I would argue that it isn't that they are paid too well, but that there is no depth of talent to compete for the top spots. This creates a certain lack of motivation. Our men and women are motivated to train hard and, as a country, we are seeing huge improvements, but the motivation to compete is very weak because there is no depth of talent forcing the top dogs to remain hungry. In a country of 310 million people, we have three guys (Rupp, Sol, Ritz) who can legitimately compete on the world stage in the 10000m, and maybe five (add Lagat, Teg) in the 5000m. After those few guys, the depth of talent takes a sharp drop into the 27:45/13:20 range. Even then, to call what we have "depth" is stretching it.
The result of this situation is if you're one of the top five or six guys in any event in the US, you get a steady paycheck, and you get coddled. It's easy to develop a prima donna attitude. In Kenya and Ethiopia, you will see a dozen random dudes run a workout on a Thursday morning that would likely drop or injure two or three of the above five guys, and leave our next best 20 guys in the dust. If you get lazy in Kenya, there are literally 20 random people good enough to take your place.
And the team selection process is brutal. If you think John Chaplin is a jackass because of the way he treats our 28th fastest guy in the 10000m, take a look at how Kenya treats its number one guy. No guarantees. A lot of the top runners have decided their best option is to move to another country where they are not in danger of losing the top spot to competition or politics.
The big negative to the Kenyan or Ethiopian system is their top guys don't last long. Whether that is caused by injury or post-success laziness, only a few of their top guys last longer than a few years. A ten year career for our top runners is probably worth 2-3 million in contracts, appearance fees, prize money, etc., and who is going to blow that chance on overracing, injury, and burnout when they could easily sit back, train, pick their races based on income generation, and rely on their talent and the lack of depth in the USA to make national teams and keep the money flowing. I'm not saying it's wrong, I'm saying it's the reality. They're making the right choice for themselves and their families, but it causes the kinds of frustrating situations we witnessed in Monaco. Solinsky and Rupp are tough SOBs, no doubt, but their instinct for career and self-preservation overrides their instinct to compete. An American runners calculus is much different than that of a Kenyan or an Ethiopian journeyman athlete.
I couldn't believe the quotes from Salazar after Rupp bounced off the Mondo. Rupp has to learn not to fall down. I hope he figures it out. But he got a great workout in after the race, so overall, another great day at the track. WC, here we come!
WTF is that?! You're okay with ANOTHER DNF because your athlete looked good for 80% of a race he didn't finish because he got a solid WORKOUT in after the 3/4-race?
I understand where this attitude is coming from, but I don't have to like it. Until our development process creates 20 Rupps and Solinskys, and 100 more in the pipeline waiting to take their place, we'll continue to see it.
Just to finish on a high note: props to Shalane. She is doing it right. She's figured out a way to race a lot, at varied distances, and isn't afraid to compete without excuses. She finishes her races, is mentally and physically tough as anyone, and she's still hungry. She embodies the fierce attitude that Solinsky talks about, but hasn't demonstrated on the track since he ran the 26:59 (which, I would point out, was against domestic competition (most of the foreigners were paid rabbits) on a 'home' track with low expectations. As a fan, I want to see more of what Shalane is doing, and less posturing and chatter. Unfortunately, our system doesn't promote the former.