Grant Fisher leaving Bowerman

The Utah possibility is an interesting one. With the possible thoughts of a future move to the marathon, this kind of makes sense. Where can you find possibly the best marathon group in the US currently? It looks recently that Ed Eyestone's group has that distinction. The possibility of Hassan's coach Rowberry is also an interesting option.

Of course it's all guesses since we are armchairing it.

stop trolling

sup Aaron- Joseph Carroll

All this talk about U.S. training groups. Why would he join any of these groups where he would still be the superior athlete? What did Bob Kennedy do when he was by far the best 5K runner in the US? Grant needs to head to Africa. Go through the gauntlet and find out if he has what it takes to challenge for a medal. He exceeded his potential with Bowerman. Africa is where he needs to go.

Based on Grant's IG post, "By far what I’ll miss most are the wonderful people that I got to be around every day", I'm guessing his choice, along with a coach/training system he believe in, will be based on who is going to train with. Based on that I don't think he's going to NN or Utah. Flagstaff makes sense the most. Rowberry has been paid by Sifan directly. He mentioned they're additions coming to the group, but more as Sifan's training partners(?)

I'm also guessing, Mo is leaving next?

Justyn Knight will be incredibly successful with Bowerman. This is a hill I am willing to die on. Dude is in the conversation for most talented runner of all time.

People who're suggesting he's moving to the Marathon need to get their heads checked

Grant is a genius.

It would be so cool if he moved to Africa or a European group.

I think the most interesting thing would be if he joined one of the Norwegian groups and was coached by either Gjert or Henrik but there's no way either of them would let him join their group.

If he goes to Africa it seems like the most logical idea is to go train in Uganda with Cheptegei. The Kenyan groups are so focused on the Marathon and the roads that it seems like 5000/10000 athletes are afterthoughts (even though they have still had contenders in recent years). Maybe there is a situation in Ethiopia where he could train with peers in Aregawi, Barega or some of the other 12:40s guys.

All that being said he will likely stay in the US, Mike Smith would be a good choice based on what he's done with Luis. Tim Rowberry is interesting too but I am not sure that coaching Hassan, who might be the most talented woman in the history of the sport, proves that he could coach Grant to similar success.

Serious question: How much bandwidth does Mike Smith have for taking on more top level pros? Trying to keep the NAU mens dynasty rolling while also trying to build the NAU women up to the same level as the men while also adding more pros on the side has to start getting tricky to juggle at some point. Also, the line about a "collection of athletes" vs a "group" just further hammers home the issue of pros being needing more individualized/customized attention. It has been tricky, because you've got guys that need to peak at different times for different reasons/events, guys dealing injuries and needing to move workouts around and all that.

is rowberry still in communication with Alberto?

This is what I've heard.

Again, if he needs me to coach him, I guarantee 100% I'll coach him to at least the same number of US 10,000 titles and WC medals as he won as a member of the BTC.

I think Tim Rowberry is pretty interesting. Grant has shown he is quite capable of working himself back to shape in difficult circumstances like this season. Rowberry has only a couple of athletes (Hassan, Nakaayi) and seems to cater quite well to them. So if Grant wants to explore the roads, you know Rowberry will be able to accommodate something like that. It also allows him to stay based in the US for the most part.

Africa:
Uganda/Ruiter requires living in the camp and a far different approach ~ can't see it.
The best Kenyan 5K/10K groups (2running club, Krop's group) are adidas, so I really can't see that. Ebenyo has a low-key setup, but again that would be a massive change for Grant. NN group in Kenya focused on HM+. Canova (remote, flexible setup) could be interesting as well, though he's more marathon focused it seems.
Ethiopia, I sure don't know. Seems far-fetched that Grant is living in Addis.

Spain would be interesting with Katir and Thierry N. Granted, I have no idea how Grant's Espanol is and whether that group is looking to add anyone.
Jakob's group? Fun to think about, but I'm not sure there is much openness to it.

Perhaps Rowberry then? That's often a base for him, Hassan and Nakaayi. Personally, if that is the case I like the move. I know there is skepticism about him because of how good Hassan is, but come on look at the results. And then Nakaayi had multiple years of stagnation and sets 2 PBs at 800 this year and makes the final.

As an observer, the East Africans dope to compete with other EAs not the rest of the world, in 10k + events. Grant is certainly aware of this, and I suspect will stick to 5 - 10k events or use his Stanford degree.

Utah will be great. He can crush Mantz in a tempo then whoop Centro in a speed workout

Not alot of choices...

Team Boss is OK. Mike Smith is a top coach but it isn't really a team set up. I could kind of see her going there though. On (premier team but limits athletes per country). I doubt they would take her because of Monson and Norris. NB, great for 1500m but not a fit, not at altitude...

What is up with Nike? How can Nike not have a premier pro US training group? BTC has fallen apart.

No chance Grant is moving to the marathon now. I say 80/20 Mike Smiths collection of runners

The stress and negative implications of being associated with one of the world's most suspicious groups?

Major doping bust in a star runner (for activities the coach never disavowed), followed by runner after runner jumping ship.

Do the math.