"Many have wondered why Matt did not run the mile on Sunday. It was because he has had a hamstring tightness from training that was bugging him leading into the weekend. He had hoped that it would loosen up, but when it didn’t he made the tough and smart decision to not risk anything going into the trials, as that is the most important race of the spring. We will be ready to roll in three weeks and are looking forward to our first shot at an Olympic berth!!" (from kimbia.net; Solinsky)
Yes, it is interesting that every four years about this time of the year, the hammy's are a little tighter, the breathing is a little heavier, and the body is beginning to hurt in places that it has never hurt before!!! Let's get to the trials and see who can handle it!!!!!!!!!!
I would say that Teg is being cautious which is only natural as he nears this important meet (Oly Trials); he will have more time to "sharpen" after the trials. His chances are very, very good at making the team. Solinsky looks good, but his last 200 was "suspect" at PRE, then there is Lagat (the winner, if he wants to be) and after that it would take a "surprise" from Goucher or Vaughan or someone else that would have to have a prelim and final of their lives to make the team.
With a few weeks of sharpening, Solinsky looks like a good bet for the team. The confidence from yesterday is like gold for his mindset. A "double Badger" 5000 team would be huge step for Shumacher's program.
How about the one-two-three finish at US indoors. Isn't that a huge step already
I talked to Tegenkamp, Solinsky, Lomong, Abdi, Riley, and Symmonds, among others, last night while we were chilling at Renny's in Eugene.
Teg is just being cautious, he said! He's fit and his hamstring isn't too bad; but why take the risk when the Trials are coming up soon?
Teg also said the wind was crazy-bad in Hengelo, and that's why his time was slower than expected. I mentioned that if Bekele was running barely under 13 minutes then he (Teg) must be in about 13:14 shape. He agreed, but didn't comment further. He is a most mellow guy!
Solinsky was quite happy with his performance in the 2-mile and said he hasn't done speedwork and should be much quicker at the Trials. He commented the time would have been better had Mottram not slowed so much when he took the lead.
Note: I thought Ryan Bak did a good job of pacing. He and Brad Hudson said the night before at The Eugene Running Company that Ryan was supposed to lead through 1200m in 3 flat. That's about what he did!
Abdi was Abdi - a fun-loving dude! We drank some pints, talked training, goofed around and had a great time.
Lopez was my pool-partner (billards), and he's actually a good player. I was impressed with he friendliness and his memory of people's names.
Jonathan Riley is a funny guy who is about as Average-Joe as once get - except for his runniing ability, of course! You'd never know he was an elite runner. He's modes as can be!
Symmonds is one heck of a competitor and loves the 800m, he said, because it's rough; you gotta deal with the pushing and shoving and be hard-core, is what he basically said. I asked him if he knew there was a guy on his heels that tripped on the last curve and he said he didn't know about it. After watching him compete, like a pit-bull, I'd have to say he was so focused on the pursuit of winning that little things like someone tripping was not going to register in his mind. Maybe that's why he's one of the best, and it is not just his physical talent?
By the way, the Oregon Track Club guys and gals are very cool people. They work hard, play hard!
Tinman
That is great to hear. Especially when you meet other amazing runners who are just chill, lay back, but when it comes to game time there is nothing, but focus. That is that way to training and competing at your best...
~Patrick
Teg will be fine; if you take a chance 3 weeks before the trials, you would look pretty stupid. Lagat, Teg, ???? (I would guess that Solinsky is the favorite at this point, but do not count out Goucher.
Tin, I agree with your assessment on Jon Riley. One of the few modest and unassuming Stanford guys. Polar opposite of a Louis Luchini.
thexcman wrote:
I would say that Teg is being cautious which is only natural as he nears this important meet (Oly Trials); he will have more time to \"sharpen\" after the trials. His chances are very, very good at making the team. Solinsky looks good, but his last 200 was \"suspect\" at PRE, then there is Lagat (the winner, if he wants to be) and after that it would take a \"surprise\" from Goucher or Vaughan or someone else that would have to have a prelim and final of their lives to make the team.
why did you put all that in quotes? its stupid.
curious as george wrote:
thexcman wrote:I would say that Teg is being cautious which is only natural as he nears this important meet (Oly Trials); he will have more time to "sharpen" after the trials. His chances are very, very good at making the team. Solinsky looks good, but his last 200 was "suspect" at PRE, then there is Lagat (the winner, if he wants to be) and after that it would take a "surprise" from Goucher or Vaughan or someone else that would have to have a prelim and final of their lives to make the team.
why did you put all that in quotes? its stupid.
You have to love the "English Majors" on here; you would think that they would have something else to do with their time, besides criticizing to posts on here.
mazzi wrote:
curious as george wrote:why did you put all that in quotes? its stupid.
You have to love the \"English Majors\" on here; you would think that they would have something else to do with their time, besides criticizing to posts on here.
I\'m an \"English major\", and him putting those words in \"quotes\" had no impact on my \"life\". So thanks for making a \"hasty\", incorrect generalization. Do you have anything better to do besides pretending to be a \"know-it-all\"? Oh by the \"way\", good use of the \"semi-colon\".
Just as I thought, English majors are real dorks!!!!!!
"""""&quo wrote:
mazzi wrote:You have to love the "English Majors" on here; you would think that they would have something else to do with their time, besides criticizing to posts on here.
I'm an "English major", and him putting those words in "quotes" had no impact on my "life". So thanks for making a "hasty", incorrect generalization. Do you have anything better to do besides pretending to be a "know-it-all"? Oh by the "way", good use of the "semi-colon".
Your one hell of a name dropper Tinman. Your status on Letsrun must really make you a respected figure amongst America's young elite. Funny how the only time you have posted in recent times was to tell us about all the big names you can suck up to.
The Great Oz wrote:
Your one hell of a name dropper Tinman.
Some friendly help for you:
A frighteningly large percentage of individuals fail to understand the difference between the words "you're" and "your". Here is a quick and dirty crash course on this common usage problem.
Understand the proper usage of the word you're. It is a contraction, or a combination of the words you and are. Other examples of contractions include doesn't, they're, and can't.
"You're a good friend." ("YOU ARE a good friend.")
"I don't know what you're talking about." ("I don't know what YOU ARE talking about.")
Understand the proper usage of the word your. The word your is the possessive form of you, referring to something that a person has, or something that belongs to the person in discussion (or, the person you are talking to):
"Is your stomach growling?"
"Your book is on the table."
Oz -
You miss the points of my post:
1) Matt Tegenkamp is not injured badly, but he is being smart and not taking risks. He's fit, he says, and will ready to roll at the O.T.
2) Unlike a lot of superstars from other sports, track & field has some very nice people who are star athletes.
Everyone of those people I mentioned is downright nice, and you'd never know they are grea athletes if you met them at the grocery store.
A buddy of mine was at the meet Sunday and he talked to several elite runners (Vivian Cheriot for example) and said the same thing about how nice they were. They didn't treat him like a nobody just because he's a Joe-runner fan.
Teg was gonna run the 10k, but showed up for the 2 mile and scratched because it wasn't the 10k.
Riley is a class act.
The_Big_Mazungo wrote:
Teg was gonna run the 10k, but showed up for the 2 mile and scratched because it wasn't the 10k.
---------------------------------
Teg told me he was going to run the mile at Pre., but he scratched because of a recent hamstring issue. He felt confident he'd be ready to roll at the Trials.
mazzi wrote:
You have to love the "English Majors" on here; you would think that they would have something else to do with their time, besides criticizing to posts on here.
You have to love the people who think it takes an English degree to string together a handful of sentences using correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling.