Ollie should go home and access the Aussie super blast boosting power of the southern hemisphere that has propelled Jess Hull to near world beater status. Once he left the soy heavy boulder softies and started driving a proper Ute on the Gold Coast there will be an inverse relationship between his T levels and times.
Don’t forget the blue heeler in the back of the Ute.
Ritz seems to get great results from his guys in their first couple of seasons with OAC but there's definitely been a drop off for guys who have been there since the start like Klecker and Olli. Whether that's because of injuries or overtraining or something else is hard to say.
They always joke about doing "double threshold" in a single session, but perhaps there's a reason why the Norwegians break it into two.
Note: There's definitely a reason why they break it into two - and perhaps this is why it tends to produce much better long-term results.
The Vikings have it right. Look at what happens long term to Ritz’s runners.
I think Olli Hoare is really in a difficult place, and I totally get it.
It seemed like only yesterday he was on the cusp of being in the spots that guys like Kerr, Nuguse, Hocker are in now - part of this "elite of the elite" of mens MD running alongside Jakob and now sadly for a number of reasons he has become an afterthought that in trying to drag himself back into relevancy, is just sinking further in the quicksand.
On a national level he has now been firmly superseded by Myers. He was kind of "the" guy in the OAC but that has clearly been overtaken by Nuguse and even the "mercurialness" of Beamish who has a world title to his name over 1500m. He had the one amazing moment at the Commonwealth Games in 2022 where he beat Wightman and atoned for a terrible showing at the WC's, but the CWG just don't hold the same prestige anymore and his showings in Budapest and Paris were, despite being injury compromised, still average.
He took to social media to talk about how he was a victim of social media - never that smart, and whether or not this is fair, when you have a podcast/youtube channel called the Coffee Club where you sit around drinking coffee and talking about your "job" as a runner, the reality is you don't exactly set yourself up for much sympathy when things go south. I know that sounds irrational and unfair and it is - but it's the optic and tonality of the situation whether he wants to believe it or not. The latest comments about the training etc are also a bit strange and seem like weird sympathy vote casting - especially because after you run a PR (like he did). Calling your own training "laughable" - even though on surface seeming self-deprecating, does have a spin-off on Ritz as his coach.
I think Olli just needs to cut out the white noise, get back to what made him happy as a runner because he doesn't seem happy now at all. Maybe take a break from the coffee conversation and the social media.
He is an extremely talented athlete and I believe he's also a genuinely nice guy. This sport is BRUTAL - physically but more so mentally. I hope he gets back to happiness and running well again but I do think some things need to change in order for that to happen.
I think this is right. Part of me agrees with Rojo, that Hoare can't really exist in a group where Nuguse is so much better. It probably means that Hoare doesn't get the individualised attention and training that he might need to get close to Nuguse's level. If they're both doing the same training and Nuguse has more baseline talent, how can Hoare hope to get near him? It seems like Hoare is in a difficult position because he obviously loves the living situation he has, with good friends on the team, but the training seems to not suit him. He needs a different stimulus, otherwise he'll just be running down the last years of his career. He's 28 now, so probably has 3 years at the maximum left as a top miler. So, where does he go from here?
Last comment on this thread. The training - single hards seems to work better for Nuguse - he’s a speed machine and naturally extremely thin. Hoare would likely do better with the Norwegian-style double threshold. Maybe Jakob would be willing to take him on as a refugee?
Very interesting comments by Olli Hoare in the latest Coffee Club podcast. Olli states Ritz questioned his desire to compete and race which hurt his feelings. Also said he had two conversation with Ritz and felt they both were unproductive. Skip to 31:00 mark for Olli's comments.
I think this is right. Part of me agrees with Rojo, that Hoare can't really exist in a group where Nuguse is so much better. It probably means that Hoare doesn't get the individualised attention and training that he might need to get close to Nuguse's level. If they're both doing the same training and Nuguse has more baseline talent, how can Hoare hope to get near him? It seems like Hoare is in a difficult position because he obviously loves the living situation he has, with good friends on the team, but the training seems to not suit him. He needs a different stimulus, otherwise he'll just be running down the last years of his career. He's 28 now, so probably has 3 years at the maximum left as a top miler. So, where does he go from here?
Last comment on this thread. The training - single hards seems to work better for Nuguse - he’s a speed machine and naturally extremely thin. Hoare would likely do better with the Norwegian-style double threshold. Maybe Jakob would be willing to take him on as a refugee?
