This is the same Webb that ran 3:54 and changed the game in America, who ran 3:46/1:43 and took that game to the next level, and who also threw away opportunities in major championships. He's an intense, dweebish super-talent who gets emotional to his own benefit as well as his own detriment. We need to accept him for who he is and enjoy the ride, because there are going to be lots more ups and downs.
Its February....
He looks emotionally exhausted. Not good...[/quote]
I totally agree. He's too intense about a little indoor race. Needs to RELAX. Be patient. Go to his happy place, gotta feel the flow, it circular, gotta harness in the good energy, block out the bad, harness good, block bad.
He has the strangest chin.
Agreed with Malmo and others. Sounds like most of you didn't watch the whole interview.
About halfway through, he lightens up, and specifically says that he is NOT starting over, he's going to build from here, and that he was disappointed that he didn't gauge his fitness well (and as a consequence, didn't compete the way he wanted.)
What's wrong with ANY of that? Where is this "whiny brat" nonsense coming from? I suppose wanting to compete makes him a brat. Too bad not wanting to would make him a pansy. Another great day where the letsrun peanut gallery shows off just how little they know!
Denver wrote:
I totally agree. He's too intense about a little indoor race. Needs to RELAX. Be patient. Go to his happy place, gotta feel the flow, it circular, gotta harness in the good energy, block out the bad, harness good, block bad.
Wake up, son. He's still buzzing from his race and a reporter sticks a microphone in his face and he rather graciously answers in a stream of consciousnesses manner.
There's no there, there. Quit trying to microanalyse him. One, you aren't qualified to, no one is ever going to stick a microphone in your face after you run, and secondly, worry about yourself. Webb has his shit together -- you don't. He understood that he thought that he was going to be able to fake it through this race (because that's what happens sometimes), but it didn't materialize. No big deal.
Personally I much rather give a race a shot than to be stuck in Beaverton training and staring at the walls.
webb is fine wrote:
About halfway through, he lightens up, and specifically says that he is NOT starting over, he's going to build from here, and that he was disappointed that he didn't gauge his fitness well (and as a consequence, didn't compete the way he wanted.)
Actually he did gauge his fitness well. He just thought this was going to be one of those times that he could fake it through. It wasn't.
I've been able to fake it through bad patches,and I'm sure that even some of the whiny twits posting in this thread have been able to do the same.
I think many of the guys posting in this thread really need to step back and evaluate your motivations for the things that you are saying. Quit looking for something that's not there. Even posting anonymously you should feel unctuous and embarrassed.
Eh, I understand where he's coming from. I HATE to race when I'm not in shape for it, and for someone like Webb who's been out of the game for a while, he was probably really looking forward to running fast again, competing for the win. Instead he came out and got his ass whooped. It sucks. Webb doesn't suck, just the situation. I think anyone who's had a bad race can understand. I was really hoping he'd have a strong debut, but hell, it's early, he's had some recent troubles, etc. I'm still not counting this guy out. It's still a long time til summer. Hell, even the summer he ran 1:43, 3:30, and 3:46, he had that 8:24 2mile the week after dominating Lagat and Mottram. He could be in decent shape again in as short as a few weeks.
He looks old and tired.
seer of things wrote:
I loved it. He's hungry. I don't think he was whining. He's hungry and not only wants to compete, but race for the win. That anger may serve him well in the near future.
Like in his 3000 WR attempt, sponsored by us at letsrun? :)
Whatever has gone wrong so far in 2011 (being sick, being injured), I hope it comes together for him. He's rounded into fitness quickly in other seasons, which may bode well.
At this point, though, it would be hard to bet on him being in the top three at trials.
The degree of Webb hating on this website over the years is astounding. Circa 1-2 years ago, for example, everyone on this board claims Webb is overweight. Now most people claim he is anorexic.
Regardless of his weight, there is always critique on his racing performance. Get the **** over it. Anyone who knows anything about running knows Alan Webb is probably one of the most talented white runners ever. He may not be the most consistent, but he definitely has the heart and desire to take his career as far as he wants to. He had a bad day today because of a variety of factors, and I respect him for stepping on the line and giving it a go. Look for much more from him this outdoor season.
the smartest letsrunner wrote:
Whatever has gone wrong so far in 2011 (being sick, being injured), I hope it comes together for him. He's rounded into fitness quickly in other seasons, which may bode well.
At this point, though, it would be hard to bet on him being in the top three at trials.
You're kidding, right? He had one bad race, after having a hamstring issue and the flu. Nationals is in June, it's February. I would be immensely surprised if he does not make the team.
malmo wrote:
Denver wrote:I totally agree. He's too intense about a little indoor race. Needs to RELAX. Be patient. Go to his happy place, gotta feel the flow, it circular, gotta harness in the good energy, block out the bad, harness good, block bad.
Wake up, son. He's still buzzing from his race and a reporter sticks a microphone in his face and he rather graciously answers in a stream of consciousnesses manner.
There's no there, there. Quit trying to microanalyse him. One, you aren't qualified to, no one is ever going to stick a microphone in your face after you run, and secondly, worry about yourself. Webb has his shit together -- you don't. He understood that he thought that he was going to be able to fake it through this race (because that's what happens sometimes), but it didn't materialize. No big deal.
