Webb gets owned

I just watched the race on flotrack again - he was in second place until the last 200 and couldn't close. He was pushing the leader.

You can look at that a couple of ways - either he broke down mentally in the last 30 seconds, or his training is just not ready for him to close the last 100m.

Not sure what the truth is, but fact is, for 2800m he was in the race completely.

Bad Runner wrote:

Alan Webb: Disappointing LetsRun since 2003

Ain't that the truth? Has any other runner been more heavily scrutinized on Letsrun over the past 7-8 years?

Ritz, I think, would challenge Webb for the amount of criticism received. Hall flew comparatively under the radar for a while, and didn't make any coaching changes until just a couple months ago.

i kinda like running wrote:

Bad Runner wrote:

Alan Webb: Disappointing LetsRun since 2003

Ain't that the truth? Has any other runner been more heavily scrutinized on Letsrun over the past 7-8 years?

No other runner provides the melodrama that Webb does. Which makes me wonder about a possible feedback loop: if Webb reads these boards, that would explain a certain amount of his mindset.

Why wasn't Webb wearing the green OTC singlet at Seattle? He was in all-black, dressed like his coach usually dresses. Was he trying to stay under the radar? Did his plain black singlet even have a swoosh on it?

Watch the race:

http://www.runnerstribe.com/speaker/main/video/id/132-Alan-Webb/vid/457532-M-3k-H06-fastest-Nelson

Webb didn't get owned. That's silly. He pulled into second place, late in the race, and looked competitive. He worked it for a hundred yards, maybe 150. Then he pulled the cord and deliberately allowed himself to fade. This was clearly a rust-buster, intentionally sub-maximal--as it should be at this time of year.

Of course some will hope for more, and mock him. That's easy. But watch the race first. This wasn't a head-case race. He's just not quite in racing shape. Should he be, right now? That's not his plan.

Webb should feel cheered by this race. He worked what he had and didn't pretend he had more than he actually had. It's all plain as day in the video. Watch it.

kudzurunner wrote:

Watch the race:

http://www.runnerstribe.com/speaker/main/video/id/132-Alan-Webb/vid/457532-M-3k-H06-fastest-Nelson

Webb didn't get owned. That's silly.

...

Watch it.

I agree. He didn't dominate but he didn't suck, either.

Last week, he didn't realize how much fitness he'd lost from the flu. This week he seemed to realize he wasn't going to set any records, and actually ran pretty well. Especially for February.

Ryan Hill had the best race out of anyone besides probably Nelson in this heat. Awesome to see him run so well, i love that guy