Completely different scenario with Ritz. Ritz was tough as nails. All the way back to his high school days, to running the 2004 trials on a broken foot, to the 2012 trials. Ritz wasn't afraid to hurt and wasn't afraid to lead. In contrast, McNamara is a kicker. He has talked a big game about leading races or chasing times in the past and he has never followed through. I hope he proves many of us wrong this time, but history would suggest otherwise.
kdwmewklme wrote:
Completely different scenario with Ritz. Ritz was tough as nails. All the way back to his high school days, to running the 2004 trials on a broken foot, to the 2012 trials. Ritz wasn't afraid to hurt and wasn't afraid to lead. In contrast, McNamara is a kicker. He has talked a big game about leading races or chasing times in the past and he has never followed through. I hope he proves many of us wrong this time, but history would suggest otherwise.
Not different scenario- Different people.
NOP Skeptic wrote:
I'm pretty sure JMac has run 3:34 2 or 3 times, the last being in July 2014 which was only 2 years ago.
I hope you are right, but I don't think you are. I'm skeptical because every source I've looked at says only 34 once, in 2013. They also say the last time he ran under 3:37.00 was in 2013.
For instance, here's the progression list from his DL page:
2012 3:35.63 Eugene (USA) 16.06.2012
2013 3:34.00 Oordegem (BEL) 06.07.2013
2014 3:37.39 Eagle Rock (USA) 15.05.2014
2015 3:37.20 Heusden-Zolder (BEL) 18.07.2015
2016 3:38.07 Portland (USA) 12.06.2016
This agrees with his IAAF page, and with these guys,
http://www.alltime-athletics.com/m_1500ok.htm, which shows him going under 3:37 five times, the last in 2013.
I'm a big JMac fan. I was shocked when I looked up his numbers. Unless I'm missing something, it looks to me as if he's never delivered on the promise he showed in 2012 and 2013.
ttc wrote:
kdwmewklme wrote:Completely different scenario with Ritz. Ritz was tough as nails. All the way back to his high school days, to running the 2004 trials on a broken foot, to the 2012 trials. Ritz wasn't afraid to hurt and wasn't afraid to lead. In contrast, McNamara is a kicker. He has talked a big game about leading races or chasing times in the past and he has never followed through. I hope he proves many of us wrong this time, but history would suggest otherwise.
Not different scenario- Different people.
Distance race vs 1500. Completely different scenario.
There's no reason whatsoever to think the 1500m won't be just as embarrisingly slow as the 5000m as tonight. Today's runners have no balls. No desire. No ganas as they say in Spanish. They just want to hang out at a slow pace and sprint the last 200m. Pathetic. Winning time I bet is not a second faster than 3:39 and that's ONLY if Centro pushes it toward the end. Otherwise, probably 3:44 or something stupid like that.
My prediction, based on years of previous TNF trials, is that all runners without the A standard will go home DEVASTATED! And, the pace will be slow AF.
It boils down to this ...
Pre-race: "I need a rabbit."
Post-race: "I can't understand why nobody took it out."
centero en fuego! wrote:
My prediction, based on years of previous TNF trials, is that all runners without the A standard will go home DEVASTATED! And, the pace will be slow AF.
NOPe. This time's going to be different. Seriously. JMac's Army will rise up, and smite the Philistines with their "kick off the slow pace" tactics. He will purge the frauds, and initiate a golden age of American running.
It will be just like Pre never died.
Just wait. You'll see.
Sweet Nell Fenwick wrote:
It boils down to this ...
Pre-race: "I need a rabbit."
Post-race: "I can't understand why nobody took it out."
Lol every single damn time.
Wheating will say something like it, make an excuse about non-perfect preparation or how someone boxed him in.
Macnamara (I like him) will say that.
Ben Blankenship will have some weirdo neurotic excuse too.
The swag kings (Centro, Andrews) will blast the sht out of everyone the last 450m. Manzano might get 3rd using his lion heart kick (dude starts showing a pain face like 400m into a race).
Centro and Andrews are the present/future, they need to make the team.
Man I really hope Andrews makes the team. He was so close 4 years ago. This is his time and I worry this is his only shot.
centero en fuego! wrote:
My prediction...is that all runners without the A standard will go home DEVASTATED! And, the pace will be slow AF.
