Reebok just got sold to Authentic Brands Group.
Reebok just got sold to Authentic Brands Group.
Oh, did not know. When Hehir and the other guy whose name slips me were wearing adidas, they said it was still the same company. I wonder if they become adidas guys like Willis did years ago or if they stay Reebok and this new company becomes their employer.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: HOKA is garbage for pro runners. Their shoes are completely sub optimal for both training and racing at an elite level, and it holds them back from achieving a good training output. All of their runners should be excellent pros, but their equipment holds them back from greatness and I'll swear by that. Runners simply cannot develop at HOKA.
I love HOKA as a brand, and I love having a shoe or two of their in my rotation for recovery day, but they have no place in the elite running world until they upgrade their lineup.
This is a business and shoe companies are not giving charity contracts in this current environment. If you are an American marathon runner then your options for 2022 don't look great. The WC team has already been selected and the odds that an American man wins a WMM are very long. There is also a good chance that omicron might wipe out the Spring 2022 race calendar. For Hoka, where is the value?
I also sense that the situation at NAZ is changing. There may be a directive from Hoka corporate to get younger and focus on 2024? Maybe they want a bigger focus on producing track athletes? More focus on women? Perhaps these guys feel that they need someone different than Rosario or somewhere different than Flagstaff to progress to the next level? I also would not be surprised if another brand or two is actively poaching athletes to add to their stables (Julien's group, Cragg's NC based crew. On?).
Just like other sports, ownership wants a change and athletes get let go, non-tendered, or are told to seek other employment.
Faubs is still with Hoka according to his Instagram. I suspect he's looking for a coaching change to add some spark. It's no secret that he was immensely disappointed about the Trials, and he followed it up with a lukewarm Boston performance.
no agenda....just wondering wrote:
Somewhat offensive that Nike employees or unpaid interns have taken over this thread. The last 3 posts and 4 of the previous 10 are a shameless plug. Not the topic this thread was supposed to be about. What you are suggesting is that Galen himself may have run under 2:10 but probably not anywhere near 2:08 with any pre-2016 Nike shoes. If Rupp is about the talent level of Bjorklund or Pfitz, and the shoes are literally worth minutes (plural) then I suppose you're right.
Back on topic (and off the Vapor-commercial for a moment):
No one seems to have realized that Hoka may be the ones making the decision. They could be dumping what they view as excess weight. I certainly don't view Faubs that way: I think he's pretty good. Quite a bit better than anyone at BTC in my mind, although Derrick could surprise us all eventually.
(Interstingly, Faubs is about the same level as the Rupp if all of your - about a dozen posters by now - claims of 3 minutes are true. Easily within a minute of him if around 2 minutes or so is more accurate. But that is back to the topic that this thread has unfortunately become...)
So I'm not saying I ditch the guy id I'm Hoka. But that very well could be what's happening here. If he has a contract with them for another year or whatever, we'll know be a use he'll still be wearing them and there won't be any news of a new deal. If a new sponsor emerges very soon, it means his Hoka deal ended.
Just saying maybe not completely his decision.....
Bad take. If he leaves hoka it’s because he wanted to. Don’t see why hoka would be dropping one of their best male runners unless they are getting out of sponsoring athletes which they aren’t. His post was very clear it was his decision too. Use common sense
no agenda....just wondering wrote:
Reebok is an adidas-owned brand.
Nope. False.
briswiss wrote:
Don’t see why hoka would be dropping one of their best male runners unless they are getting out of sponsoring athletes which they aren’t. His post was very clear it was his decision too. Use common sense
Because Fauble's best is old news now and there's no reason to believe that will change. Anyway, he's still with Hoka it just didn't work out with Hoka's main group. It'll be interesting to see who Hoka selects for that group after pushing out this batch of has-beens. Their best women are getting up there, too, and the new crop hasn't really developed that well.
Back to his college coach.
It doesn't really sound like these guys are being pushed out, but of course they could be saving face by leaving in this way. I guess we'll see where they land.
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Joshclan wrote:
But why the heck do they keep that old lady Rothstein on the team?She’s such a has been and there’s not any good performances from her in the last six years!
She is a workhorse and I believe relatable and inspiring to female runners-mothers.
Ho Hum wrote:
It doesn't really sound like these guys are being pushed out, but of course they could be saving face by leaving in this way. I guess we'll see where they land.
Occam's Razor says four dudes leaving a pro group at the same time isn't four individual decisions. It's one decision.
Joshclan wrote:
But why the heck do they keep that old lady Rothstein on the team?She’s such a has been and there’s not any good performances from her in the last six years!
For social justice reasons, nothing on her actual merit.
?
15:17 2019
31:254 2020
69:55 2021
2:27 2018
6th OT 2020
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Didn't all of them ran to the max of their potential. Maybe it's time for Hoka to start spending real money on runners who can step up to the next level.
Good points!
As the sale to Authentic Brands is still pending.
NAZ Elite was getting pretty crowded. Until the Scott's and Rory left they had 16 athletes on the roster. I'm wondering if Ben Rosario is overextended trying to oversee 16 athletes and their training. Maybe Faubs and Linkletter were feeling a little under appreciated and decided a smaller group would be more beneficial to them. I think Scott Smith wanted to be in LA with his Dr. wife. NAZ just announced a new deal with HOKA, that included health insurance, so don't think the group is going anywhere.