Personally I much rather give a race a shot than to be stuck in Beaverton training and staring at the walls.
Wake up, old man. Denver was just quoting Happy Gilmore.
malmo wrote:
Wow. You freaking inexperienced kids hang on to the results of every race, every written interview, every spoken interview, and either read into things the end of the world, or the greatest runner that ever lived.
I didn't see anything other than a guy voicing his frustrations over losing some sharpness over the last month because of a niggle and sickness. This doesn't even come close to appearing on my radar as a matter of importance. This isn't his first bad day, and it sure as hell won't be his last.
Nothing here to see. Move along.
Totally agree. After reading this thread and then watching the interview, I though I would see Alan all distraught, crying, throwing shit, etc. He's frustrated. It appears that none of you have have had long stretches of training lost to injury. Alan's been frustrated for years, finally gets healthy, finds the itch to really race again, and gets a double whammy of injury and illness right before the racing season begins. He's upset about that and you guys rail on him?
What a load. Dude has every right to be frustrated. He sees it for what it is, he knows he can build on it, and he's moving on from here.
This guy just can't win with most of you guys on here. Do you want to see him succeed, or is it more fun for you to trash him when he struggles?
I agree. The anger will serve him racing. It had better serve him in training as well, mainly in not overtraining.
T-man wrote:
malmo wrote:Wow. You freaking inexperienced kids hang on to the results of every race, every written interview, every spoken interview, and either read into things the end of the world, or the greatest runner that ever lived.
I didn't see anything other than a guy voicing his frustrations over losing some sharpness over the last month because of a niggle and sickness. This doesn't even come close to appearing on my radar as a matter of importance. This isn't his first bad day, and it sure as hell won't be his last.
Nothing here to see. Move along.
Totally agree. After reading this thread and then watching the interview, I though I would see Alan all distraught, crying, throwing shit, etc. He's frustrated. It appears that none of you have have had long stretches of training lost to injury. Alan's been frustrated for years, finally gets healthy, finds the itch to really race again, and gets a double whammy of injury and illness right before the racing season begins. He's upset about that and you guys rail on him?
What a load. Dude has every right to be frustrated. He sees it for what it is, he knows he can build on it, and he's moving on from here.
This guy just can't win with most of you guys on here. Do you want to see him succeed, or is it more fun for you to trash him when he struggles?
^ ~~~~ This is the best post on the thread. Webb's response was in perspective.
I kept waiting for this supposed meltdown/tantrum: never came. Basically a disappointed runner saying he was hoping for more, but now needs to put in more work.
I'm not too surprised he's getting bad-mouthed on this board, but frankly to reference to this as some sort of tantrum by the brojos on the front page is bush-league. If you want to make a story of it, give the details and explain why it's a story. What's the point of the snide comment about this non-event?
The Waterboy wrote:
Martin Lel, Sammy Wanjiru, Paul Tergat, ALL PULLING OUT of races because they were injured/in poor fitness so they didn't think they could win. Martin Lel pulling out of NYC/London, Sammy running Chicago instead of Berlin/pulling out of Dubai etc. Hell, Gebreselassie wasn't going to do the 2004 Olympics since he was injured but he was under so much pressure from Ethiopia to try to get a third title that he ran anyway.
Was that a real question?
You need to re watch the the athens 04 marathon. Tergat DID NOT drop out of races, he didn't sleep in an iron lung, or have an underwater treadmill. Also, he has the amazing ability to contribute something outside of just his running ability. At one time I realy hated Halls preaching, but anymore I'm seeing that he's about the only "elite" distance runner we have that isn't a total yuppie bitch.
Regardless your an moron if you think that someone of Tergats class would EVER throw a fit cause a race didn't go as he wanted.
We're being hard on him. It's ok to be pissed after a bad race, and he lightens up during the conversation. Everyone who has had a bad race had have conversations like that with their coaches and teammates. It's also hard to talk to reporters right after a race. I gave a bitchy interview with a local reporter once - and that was after a dinky high school race.
i love alan webb interviews. he let's it all hang out, and tells you exactly what he's thinking and feeling. how many athletes expose themselves like that? it's refreshing to hear honesty rather than mindless platitudes. and as malmo pointed out, he's speaking immediately after the race, so he still has a lot of emotions coursing through him.
good luck to alan webb! i hope you kill some races this summer.
This isn't necessarily right after the race. As you can see during the interview, three runners are doing their cooldown. Immediately after his race he went on a 15 minute tempo run and then did some 200m intervals. By the time he was done with his post-race workout and cooldown, all most everyone in the stands had left. The infield of the track was completely empty, and the stands were being cleaned, as it shows in the interview.
Immediately after the race there were still dozens of people in the stands, I was one of them, and at least 10 people in the infield.
I'm sure if it was right after the race it would have been much, much more "honest". Immediately after the race he had went into the athletes area and slammed his bag onto the table, loud enough so every single person within 20 meters would have heard it. Everyone in the room had turned silently to him for a few seconds and then turned away. This is the "tantrum" that the post-race summary had described.
This is at least 45 minutes after his race.