- let's put it into further perspective. AJ and Hall, the last two FLN champs, had bests of 15:11 and 15:06 on the woodward course respectively. AJ actually only ran 15:15 his senior year on the course. Ryan Hall, who might prove to be the greatest american marathoner of all time, ONLY ran 14:50 on the course in perfect conditions, if i remember correctly. and the last time anybody even broke 15 on the course was Hall back seven years ago when he ran that 14:50. Louie Quintana, in his FLN winning season, ran a 14:47. Bryan Dameworth and Eric Reynolds both ran a 14:39 on the course in their senior campaigns. GERMAN RAN 14:24.
- i really don't think anyone seriously thought german would break the record, much less in such a spectacular manner. and if you haven't seen the race video, do yourself a favor and watch it. i know, year in and year out, there's a new kid on the block who runs really fast and people always say "wow, he made it look so easy, like he wasn't trying at all". as i watch the video of german running the course, not only is he making it look easy, but it's absolutely ludicrous that the pace he's running is sub-4:40 mile pace. his split for three miles was reported at 13:55. 13:55!! i don't remember the last time anyone in california clocked a sub-14 three mile (if ever) and german did it on a true xc course, not some flat green. this was easily california's most decorated course record and he just took it down. it was probably more celebrated than the mt. sac record, which german would have absolutely crushed had he ran.
- german HAS to be the most underworked of all the top runners in the country. i think him being "past his peak by nationals" or "tired out from so much racing" is really a non-factor, but will absolutely hinder a lot of the runners from other parts of the country, especially those competing in NTN.
- the woodward course has always been a good indicator of what a runner will go on to clock that same year at the balboa course. chances are, whoever is looking to beat german is gonna have to either break or come dangerously close to the 14:36 course record
summary: it's german's race to lose.