Zurich Results

orbitboy wrote:

And Webb? Isn't it further proof that he peaked to soon and didn't "just have a bad day(or week)" at the the WCs?

No, more like he still has trouble running non-rabbitted races. In case no on noticed, there were no rabbits at Zurich this year.

MAYEROFF wrote:

3:38 and 7:38 FOR THE MEN, AND 4:06 FOR THE WOMEN. ARE WE SUPPOSED TO GET EXCITED ABOUT THIS?

EARTH TO ZURICH, COME IN PLEASE.....

ANYBODY HOME????

BRING BACK THE RABBITS!!!!

I think it was a lot more interesting to watch than those incredibly boring time trials with rabbits. Now, the runners have to use both their legs and their brains.

old tymer wrote:

Exactly. Couldn't agree more. Zurich used to be "the" meet of the year, every year. Now it's just another, ordinary meet: nothing special. And that's too bad.

Zurich was packed to the rafters

I got jetlag crossing the land border between China and Afghanistan a few years back. I had to change my watch thre and a half hours... that really messed me up. At least when I fly I expect something odd.

Great crowd wrote:

old tymer wrote:

Exactly. Couldn't agree more. Zurich used to be "the" meet of the year, every year. Now it's just another, ordinary meet: nothing special. And that's too bad.

Zurich was packed to the rafters

Have you ever been there? It has always been packed to the rafters, and probably will continue to be for some time. However, this 'new' format--no rabbits and distinctly thinner program--means that the meet (currently) is not what it was before. It's possible that public interest will remain just as high as in the past--although I have my doubts.

I think most of you aren't getting the point here.

Does every spectator in the stands know what a 'good time' is, generally not.

So to them the time is irrelevant.

Do you think they want to see someone run away from the rest from 400-600 out? and then a steady trickle after that?

or rather 10 guys fighting over the last 300 with all of them finishing within 2 seconds of each other?

Most people in those stands wouldn't care about the time, they went to see some exciting racing not fast times. its the same letsrunners who say 'why doesnt anyone like our sport?' that then say 'gay race 3:38 what are they pussys?"

Zurich was always the meet that would produce what would would be the final world leading times for the year.

It was usually run shortly before Worlds or the Games as athletes were comong to their peak.

World rankings were usually highly influenced by an athletes performance at this event.

10.17 and 3:38 just do not say much.

Let's see how Brussels, Berlin, Rieti, etc. pan out.

Let's be honest ... it was the sorriest Zurich EVER.

It wasn't just the no-rabbits thing, but also not having some of the biggest stars in their best events (Gay-relay only, Felix, Xiang, Bekele) and what apparently was a cool, windy evening. Those 100 times were horrid - no rabbit issue there. Richards race was very good and X-Man's comeback was sharp. And there was some good running by the distance guys and gals, when they decided to run.

But compare to any other Zurich, and it pales. Still a good, competitive meet, yes. Comparable to ANY other Zurich in the last 20-30 years - no.

Also - fewer events. Usually Zurich has almost every event up to the 5k and maybe more field events.

119 wrote:

I think most of you aren't getting the point here.

Does every spectator in the stands know what a 'good time' is, generally not.

So to them the time is irrelevant.

The truth is that the vast majority of the people commenting here have never been to the meet that they are pontificating on. You'd be amazed at how knowledgable the Zurich fans have always been. They do--really--know the difference between a 3:28 1500 and a 3:38. They also know what split times mean! While every meet did have a section of seats for corporate sponsors and other somewhat casual fans, there was always a high percentage of people there who really knew what they were looking at. It's a complete joke to say that "to them the time is irrelevant."

a little perspective wrote:

Let's be honest ... it was the sorriest Zurich EVER.

It wasn't just the no-rabbits thing, but also not having some of the biggest stars in their best events (Gay-relay only, Felix, Xiang, Bekele) and what apparently was a cool, windy evening. Those 100 times were horrid - no rabbit issue there. Richards race was very good and X-Man's comeback was sharp. And there was some good running by the distance guys and gals, when they decided to run.

But compare to any other Zurich, and it pales. Still a good, competitive meet, yes. Comparable to ANY other Zurich in the last 20-30 years - no.

Also - fewer events. Usually Zurich has almost every event up to the 5k and maybe more field events.

Agree completely.

I thought the new stadium was sweet! Not quite the same character as the old one, but a beautiful facility nonetheless.

Now people might appreciate how good guys like Walker were; running 3:33-35 consistently without rabbits for months on end in Europe. He did this with a mixture of fast front-running and kicking down from slow paces.

All this pussyfooting from the middle distance men is pathetic. It is not possible that every athlete in these fields has their best chance off a slow pace. Have any of them ever heard of Filbert Bayi? What about taking a leaf from Jepkosgei's book in the Womens 800m at Wch? 1:56 low for the win from the front is the reward she deserves for her effort, and along with Bekele in the 10 was the best distance race to watch at the Champs.

Maybe the athletes will take a while to reclimatize to the rabbit-less fields and take some initiative after all the years of deferring to the rabbits. For the sake of track and field, I hope they do this soon.

Walker, Bayi, Keino, Ryun . . . There can still be exciting races and fast times without rabbits.

I'm glad that Zurich was willing to go rabbitless, although I wish that the middle-distance races had produced some more noteworthy performances to provide some support for the organizers' decision. Returning to rabbitless races is a bit like the Tour de France returning to pre-EPO days, or the weight events or women's running events returning to steroidless competition. It may be a while before rabbitless races produce world records, but it's ultimately better for the sport.

old tymer wrote:

119 wrote:

I think most of you aren't getting the point here.

Does every spectator in the stands know what a 'good time' is, generally not.

So to them the time is irrelevant.

The truth is that the vast majority of the people commenting here have never been to the meet that they are pontificating on. You'd be amazed at how knowledgable the Zurich fans have always been. They do--really--know the difference between a 3:28 1500 and a 3:38. They also know what split times mean! While every meet did have a section of seats for corporate sponsors and other somewhat casual fans, there was always a high percentage of people there who really knew what they were looking at. It's a complete joke to say that "to them the time is irrelevant."

so whose in 3:28 shape? at most 3.33 for a couple of the guys and the rest would have been dropped.

again, whats better to watch?

a couple of guys run 3.33, 3.32 at most. then a trickle?

OR

10 guys fighting it out over the last 300m?

The zurich organisers would have taken the WC into consideration and known they were not going to run fast times, therefore didnt bother wise pacemakers running 3:28 pace.

malmo wrote:

MAYEROFF wrote:

What are you talking about? It's westbound travel....very easy. No jetlag. It's going the other direction that gets you jetlag.

Mayeroff, that's way over the head of these Letsrun World travelers.

Me no comprehende?

Runner Snob wrote:

malmo wrote:

Mayeroff, that's way over the head of these Letsrun World travelers.

Me no comprehende?

Jetlag is West to East travel problem. East to West is easy.