jjjjjjjjjjjjjjj wrote:
reached 3:33 and top ten American so young and struggled the past few years. He used to train w/Webb. He really ought to go to Salazar like his old training partner. At 25, he has a world of potential still and I'm betting that with that training group, or w/Schumacher, he would realize that potential.
When did Salazar (or Schumacher for that matter) become the best coach in the world (or even America)? The idea that everyone should just move to Oregon in order to improve, is just plain silly. Other than Ritz, who has Salazar really developed? Just Rupp really, and K.Goucher (although only after College). None of whom can run a middle-distance race to save their lives - 1.50 for Rupp isn't even a good HS time. Ritz is as much a product of Wetmore and Hudson (which AlSal readily admits) in terms of development, as are the Gouchers for that matter (Wetmore anyway).
Perhaps we should wait until Webb actually does something under Salazar, before he is annointed saviour to all and sundry - since Webb is going in (stale I'll admit) a 1.43/3.46M runner, development must either mean World/Olympic medal or World record (3.43M/3.25 1500). Otherwise he really isn't any different than Razcko.
I'm not against AlSal, or Schumacher either, in fact I have the utmost respect for both, but the idea that there are only a handful of competent coaches, or the "right" training groups, is the main reason why there are so few world-class American runners these days. The NCAA system (and its focus on team for everything) doesn't help the situation - in fact it actually inhibits the development of many individuals - but individuals can develop outside of this "bubble" - people used to be able to do so (Ryun, Liquori, etc.). It's not like ALL the Africans are all coached by one or two coaches (lots of countries involved) in one group - and many of them manage to run fast. Of course most people on this site assume that Canova coaches the whole world, outside of America.
Heck for that matter, why don't people go to James Li or Ron Warhurst or Cook as they actually develop Olympic/World middle-distance medalists - Lagat/Willis/Rowbury. I know some do, and wisely, but it seems against the flow of this new "mecca" in Oregon. I hope this isn't the beginning of another "Athletics West" travesty.
This transmigration attitude seems to me more about desperation and self-defeat rather than trying to actually devlelop one's potential in the sport. It's one thing to go to altitude for a training purpose, another to assume that there is one (or even two) genius in America (the new Arthur Lydiard) who has all the answers to everyone's training/racing problems.