One out of two ain't bad, especially with all of the ignorant talk about the B-Teamers putting the hurt on the A-Team.
As Dennis Green said, "They are who we thought they were."
Good for McNamara, Yorks, and the other dude. They forced it to be a fast race and ensured no one would get top 3 without the standard. I don't know why anyone hates on them.
HardLoper wrote:
Good for McNamara, Yorks, and the other dude. They forced it to be a fast race and ensured no one would get top 3 without the standard. I don't know why anyone hates on them.
Third dude was Avila.
Ballsy running from those three.
I think that the best three guys made the team, but Yorks, McNam, and Avila were the ones who made it fast. Disappointing that they weren't able to finish strong, but I expect big things from Yorks and Avila in the next couple of years.
????????????? wrote:
HardLoper wrote:Good for McNamara, Yorks, and the other dude. They forced it to be a fast race and ensured no one would get top 3 without the standard. I don't know why anyone hates on them.
Third dude was Avila.
Ballsy running from those three.
I think that the best three guys made the team, but Yorks, McNam, and Avila were the ones who made it fast. Disappointing that they weren't able to finish strong, but I expect big things from Yorks and Avila in the next couple of years.
McNamara was literally only on pace for the standard for the first 200m. I can understand dying while trying to hammer out a tough pace, but how was the guy not able to even run one lap on pace for the standard after making a big deal about how he was going for it?
He didn't just fail to finish strong. He ran a fast opening 300m, then apparently bailed on the attempt.
????????????? wrote:
HardLoper wrote:Good for McNamara, Yorks, and the other dude. They forced it to be a fast race and ensured no one would get top 3 without the standard. I don't know why anyone hates on them.
Third dude was Avila.
Ballsy running from those three.
I think that the best three guys made the team, but Yorks, McNam, and Avila were the ones who made it fast. Disappointing that they weren't able to finish strong, but I expect big things from Yorks and Avila in the next couple of years.
They have obviously learned the trade against inferior competitors and are one-trick-ponies at this stage. They will have to learn to become "racers" if they want to succeed at the higher levels or belong to a club that can get them in rabbited races in which strategy is meaningless. I am pulling for them.
HardLoper wrote:
Yes how delusional to think you can run a 2 second SB and 2 seconds slower than PB in a race. That has never happened!
Well, it didn't happen today, despite the huffing and puffing by the LRC crowd.
JMac ended up DFL, after leading the first lap. Yorks and Avila were just in front of him.
In other words, they were just rabbits who jogged it home instead of stepping off the track.
mogood 300m wrote:
????????????? wrote:Third dude was Avila.
Ballsy running from those three.
I think that the best three guys made the team, but Yorks, McNam, and Avila were the ones who made it fast. Disappointing that they weren't able to finish strong, but I expect big things from Yorks and Avila in the next couple of years.
McNamara was literally only on pace for the standard for the first 200m. I can understand dying while trying to hammer out a tough pace, but how was the guy not able to even run one lap on pace for the standard after making a big deal about how he was going for it?
He didn't just fail to finish strong. He ran a fast opening 300m, then apparently bailed on the attempt.
What this guy says. Wasn't Mac in last before the 800? I saw him working his way backwards after that incredible first 200. So close, too bad.
HardLoper wrote:
Good for McNamara, Yorks, and the other dude. They forced it to be a fast race and ensured no one would get top 3 without the standard. I don't know why anyone hates on them.
I agree, I have to admit I doubted McNamara would actually push the pace but he did (for a lap at least). Blankenship finished .02 under the standard in 3rd, so it was pretty much mission accomplished on that point, they just couldnt close the deal.
usnspecialist wrote:
I agree, I have to admit I doubted McNamara would actually push the pace but he did (for a lap at least). Blankenship finished .02 under the standard in 3rd, so it was pretty much mission accomplished on that point, they just couldnt close the deal.
Huh? This sounds like redefining the mission to me. JMac and the other B-Teamers wanted to go out fast so they could get the standard and make the team. Now you are saying they just wanted to rabbit for the A-Team.
I must be missing something here. What is it?
JMac is a head case only rivaled by Wheating and Alan Webb on his worst days.