The Dude was right and wrong on this one. Seaton did not pull away from Webb as the Dude predicted but the Dude did raise the right issue: why the hell did Alan run a 5k? And then why did he run it in 14:06?
The Dude got his splits as: 32/69/68/68/68/69/69/68/68/65/67/67/61
First mile: 4:33; closes in 2:08. The only good thing the Dude can say is that he look relaxed for most of it.
Sincerely,
His Royal Dudeness
Those of you who mentioned Coe's longer races should have clarified that he ran them well. America's great miler is looking like he might qualify for NCAA's with his 14:06. Oh wait. Sorry, he is a pro running decent college times. Sorry
I believe Coe's PR in the 5000 was 14:06.
Although I think he only ran one or two and they were in club races in crappy British weather.
Are there results from the meet anywhere online yet?
Webb almost got out kicked
Krobsi came out of no where, but webb took off in the last 100m. Webb never lead the whole race till 300m to go.
What exactly were you right about? Something about raising an issue? It's March. He ran an over-distance event. Mentally, it isn't easy for a miler to deal with 12 1/2 laps, especially for the first time. He hung in there, closed well and now he can go home feeling like he ran a good workout and got the confidence from winning. The time does not have much relevance in this situation. Indoor ended on a down down, he needs to find a positive. Hopefully, he can sharpen his speed as June approaches.
What's with the 12 1/2 laps? Is this a late season "let's continue the indoor season" meet? I thought this was an outdoorsy (ya know, wind, rain, clouds, and crap like that) sort of get together. Doesn't anyone pay attention to what they are writing? If yer gonna support the guy, act like you know what he's doing.
The guy is developing just fine, in spite of or because of what we say--who knoweth?
Boy did I write something stupid--sorry.
I have to agree that you guys should give Webb a break, at least for now. If you really believe in periodization then you can't expect him to be running superbly right now. If the report that he was running in control is correct then he could probably run faster. However, you cannot race hard year round; you have to pick up time to run well and expend your energy then.
He ran a great time, and the big last mile shows that he probably can go even faster. I didn't expect to him to race this 5k. He ran excellent and he's a miler running a 5000 to get some endurance in. It was a superb performance.
I just do not understand why everyone analyzes and picks apart this poor guys races. It is almost like you want him to fail. I believe that if anyone was in his situation, they would have done the same. Which runner in his right mind is going to turn down 250,000 dollars a year? That is more then A LOT of people make in this country, to do what he loves and all of us on this board love? I say everyone back off on the critizing and let the kid run and GET ON HIS SIDE!!! Everyone whines and complains about how American Distance Running isn't getting the job done, maybe it is because we spend so much time bashing our runners instead of supporting them. Let him develope into a great runner naturally like everyone else does, and not put extra pressure on him because he is making that money. He is doing what everyone else would do in his shoes. All of you loved him when he ran the 3:53, and will love him when he is running fast again, so why not stop critizing and love him now.
Everyone analyzes his races because they suck!!! John Jefferson closed faster in a slightly faster 5k last year! If he's really as far away from his race shape as you guys say, HE SHOULDN'T BE RACING. Sorry, but back when he was in Michigan in cross season he could have done MUCH better than this...he is not where he needs to be at all.
Where he needs to be? What are you his dad? I think he screwed the Michigan deal up however, $250,000 is alot of cash. It is very early in the season to judge what he will do over 1500 meters this summer. I am not a big fan of Webb however, it is too early to criticize what he is doing.
Dr. M wrote:
Everyone analyzes his races because they suck!!! John Jefferson closed faster in a slightly faster 5k last year! If he's really as far away from his race shape as you guys say, HE SHOULDN'T BE RACING. Sorry, but back when he was in Michigan in cross season he could have done MUCH better than this...he is not where he needs to be at all.
Dowop 14 wrote:
What's with the 12 1/2 laps? Is this a late season "let's continue the indoor season" meet? I thought this was an outdoorsy (ya know, wind, rain, clouds, and crap like that) sort of get together. Doesn't anyone pay attention to what they are writing? If yer gonna support the guy, act like you know what he's doing.
The guy is developing just fine, in spite of or because of what we say--who knoweth?
Excellent.
It's low standards like these that will never have the US back on top as far as distance running goes. I'm sorry, 14:06 just doesn't cut it, it sucks. You guys can make all the excuses you want, but he has NOT shown anything indicating anything near 3:53 shape. I have no problem with him not being sharp and not being in race shape, but if thats the case, DON'T RACE. I am sure that he came into this race as all of his other subpar races this season with the intention to run fast...14:06 is not fast for him. If 14:06 is the standard we are shooting for at ANY point of the year for a US premiere miler with a history of incredible endurance then we are in big trouble.
Stop defending him because you like him. I love Alan Webb, I hope the best for him, but this was not an impressive race.
as much as i hate to say it, he made a real mistake leaving Michigan. at first i thought he was making the right choice, but I really have my second guesses now. remember how strong that kid was his first year of cross?
Notice he beat 62 other runners! What the hell kinda\' 5000 is that?
imagine for a second that you are an 800/miler type guy who has ran a couple 2 miles on the track but never a 5000. Now, you're about to run your very first 5k on the track, what's your race plan going to be? take it from the gun and push the pace? or run with the leaders and see what you can kick it home in? It seems like webb picked the second scenario and I would think most of you would as well.
As to why he's running races like this, isn't it oviovus? Think of how many runners saw him race and check out his Nike stuff and gawk at him - quite a few.
If we heard a teenage 800/ 1500 runner in europe ran a 5000 in March and won it in 14.06 wouldn't we all be quite impressed.
Who won the race?
SCOREBOARD!!!!!