German Fernandez intending to NOT RUN USA Senior Nationals

stupiderer wrote:

fernandez's future is in his shoe contract and prize money, not in his education.

Like Caitlin Chock?

you're kidding, so I'll forget that. Fernandez already has the high school 2M record, would probably get the junior 5k record, won ncaa 1500m as a freshman, and is one of those runners who creates a lot of interest (some of these runners are good and some not that good, but they are talked about). he is going to get a big contract and will be one of the best American distance runners ever.

I personally think it's important for German to compete in the senior 5k at the U.S. Championships for two reasons.

First of all is to test himself at this distance, in this competition, this year.

Secondly it is important not only to test himself, but also to avoid ducking the competition in the 5k, and to avoid giving the impression that he is ducking the competition.

The competition is important first of all as a physical test and secondly as a mental one.

J.R. wrote:

I personally think it's important for German to compete in the senior 5k at the U.S. Championships for two reasons.

First of all is to test himself at this distance, in this competition, this year.

Secondly it is important not only to test himself, but also to avoid ducking the competition in the 5k, and to avoid giving the impression that he is ducking the competition.

The competition is important first of all as a physical test and secondly as a mental one.

Why is important to avoid giving the impression he is ducking the competition?

You're other reasons are nearly equally as incoherent but I think we really need to read your answer to this one.

understandably wrote:

TK1451 wrote:

Name a single American runner not named Lagat, Tegenkamp, Solinsky, Rupp, or Famiglietti that would be such a sure thing against Fernandez that there's "no way he'd finish top 4."

Uh...that's 5 people already.

Yes but of those 5 Rupp and Fam are not likely to run it. German is probably ready for 13:25 or better now and that puts him right up in the hunt with guys like Bethke, Jager and Riley. And remember Lagat doesn't count since he gets a free spot as returning champ.

People get hurt. Money for runners isn't that great either. Unless he wins an Olympic Medal, an IAAF Outdoor or XC medal, or a major marathon he won't make a ton of money. He needs to study and finish his education to guarantee his future. Only a very few famous T&F athletes don't have to work an active career.

The only reason German doesn't have the JR 5k record now is because he has zero racing skills. Getting caught against the rail and spit out the back of a pack was bad enough, but throwing it all down early to catch the pack showed his biggest weakness. The kid isn't race savvy. Throw him in against people who can beat him, make him stay mentally focused an entire race, and teach him to use his immense talent and ludicrous speed.

German Fernandez can be the greatest distance runner in US History, but not as a front running time-trialer. He needs to learn how to race.

German knows how to race.

He's a very smart racer. He goes out evenly and gradually picks up the pace where no one can stay with him.

The problem is that Dave Smith is a namby pamby and is trying to teach his namby pambyism to Fernandez.

My point wrote:

The only reason German doesn't have the JR 5k record now is because he has zero racing skills. Getting caught against the rail and spit out the back of a pack was bad enough, but throwing it all down early to catch the pack showed his biggest weakness. The kid isn't race savvy. Throw him in against people who can beat him, make him stay mentally focused an entire race, and teach him to use his immense talent and ludicrous speed.

German Fernandez can be the greatest distance runner in US History, but not as a front running time-trialer. He needs to learn how to race.

I would agree with this statement. However, does this mean that he needs to race USATF right now?

My point wrote:

The only reason German doesn't have the JR 5k record now is because he has zero racing skills. Getting caught against the rail and spit out the back of a pack was bad enough, but throwing it all down early to catch the pack showed his biggest weakness. The kid isn't race savvy. Throw him in against people who can beat him, make him stay mentally focused an entire race, and teach him to use his immense talent and ludicrous speed.

German Fernandez can be the greatest distance runner in US History, but not as a front running time-trialer. He needs to learn how to race.

He will never win a championship 1500 against people with faster PR's. Especially not as a freshman.

Man!!! he just did the guys he ran agains at nationals had faster PRS than he did..

[He will never win a championship 1500 against people with faster PR's. Especially not as a freshman.]

My point wrote:

The only reason German doesn't have the JR 5k record now is because he has zero racing skills.

Everyone who was injured and missed two weeks of training, and then came back to not only PR but to break a record by over 5 seconds, raise their hand. I've had my track and cross country seasons interrupted similarly, and I was lucky to be able to run 30 seconds slower than my 5K PR. German went into that race not at the top of his game, but he gave it an honest effort anyway. His H.S. coach, not known for hyperbole, stated German had the ability to run 13:18 by this spring. If anything he was being conservative. Were he not injured, I fully would have expected to see a 13:13-13:18.

I think, aside from all the records, what makes people take notice of German is how freakin' easy he makes it look when he wins. In the NCAA 1500, runners with faster PRs were left staggering and gasping, while German didn't even look tired. For that reason I'd be really, really interested to see how he does against Teg and Solinsky. If he doesn't run, that's okay too. All the more to look forward to this fall.

Shouldn't the title of this thread be: "German Fernandez NOT intending to RUN USA Senior Nationals"?

Education:

You dont seem to have a very good idea of how much German could make. He can make 6 figures for a good 10 years along with earning his degree on the side to take a job after he ends his running career. Thats not bad money at all.

Just saw this thread.

We mentioned this in our recap of the 1500 and Fernandez said it in the interview which can be found in the recap here:

http://www.letsrun.com/2009/day40613.php

I wasn't too shocked a freshman was ending his season after being injured for part of it.

I found it worth mentioning in the recap.

aqui wrote:

Shouldn't the title of this thread be: "German Fernandez NOT intending to RUN USA Senior Nationals"?

No, because the OP's title is a positive statement, and your suggestion is a negative statement. Compare this with saying "I think he went to the store", to "I don't think he did not go to the store."

wejo wrote:We mentioned this in our recap of the 1500 and Fernandez said it in the interview

As mentioned earlier on this thread, Smith said in his post race interview that they were going to discuss usa nationals after recovery from the ncaa 1500.

Not beeing too shocked a freshman was ending his season after being injured for part of it is one way to word it.

(that sounds like he is banged up and barely qualified)

But you could be surprised that the recent NCAA Champion, who is currently healthy, is ending his season before USA's.

I don't understand a racing system that takes one of the top runners in the nation, doubles him in indoor and outdoor low level conference meets but does not race him in the ultimate national competition to save his legs.

"fernandez's future is in his shoe contract and prize money"

Maybe. Probably not, though. How much does someone like Teg make. 100k? 200k? After taxes, agents, and coaches it's even less.

That's not bad for someone in their 20's, but all it really does is allow you to pursue running full time. It's not going to set you up for life.

Once your career is over at 30-35, you're going to need a job.

Best case scenario is that maybe GF makes enough to save a million bucks over his career, and that assumes he becomes a real star rather than a boy wonder.

If you think that amount of money will last you from age 35 to age 85, then you need to take some basic math and finance classes.

More likely, though, is that he ends up saving a couple $100k - and even that assumes he has a pretty good pro career which is not guaranteed. A couple of 100 thousand will not last long at all once you are not making much money anymore.

True, I think a lot of people don't understand the difference between gross and net. And true net is not just after taxes, it's after payouts and expenses. Not only that but people tend live at there income level and not below it, making saving much harder. What happens if he marries one of his beautiful fans and has a kid or two?

The other thing people aren't factoring in is down years and injured years. If you aren't showing up big that salary can drop. There's way too many unknowns to count on a big salary for 10 years (injuries being a big one for him) and coming out set for life. That just doesn't happen. Why do you think Rupp is on the deans list in business? Not because he thinks it's a waste of time.