Michael j fox wrote:
Groups are always coming and going. In the dark ages 20-30 years Nike had the Farm Team. Meb and Denna were also in Cali. Hansons were in Michigan. I think there was even groups in Minnesota, North Carolina, and Arizona before Hoka. The east coast has always had groups too. Then there have been countless Americans who trained alone or had people do track work outs with them.
Every Olympic cycle there are changes. Sponsorship money comes and goes just like the runners. There is no need to panic about who is running with who or where they are living and running. Do the work, stay healthy and the results will come.
I very much agree with what you wrote.
The problem, for Nike, is not the athletes they have, it has been most recently the company’s inability to make a decision on teams that benefits the athletes and the brand.
For three years, Nike did nothing about the mess that Jerry Schumacher created to what was once the best group in the USA and possibly the world. JS lost sight of the pro athletes he coached and turned to his own financial pursuits. Athletes, eventually left to forge their own set ups with probably very little support from Nike other than contractual sponsorship. Add in Salazar putting a major stain on Nike due to his shenanigans.
Nike, the company, has been plagued with paralysis within. Their stock valuation reflects this. The new management team has to be better then the last. I feel the new Nike getting back to basics (product, athletes, selling chains, excitement) and hopefully the essence of the company will rise again within and they will come up with a plan for training groups that will be good for distance athletes - better late then never. I feel for the athletes at Union and BTC that were neglected by their Nike coaches and ultimately Nike during the last three years - a major disservice really.