Like I said, a bad marriage, achilles problems, bouncing between coaches, and contract issues added up to a short career.
I know about Falcon's racing but didn't know about his struggles (other than the Olympic trials difficulties). Curious to learn more about him beyond the results.
Like I said, a bad marriage, achilles problems, bouncing between coaches, and contract issues added up to a short career.
I know about Falcon's racing but didn't know about his struggles (other than the Olympic trials difficulties). Curious to learn more about him beyond the results.
That was all second hand, of course. I probably shouldn’t have shared that. The alum are pretty tight. He was always kind to the younger guys on the team; and had a huge heart. Seemed like he was always giving away his singlet or spikes to fans at meets. When we switched from adidas to Reebok, he boxed up all his old gear and took it over to Fayetteville High to give away. Just a great guy. I think some of the older alum didn’t really like him since he’d beat them outright or break their school records- petty jealousy sometimes amongst the older guys that had graduated. Another thing was that he also didn’t go out and party, and there was a lot of hard drinking dudes both before and after him.
The last I heard, Falcon had remarried, had adopted two kids, and was really happy in his life.
Speculation, sure; but anyone who spent any time around him knew he was different, even amongst the pros on campus. His records over our normal run routes were untouchable. I have a friend in Springfield, MO (where Falcon moved after college); and he was personally witness to these track workouts below, but obviously, not the 10 miler. Joe had strength (ncaa xc champ) and speed (22.xx for 200m). His ability to shift gears was unparalleled. Like I said, a bad marriage, achilles problems, bouncing between coaches, and contract issues added up to a short career.
3x mile in 4:04 with 3 minutes rest
10x 300 in 39 with 100m walk
2k/16/1k/8/6/4/2- half distance jog recovery- (never stopping)- 5:10/4:02/2:25/1:56/1:25/54/24
10 miles in 45:30
Hahahahahahahahha. So funny……Joe likes to exaggerate I guess. For example, a 45:30 10 mile is roughly equivalent to a 1:00:40 half marathon or 27:22 10000m. Joe is doing this in practice? So funny…
I don’t doubt at all that he could have run 27:20. I believe that was a time trial/test if fitness he did in Springfield at the end of his base training in 1990. Maybe 1991? It was not uncommon for him to just suddenly roll into under 5:00/mile on our afternoon runs on some of the routes. There were days when running 6:00/mile over extremely hilly roads the day after a hard workout still had you coming in long after the front guys. Coop could drop some bombs as well.
I’m here to tell you that you aren’t that smart. Do the math on what his average lap pace was before that final lap and find out how far off that was of everything being speculated.
I’m here to tell you that you aren’t that smart. Do the math on what his average lap pace was before that final lap and find out how far off that was of everything being speculated.
I am way smarter than you. You don’t understand how this works. You don’t simply subtract 11 seconds from a 5000m performance due to a crazy fast last lap.
Hahahahahahahahha. So funny……Joe likes to exaggerate I guess. For example, a 45:30 10 mile is roughly equivalent to a 1:00:40 half marathon or 27:22 10000m. Joe is doing this in practice? So funny…
I don’t doubt at all that he could have run 27:20. I believe that was a time trial/test if fitness he did in Springfield at the end of his base training in 1990. Maybe 1991? It was not uncommon for him to just suddenly roll into under 5:00/mile on our afternoon runs on some of the routes. There were days when running 6:00/mile over extremely hilly roads the day after a hard workout still had you coming in long after the front guys. Coop could drop some bombs as well.
Well anyway you believe Joe should have held all the US track records from 1500m through 10000m. Some of us know better.
That was all second hand, of course. I probably shouldn’t have shared that. The alum are pretty tight. He was always kind to the younger guys on the team; and had a huge heart. Seemed like he was always giving away his singlet or spikes to fans at meets. When we switched from adidas to Reebok, he boxed up all his old gear and took it over to Fayetteville High to give away. Just a great guy. I think some of the older alum didn’t really like him since he’d beat them outright or break their school records- petty jealousy sometimes amongst the older guys that had graduated. Another thing was that he also didn’t go out and party, and there was a lot of hard drinking dudes both before and after him.
The last I heard, Falcon had remarried, had adopted two kids, and was really happy in his life.
Sounds like a great guy and someone who really cared about the program and what it means to be an alumni. Was a fan before but seems like everything I learn makes me like him more. Glad to hear he's doing well.
