Solinsky: There has never been an American in history to run three races in a row at this level

Deena Kastor: 2nd in World Cross Champs / 14:54 AR (roads) / world leading 2M time 9:35 / 30:50 AR (track) --- four in a row

Malmo, please explain how Solinsky's string of races is better than Deena's.

She ran a 10k American record, super fast 5k and even medaled in a world championship in her string.

I am amazed at the number of persons posting who do not understand track and field or significant PR's. I am also baffled at the number of persons posting who seem completely unable to evaluate a performance based on meet conditions, competition, and relative placing among the competitors.

Find yourselves a downhill mile or an uncertified road race and continue to crow about your mile and 5000m PR's.

I am amazed that people can't disagree with Malmo's claim that "there has never been an American in history to run three races in a row at this level" without being referred to as "punks." It's Malmo's opinion, not a fact. I'm quite impressed with Solinsky's last three performances, but, like others, I am not necessarily convinced it's the 3 best races in a row by an American. Maybe Malmo is right, but why can't there be debate without him responding like an ass to those that simply disagree?

By the way, I'm surprised Malmo, of all people, compares Kennedy and Solinsky simply by their respective PRs. With that rationale, that Zatopek guy wasn't very impressive.

I gave up on this discussion when malmo tried to retract his original statement and claim it has to be guys who only raced 5K/10K races consecutively. That probably narrows it down to a handful of distance guys in the past 20 years, none of them considered our best runners.

The arguments for Webb, Lagat and BK as distance runners (be it middle or long) are much more compelling.

Later.

[quote]johnnywaterski wrote:

Malmo, please explain how Solinsky's string of races is better than Deena's. [quote]

Solinsky is a man. Don't bring women into this conversation.

wow now malmo is showing lots of restraint in dealing with some excessive nonsense the last 3-4 pages well done. luckily i skimmed a lot of it.

anyway-solinsky is running awesome. if 1308 is even slightly considered "bad" then you are doing something very right. good to have raised expectations but people need to stay in touch with reality as well. Obv 1308 is phenomenal- as someone else said watch the 5000m movie from 2004 everyone is trying for 1321. progress!

btw the baseball/football and weather things from a couple pages ago- eh what to say? idk haha. dont get me started on baseball. poor baseball.

The dude is not going to set a PR every race. That is just absurdly unrealistic. He's having an awesome season.

Plus he has brought legwarmers back, although I'd prefer to see Olivia Newton-John or Jennifer Beals rock them.

Flashdance Solinsky could yet be the USA's greatest distance runner. Hard to say at this point.

As a guy who goes 6' 175 and is damn slow, I am inspired by Solinsky and hope he has a great future.

You just don't know with running though. These recent performances could be lifetime PRs for the guy, or he could continue to stay healthy and improve. I hope for the latter.

Personally I think Edwin Moses has the most impressive streak of running for any American. The dude didn't lose for 10 years.

Flashdance wrote:

As a guy who goes 6' 175 and is damn slow, I am inspired by Solinsky and hope he has a great future.

You're delusional.

hannsen wrote:

wow now malmo is showing lots of restraint in dealing with some excessive nonsense the last 3-4 pages well done. luckily i skimmed a lot of it.

maybe you could weigh in on what you think about his opinion that the race is particularly brilliant because it was done on american soil.

if you're with me that this is a minor footnote considering the rarity of such a 5k field on american soil, and the fact that sol didn't have to lead or push, then i'd be really interested to see how you'd explain this to malmo.

At this time I'd still have to give the nod to BK 1996: 6th in the Olympics, 12:58.75(AR, Stockholm), 12:58.21(AR,Zurich), 7:33.96(AR), 7:31.69(AR). That's 4 American Records. Also 5th in the GP final in the 5k and 6th ranked in the world at 5k.

Chris is currently ranked 7th in the world in the 5k. Yes he's 1st in the 10k, but it's still only July.

I still think we have to wait to see how Chris (or Ritz for that matter) does in WC and OG competition before we uncrown BK.

Alan

I agree with BK being better. I also add Ritz, Webb and Lagat as having a better three race series. I also add a ton of sprinters, but I am guessing we are not talking sprints here.

malmo wrote:

Oh my god. You must be a f***ing lawyer or something? Next time I make a simple post I'll include a 2 page addendum and warranty? Will that work for you?

I thought the point of my original post was obvious. I will confess, I should have known better. It seems no matter what, the Letsun crowd needs their hands held, and I should have parsed every phrase. I'll try better next time to meet your high standards.

Late to the party but I'll say it anyway:

"It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood." -- Karl Popper.

so does wheating get put on the list now.

Feel like this thread deserves a bump. I would most certainly be inclined to agree with Malmo here - this has been a very significant season for Chris. Wonder if he might cap it off with a spectacular 3000m next week.

I wonder what Kennedy could have run for the 10,000 in his prime? Sub 27:00 is pretty special- I'd have to put that up against anything Kennedy did.

Take away the easy funds for altitude training, zero g, altitude tents and other aids and is he, or any of the current guys really any better than Salazar, Nenow, McChesney, Centrowitz, Liquori, etc.?

With those extra advantages, I think the old school guys would be right up there.

Talent levels are the same. Modern training knowledge, technology and resources are better.

make that four-in-a-row!

I never thought we would be posting about CS and these kinds of times....wow!

just wow

RuKiddingMe! wrote:

make that four-in-a-row!

I never thought we would be posting about CS and these kinds of times....wow!

just wow

Try five:

26:59

12:56

13:08

12:55

12:56