What happens (to Sell) if the Olympic Marathon is a sit and kick race?

Should be competitive in all scenarios, after 20miles even if it were 20miles "just" at 5:20 pace specific marathon strength is a huge asset.

i don't think sell will let it be a sit and kick race.

Neb wrote:

i don't think sell will let it be a sit and kick race.

Agreed. I don't think Sell will make the team, but if he's going to make a serious try, he needs to do a Pete Pfitzinger and hope it's enough.

Flagpole Willy doesn't think Sell will make the team. Based on the outcomes of Flagpole's other opinions that pretty much makes Sell a shoe in.

moreknowledge wrote:

Flagpole Willy doesn't think Sell will make the team. Based on the outcomes of Flagpole's other opinions that pretty much makes Sell a shoe in.

"shoo-in"

Is Sell really going to quit competing and go to grad school if he doesn't make it?

How do you guys come up with this shit. Do you really think if a Hansons runner helps with the pacing it's not going to be a heads up race? What does that even mean?

You seem like you are implying that if a Hansons runner helps with the pacing it's only going to benefit Sell and somehow compromise the quality of the team we send to Bejing?

Seriously, how do you come up with this shit?

This doesn't make any sense. If a Hanson guy was going to pace him, it would be so Sell could make the team, not so he could do well in Beijing. I don't think Brian Sell has as good a chance of medaling in Beijing as Abdi or Ryan Hall, but that doesn't mean I think Sell shouldn't try to make the team, which is almost what you seem to be suggesting.

I guess I should have started the post "For all those who think one of the Hansons guys should pace sell"

I didn't come up with this shit, Amby Burfoot did. I'm just commenting that it's pathetic that people think someone from Hansons should step up and pace Sell.

I'll explain myself about the heads up race comment since you can't seem to figure it out. When pacing begins, it is no longer a heads up race. It is then everybody sitting on the rabbit waiting for people to pop and the rabbit to drop out. Heads up is every man for himself. I really don't think he's going to make the team anyway, but the whole idea of "pacing" in a trials marathon pisses me off and it should the rest of you too. Of course, you guys think that pacing IS racing so I'm not surprised. Letsrun posters never disappoints!

It will not matter if it is Kyle O'brien pulling him through 20 or or 26. If the leaders are close at the end Brian is going to be the odd man out.

Thomas

Fair enough. To clarify I don't really think there should be an official pacer. My position is that an unofficial pacer won't impact the race at all.

My thoughts not necessarily in response to your comments:

I just don't think anyone in the race can help Sell do anything that he isn't prepared to do on his own anyway. I see no advantage for a particular runner if a slower runner "paces" the field for 1/2 marathon or so at a fast pace. I fail to see how a fast pace benefits a slower runner.

If someone was going to try and specifically pace Hall or KK through 30-35k at 2:09 pace or something, then I'd suggest this isn't fair. To me, Amby's comments even if they came to fruition won't have any impact on the race at all.

For the record. The slowest closer in all of his marathons has been Meb. Yes even in the Olympics. 10k speed has been proven to have no effect on closing speed in a marathon.

Former teammate wrote:

For the record. The slowest closer in all of his marathons has been Meb. Yes even in the Olympics. 10k speed has been proven to have no effect on closing speed in a marathon.

Could you please clarify this.

What do you mean the slowest closer? Do you mean he closed slower than the winner? The 2nd place runner? The 3rd place runner?

Or do you mean Meb closes slower in his marathons than the other favorites running in the trials do in theirs?

I don't know Sell at all but from the races I have seen him in and results I don't think he cares what everyone else is doing.

I saw him race Chicago were there was a large group ahead of him and behind him and he was in "no mans land" - that didn't seem to take him off his game plan.

I think Sell knows more about this strengths and weaknesses than most people and he is one guy that you can bet at the end of the race he will know he ran the best race possible.

He is one of the smartest guys out there as far as running goes. Trials or Olympics, I don't think he cares who else is in the race with him.

Here is what I meant. From 40k to the finish the fastest closers in order of their fastes finish in any marathon have been.

1. Khalid

2. Hall

3. Sell

4. Culpepper

5. Abdi

6. Meb

7. Gilmore

8. Ritz

I will give Ritz a pass since he has only run 1 marathon.

Oh ok. Interesting stats.

I wouldn't mind seeing 4 guys together at 40k. Then we'll find out who has the most closing speed (and guts).

Former teammate wrote:

For the record. The slowest closer in all of his marathons has been Meb. Yes even in the Olympics. 10k speed has been proven to have no effect on closing speed in a marathon.

How and when was this proven? I don't see how this could be proven? How do you even know what people's (most people's) real ability at 10k is anyway? Many of them haven't been running it at a top level when they are also competing in marathons.

There is no way whatsoever that they come through ten miles slower than 50:30. 5:20 is jogging to these guys at this point. I'm certain Sell, Abdi, and Hall will all be pushing the pace.