Dan Browne: We're seriously underestimating him

I think he might be in the wrong type of shape. He ran really well at some shorter distance races, winning the US road 5k champs and something else that escapes me at the moment. Had he not done so well at those distances I would think he would be a serious threat for top 3. Now if he ran well at those races with no real focus on them in the middle of serious real marathon training, look out.

Reasonable points but remember he had a very similar buildup before his 2:11 debut back in 2002 - including running very well at the 5km Championships. I don't think DB will make the team but he will make it tough for whoever does. Like the initial poster said, he is a VERY tough competitor when it counts and when there is money on the table.

Top 3, no specific order sorry everyone else.

Biff wrote:

I think he might be in the wrong type of shape. He ran really well at some shorter distance races, winning the US road 5k champs and something else that escapes me at the moment. Had he not done so well at those distances I would think he would be a serious threat for top 3.

The other race that escapes you is the New Haven 20k, which obviously is a much better marathon predictor than a 5k. At the 20k, he beat both Carney and Lehmkuhle, two guys who keep getting pegged as the top darkhorses for the Olympic team. He also crushed Shay and Gilmore by over 2 minutes and 2:30, respectively. It very well may be the case that Browne isn't in the right type of shape, but I don't think that his solid performances in shorter races is an argument AGAINST his abilities at longer ones. I tend more toward the OP's opinion, that he is underestimated when it comes to chances of making the Olympic team.

That "other race" the OP mentioned was the US 20k championship. Not exactly a 5k. By the way, if I was planning on being in a race that has a high probability of being a tactical competition, I would like to develop some speed as well.

I think he has a good shot at cracking the top 3. He did it before!

By the way, meant to include the link for the 20k results:

http://www.newhavenroadrace.org/NH20K07.htm

If you look at the splits, you can see that Gilmore and Shay were both with Browne at 10k, only to be trounced by 2 mins+ over the final 6 miles. Were those guys coasting in? I mean, I would consider Gilmore to have a solid shot at making the team...

I thinking about this race the only thing that I can come up with is that it is wide open. I don't think anyone can be under-estimated going in. And, for that matter, I don't think no one can be over-estimated. With the 04 top 3 returning and healthy, they could repeat. Or, it might not be any of those 3 going in 08. I think that is what make this trials much anticapted.

Thanks for posting that meet that slipped my mind. For some reason I thought it was a 10 mile race but the 20k does serve as a much better indicator of marathon fitness, although nothing really does indicate that.

As for Glimore having a solid shot to make the team, I wouldn't put him any better than 6th unless the leaders just blow up. His performance at the 20k, as most of the people who went with Dan for 10k, just shows how much more fit he is for shorter distances compared to them. It shouldn't have too much of an indication to what will happen at the trials as Pete is known more for his strength than speed - same holding true for Shay.

Meant to say: His performance at the 20k, as most of the people who went with Dan for 10k, just shows how much more fit DAN is for shorter distances compared to Pete.

Dan knows this very very well. The 20km and the marathon are very different beasts. The 20km is like a German shepard, but the marathon is like a grizzly bear. It will eat you alive if you give it half a chance.

Dan is a real championship performer who can pull off a good one when the pressure is on big time.

It's probably a good thing for him that all the attention is on Meb, Hall and Abdi.

Jason

As a couple have pointed out here already, he won the 20K Champs in New Haven, and looked very strong there. However, he also ran the 10 mile Champs in the Twin Citiesa few weeks ago. He tried to follow Abdi and was dropped around halfway, finishing well back in the field... Dan's racing has gone like this much of the past 2 years, a couple of good races followed by a head scratcher. I know injuries have played a role.

Having said all that, I think he'll run well in New York. He's been training in Mammoth with Meb. Certainly, his preparation up there has been marathon-focused.

more info... wrote:

However, he also ran the 10 mile Champs in the Twin Citiesa few weeks ago. He tried to follow Abdi and was dropped around halfway, finishing well back in the field...

I agree. He was even with Lehm at 5 miles and then finished 3 minutes behind him. Maybe he shut it down due to the heat or something, but either way that couldn't have been a confidence boosting race 4 weeks before the Trials.

He was dropped by Abdi because he isn't in the same class as Abdi. Nothing against Browne, I admire him as a runner (especially his comeback from knee surgery) but Abdi has consistently shown that he is on a different level than Browne.

I agree with Mayeroff. I know Dan and it is good everyone is putting the focus on Abdi, Hall and Meb...there are MANY runners in the race who can make the team..the course in NYC is hilly, may suit others better and make for an even more interesting. I hope DB makes the team-he is a fellow Soldier.

SGT Pennington

Dan is a great guy and great soldier and athletic warrior.

He knows that this battle will be really brutal.

He will take it like a man.

Nate Pennington wrote:

I agree with Mayeroff. I know Dan and it is good everyone is putting the focus on Abdi, Hall and Meb...there are MANY runners in the race who can make the team..the course in NYC is hilly, may suit others better and make for an even more interesting. I hope DB makes the team-he is a fellow Soldier.

SGT Pennington

"Scorn Servility. Servility, 'bootlicking,' and deliberate courting of favor are beneath the standard of conduct expected of officers (or NCO's in this case), and any who openly practice such actions earn the scorn of their associates."

MAYEROFF wrote:

Dan is a great guy and great soldier and athletic warrior.

He knows that this battle will be really brutal.

He will take it like a man.

Dan Browne may be many things, but he is NOT a soldier. A talented runner...yes. A West Point grad. who served his country.......NO.

well, he's got about 3 minutes on ritz.