense, so he could be there for her race as well.

No go do some more running, and less posting.

we believe ya, not!!!!! wrote:

Very funny, but I'm better than you. If you could read you see that I did break it, in Columbus. Education and reading "comprehension" can be your friend, if you use it properly.[/quote]

Ummm.....Mr. Reasonable, I don't think the poster or anyone on this thread said that any Hanson runner said or implied they're going to break world records. Who said that anywhere on this entire thread? Chad's girlfriend Melissa running 57 minutes has nothing to do with Chad running 50. Are you saying he could have run 48, but just backed off? It's a race! Who's the idiot now?

I don't think there is anything idiotic about anyone's post on this entire thread, just a difference of opinions which is what message boards are all about. Why are you right? At least 3 posts that were not for the Hanson program were "well thought out" with logic and no flaming or kid like remarks. I've seen rude vindictive comments before, many times, but those were tame. If your wife or girlfriend isn't giving you a happy ending, don't blame the OP or anyone else on this thread. Most of what they say is true. What do you think, the Hansons are underrated?

Liz

If we don't value the marathon in the US then why do we have all of these training groups? I'm not asking why we don't have 2:04 - 2:05 guys, that's a different question. 49 guys running 29 minutes or better should equate to more than 14 guys running sub 2:20. These guys are obviously training and have better than average talent so I wonder why we aren't getting better results?[/quote]

Earlier it was stated 49 sub 29 10K performances and 14 sub 2:20 marathon performances (they are equivalent on the iaaf tables). Is it performances, or actual people as stated here in this post? If it is indeed performances, then 49 vs. 14 isn't much of a discrepancy as someone is much more likely to run many more 10K's than marathons in one calendar year. [quote]Gard wrote:

If we don't value the marathon in the US then why do we have all of these training groups? I'm not asking why we don't have 2:04 - 2:05 guys, that's a different question. 49 guys running 29 minutes or better should equate to more than 14 guys running sub 2:20. These guys are obviously training and have better than average talent so I wonder why we aren't getting better results?[/quote]

Earlier it was stated 49 sub 29 10K performances and 14 sub 2:20 marathon performances (they are equivalent on the iaaf tables). Is it performances, or actual people as stated here in this post? If it is indeed performances, then 49 vs. 14 isn't much of a discrepancy as someone is much more likely to run many more 10K's than marathons in one calendar year. [quote]Gard wrote:

Although I do understand your point, I must respectfully disagree with one part. I agree with everything, but the statement that they have destroyed 20 athletes. That is simply not true. Those athletes got the most of their potentials, but unfortunately they were never good enough. Desi, who just broke 2:28, is good, but she's not going to drop almost 8 minutes and suddenly run 2:20. But, she's improved bigtime with their program and it has gotten her ability to truely shine. No, she'll never be a Paula (2:15) or even break 2:20, but she was not destroyed and neither were the other athletes. I am not a big fan of the Hanson's program even though I fully understand the idea behind it, it just does not work. It works for the founders of the program, but not the athletes. I've read many times that they are basically 2:15-2:16 marathoners, except for Brian and a Briney fluke who barely broke 2:13. Well, I agree with that thinking because it is a fact that can't be disputed. Times don't lie.

Track & Field News always does their lists by performers...so 49 people broke 29 yet only 14 have broken 2:20 so far this year. Here's the link: http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/lists/display_list.php?list_id=2&sex_id=M&year=2009

Liz, but Elizabeth to you! wrote:

I've read many times that they are basically 2:15-2:16 marathoners, except for Brian and a Briney fluke who barely broke 2:13. Well, I agree with that thinking because it is a fact that can't be disputed. Times don't lie.

Well, what of it, Lizzy? Who has said otherwise?

1)Paula would be Hansons top male runner.

2)Ritz runs 27:20 @ Berlin.