Speculation, sure; but anyone who spent any time around him knew he was different, even amongst the pros on campus. His records over our normal run routes were untouchable. I have a friend in Springfield, MO (where Falcon moved after college); and he was personally witness to these track workouts below, but obviously, not the 10 miler. Joe had strength (ncaa xc champ) and speed (22.xx for 200m). His ability to shift gears was unparalleled. Like I said, a bad marriage, achilles problems, bouncing between coaches, and contract issues added up to a short career.
3x mile in 4:04 with 3 minutes rest
10x 300 in 39 with 100m walk
2k/16/1k/8/6/4/2- half distance jog recovery- (never stopping)- 5:10/4:02/2:25/1:56/1:25/54/24
10 miles in 45:30
Hahahahahahahahha. So funny……Joe likes to exaggerate I guess. For example, a 45:30 10 mile is roughly equivalent to a 1:00:40 half marathon or 27:22 10000m. Joe is doing this in practice? So funny…
Sydney Maree did a 10 miler at 4:30 every morning.... I like to think something got lost in translation cause there is no way some of the sample training that gets published is remotely right.
I don’t doubt at all that he could have run 27:20. I believe that was a time trial/test if fitness he did in Springfield at the end of his base training in 1990. Maybe 1991? It was not uncommon for him to just suddenly roll into under 5:00/mile on our afternoon runs on some of the routes. There were days when running 6:00/mile over extremely hilly roads the day after a hard workout still had you coming in long after the front guys. Coop could drop some bombs as well.
Well anyway you believe Joe should have held all the US track records from 1500m through 10000m. Some of us know better.
to be clear, you're speculating on what you think he couldn't do, albeit with fair evidence supporting your position, since he DIDN'T do it. but speculation is speculation, and there really are no accurate formulas other than a range of acceptable educated guesses. so, no one here is claiming joe would have developed into the 5k world record holder here for good reason. but, for my part of this educated guessing game, i've raced both joe and bob kennedy, and seen a fair amount of their races as well. put a peak-fitness joe falcon against peak-fitness bob kennedy in the 5k, and i may put my money 60/40 on joe. or maybe 51/49 on joe. and they both break 13. or joe falls.
again, not that anyone cares about potential in our bottom line sport, but i have no problem agreeing with the speculation that joe had sub-13 potential. why would you think a 3:49 miler with joe's range would automatically be inferior to a kinkaid or solinsky or tegenkamp or rupp? no, i'm not saying he could automatically do it, and he could be beaten by any of these guys, but i'd put him in the range of these guys in a 5k any day...
that's my story and i'm sticking to it,
cush
This post was edited 1 minute after it was posted.
Well anyway you believe Joe should have held all the US track records from 1500m through 10000m. Some of us know better.
to be clear, you're speculating on what you think he couldn't do, albeit with fair evidence supporting your position, since he DIDN'T do it. but speculation is speculation, and there really are no accurate formulas other than a range of acceptable educated guesses. so, no one here is claiming joe would have developed into the 5k world record holder here for good reason. but, for my part of this educated guessing game, i've raced both joe and bob kennedy, and seen a fair amount of their races as well. put a peak-fitness joe falcon against peak-fitness bob kennedy in the 5k, and i may put my money 60/40 on joe. or maybe 51/49 on joe. and they both break 13. or joe falls.
again, not that anyone cares about potential in our bottom line sport, but i have no problem agreeing with the speculation that joe had sub-13 potential. why would you think a 3:49 miler with joe's range would automatically be inferior to a kinkaid or solinsky or tegenkamp or rupp? no, i'm not saying he could automatically do it, and he could be beaten by any of these guys, but i'd put him in the range of these guys in a 5k any day...
Haha yeah because that’s what I was doing or even saying. Nice to see you had to protect your fragile ego by confirming on a message board that you are smarter than an anonymous poster. Big brain moves right there
I remember when he ran that. Had a track & field news cover with him on it winning but I was never actually able to watch the race until it went up on YouTube a few years back.
Yes, I was competing when Joe was (NOT against him) and looked up to him. He was small, but tough as nails. Took the dream Mile, I think it was over Peter Elliot, total inspiration to young people competing then, and also now it looks like. Pretty cool stuff.
I don’t doubt at all that he could have run 27:20. I believe that was a time trial/test if fitness he did in Springfield at the end of his base training in 1990. Maybe 1991? It was not uncommon for him to just suddenly roll into under 5:00/mile on our afternoon runs on some of the routes. There were days when running 6:00/mile over extremely hilly roads the day after a hard workout still had you coming in long after the front guys. Coop could drop some bombs as well.
Well anyway you believe Joe should have held all the US track records from 1500m through 10000m. Some of us know better.
Don’t put words in my mouth. He was a 10k guy with insane leg speed. The 5/10 times were from Coach McDonnell, not me.