In the podcast, right after the "hurt my feelings" comment, Ollie actually does mention that Dathan is going to have him (and Ky) try some double threshold this week. Yared says he doesn't like the sound of that, and he checks his FinalSurge to confirm that Dathan hasn't scheduled double threshold for him. So, it looks like Dathan is willing to try new things and differentiate training for his milers based on their preferences and recent results.
I don't have any special insight into these guys, but perhaps that's a sign that Dathan and Ollie are trying to work together a little better than just the "hurt my feelings" comment on its own could suggest.
I think this is right. Part of me agrees with Rojo, that Hoare can't really exist in a group where Nuguse is so much better. It probably means that Hoare doesn't get the individualised attention and training that he might need to get close to Nuguse's level. If they're both doing the same training and Nuguse has more baseline talent, how can Hoare hope to get near him? It seems like Hoare is in a difficult position because he obviously loves the living situation he has, with good friends on the team, but the training seems to not suit him. He needs a different stimulus, otherwise he'll just be running down the last years of his career. He's 28 now, so probably has 3 years at the maximum left as a top miler. So, where does he go from here?
Last comment on this thread. The training - single hards seems to work better for Nuguse - he’s a speed machine and naturally extremely thin. Hoare would likely do better with the Norwegian-style double threshold. Maybe Jakob would be willing to take him on as a refugee?
Did Ollie not mention that he is starting double thresholds now or did I mishear that?
I knew there'd be a thread on this when I was listening to the podcast on Thursday. I thought the whole thing was strange (especially after the social media post about the "laughable training"). But if you have a coach isn't that insinuating that Dathan's training is laughable or is Olli not doing the training???? but aren't there group practices???
Anyway, what I thought was the most interesting is on the Youtube version of the podcast when Olli is talking about this everyone (Morgan, Geordie, and special guest Yared) look down, around, up... basically anywhere else but at Olli talking. and they don't ask questions about what he said either. they just move right along to another, far less tense topic. I thought that was kind of telling.
Yes he really was. I counted two more cracks at ritz during the podcast: Talking about the OAC girls poor race in the mile, suggesting they had too hard a workout too close to race day. and then almost at the end, talking about the prospect of Jakob beating goose’s WR, suggesting ritz would demand goose go out and run another WR to beat it straight away. he just seemed a bit pissed and surly, probably better not to go on a podcast in that mood. anyway hope it all works out. I’m an Aussie for the record
I think this is right. Part of me agrees with Rojo, that Hoare can't really exist in a group where Nuguse is so much better. It probably means that Hoare doesn't get the individualised attention and training that he might need to get close to Nuguse's level. If they're both doing the same training and Nuguse has more baseline talent, how can Hoare hope to get near him? It seems like Hoare is in a difficult position because he obviously loves the living situation he has, with good friends on the team, but the training seems to not suit him. He needs a different stimulus, otherwise he'll just be running down the last years of his career. He's 28 now, so probably has 3 years at the maximum left as a top miler. So, where does he go from here?
Last comment on this thread. The training - single hards seems to work better for Nuguse - he’s a speed machine and naturally extremely thin. Hoare would likely do better with the Norwegian-style double threshold. Maybe Jakob would be willing to take him on as a refugee?
here's the thing about nuguse. he often doesn't do what the others do. he will often do shorter reps and distances than the other guys he trains with.
I knew there'd be a thread on this when I was listening to the podcast on Thursday. I thought the whole thing was strange (especially after the social media post about the "laughable training"). But if you have a coach isn't that insinuating that Dathan's training is laughable or is Olli not doing the training???? but aren't there group practices???
Anyway, what I thought was the most interesting is on the Youtube version of the podcast when Olli is talking about this everyone (Morgan, Geordie, and special guest Yared) look down, around, up... basically anywhere else but at Olli talking. and they don't ask questions about what he said either. they just move right along to another, far less tense topic. I thought that was kind of telling.
i think dathan gives them some leeway on volumes, paces, distances of reps, probably especially when returning from injury.
the fact the ollie would publicly discuss those conversations is proof that competing isn't the focus. Maybe your coach questions that because that's what you show them?
Maybe Ollie should consider his next career move heading up his own podcast back in Aussie-land. He could provide an unplugged look inside pro athletics.
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