Webb at oxy... Very concerning... I love the guy but what's happening to his career?!

American runner. Should have stated that.

I don't mean to hate on Webb. I still root for the dude.

But in answer to the OP's question I say: HAPPENING to his career? Man, it already HAPPENED. It happened back in 2008 and that was that. I had high hopes of him recovering, but it's been 5 years now.

Agreed, but what the hell happened? Was it the constant switching of coaches?Was it the injuries?Was it the changes in his body?Was it the inability to focus?What a shame.Wish him well. Hope he can pull a Coe and show us all the finger someday.

The Stache wrote:

I don't mean to hate on Webb. I still root for the dude.

But in answer to the OP's question I say: HAPPENING to his career? Man, it already HAPPENED. It happened back in 2008 and that was that. I had high hopes of him recovering, but it's been 5 years now.

So after re-watching the race on Flotrack, the pace was obviously very erratic. The pack did not follow the pacer so everyone in the top group was on 13:30 pace with 4 to go. It seemed after that point the main pack picked it up like they were going to hit the A standard now.

The second mile was the slowest. The first mile wasn't too bad, everyone was still together and it looked like 4:14 ish for the head of the pack and about 4:17 for Webb. Then the second mile was the slowest, which was at about 4:25 pace.

With 4 laps to go (3400m), Aaron Braun was 9:07 (13:24 pace, he finished in 13:22), then the gap to the main pack crossed at 9:10, with Webb crossing at 9:12. Webb started to fall behind after 200 meters, so when they crossed with 3 to go the main pack (not Braun) had run 64-65 seconds and Webb had run a 67.

Braun ran his last 4 laps in 4:15, so he kept a consistent pace the whole race and for his final 1600m. Mo Farah ran a last 1600m in 4:03, Ritz in 4:05, Ben St. Lawrence in 4:06, Arne Gabius in 4:09, Bobby Curtis in 4:12, and Chris Solinsky in 4:15. Puskedra held his pace to the end.

Webb on the other hand ran his last mile in 4:34, so his last 4 laps were in the range of 67's-69's.

I know it's hard to try to take something positive from this, but it seemed like Webb just wasn't prepared for the erratic pacing. He goes from 4:17-4:25 and then tries to keep up with the pack of guys that want to close in under 4:10.

I think if Webb had a more consistent pace he would have done better, and probably could have at least run faster than 13:37. The slow second mile really screwed him over and he doesn't have the closing speed yet to run 4:10 for his last 1600m, which is understandable since he missed a chunk of winter training.

I wouldn't give up on him just yet. I don't think he'll qualify for the WC's team obviously (even though I wish he would), but he's running faster for 5000m than he did last year, and I think he's in better shape than his two races have shown. He just has to be in a field that's more of his level and with better pacing.

I am surprised that no one is pointing this out.

I saw Alan compete at the Payton Jordan meet at Stanford last month, and I notice that he seems to have lost a significant amount of muscle mass since his time with Salazar.

I remember Salazar saying that "he needs to lose superfluous muscle mass." Watching Alan run in 2007, his best year, I notice that he POWERS his way to good times and victories. He didn't have the smoothest stride, but he was just damned powerful back then.

I think that he needs to take the time to get his muscles back and then he'll be in a position to get back to sub 3:50 miles.

I think if Alan Webb shaves his head bald his aerodynamics will improve to a point where he'll be running 13:10 in no time

Alan Webb needs to stop reading LetsRun. Dude Alan if you are reading this, turn it off now. You don't need it.

Rocky Balboa wrote:

I notice that he seems to have lost a significant amount of muscle mass since his time with Salazar.

I remember Salazar saying that "he needs to lose superfluous muscle mass." Watching Alan run in 2007, his best year, I notice that he POWERS his way to good times and victories. He didn't have the smoothest stride, but he was just damned powerful back then.

I think that he needs to take the time to get his muscles back and then he'll be in a position to get back to sub 3:50 miles.

Pretty sure Salazar wanted Webb to move up the 5k, Webb left and stuck with the 1500m and seems to have lost the muscle mass just from getting older and different coaches and lack of coaches.

bubbadeeboo wrote:

SPIDERWEBB wrote:

Looks like a pretty fine set of lifetime p.r.s to me. Possibly the best range ever for an American distance male.

800 m: 1:43.84

1500 m: 3:30.54

1 Mile: 3:46.91NR

3000 m: 7:39.28

5000 m: 13:10.86

10000 m: 27:34.72

vs

800 m : ? 1:49 ?

mile/1500 m: 3:50/3:34

3000 m: 7:30i

2-mile: 8:09i

5000 m: 12:58

10000 m: 26:48

1/2 marathon: 60:30

Rupp's range is better, 3:50i is silver/bronze zone for 1500m (just look who he beat in his 1500m Oxy heat and their PRs and medals), 7:30i is gold/silver/bronze at 3000m World Indoors, 12:58 would be 3rd-4th range at 5k (Teg was 4th almost bronze with 13:04 at WCs), 26:48 is obviously silver/bronze if not gold/silver/bronze range, 60:30 is bronze World Half-Marathon range.

He could contend for medals from 1500m to half-marathon.

mark matusak 032030303098....***

uisjudnjsjhdh wrote:

12:58 would be 3rd-4th range at 5k (Teg was 4th almost bronze with 13:04 at WCs

Oh, and Mottram with bronze 5k WC medal with 12:58 pr, so yeah, within bronze range if raced perfectly.

Ooohhhhhh dayuammm wrote:

I think if Alan Webb shaves his head bald his aerodynamics will improve to a point where he'll be running 13:10 in no time

This is a middle-school level joke.