Is Jon Brown the most miserable runner EVER?

academictech wrote:

I don't think they would. Do you hear them crying about KK not running in Athens...that marathon Gold belonged to the USA...after all they paid for it by letting him in the country and allowing him to become a US citizen...should'nt they be able to send hime back to Morroco since he won't bring USA the Gold?? They were looking forward to owning the OG in both the 100m and the marathon. They have more important things to think about....that's what Tony "do-whatever-bush-says" Blair is doing over here at the moment....listening to important things so he can go back to the land of the taxed and tell them he needs more because it's what is best.

Actually, it is the one thing waz got right, it is all a marketing plan by Beford to get the British public interested.

He did it last year with the controversy of having a runner pace Radcliffe

That's all Folks

Jon Brown for Blair's job

Who exactly is Jon Brown

If I was Brown, I'd run the fastest marathon I could and then stop and deliberately WALK the last 300m, waving to the crowd and blowing kisses and make sure I crossed the line at EXACTLY 2.14.59 (even pausing to consult my watch for a few seconds while on the wrong side of it). Then tell Bedford (in the ensuing melee of a press conference) where to stick his appearance money.

This bagging of Brown is disgraceful... try telling the 3 medallists from Sydney that their race was weak; How did you work that one out?... Brown can't win with you miserable bastards who are getting stuck into him. If Brown won the gold medal in Athens in a world record you would say he was on EPO. If he finished outside the top ten in Athens you would say he was crap. Whatever he does you will always put him down. The majority of you putting him down will never get near what he has accomplished; you are just jealous. Why don't you all go and have abother pint at the local pub and pretend you aren't losers...

Brown doesn't have a hope in hell

however you more than willing to believe in a person who is not the current fastest marathon runner, nevermind not being the current fastest UK marathon runner.

he has potential though, give him time to show it, afterall he is still very young.

Jon Brown (GBR) ran 2:13:39, for all you bitter Brits.

Good performance from Brown, looked pretty comfortable most of the way, also great run from Tipton Harrier Dan Robinson, getting under 2.14 and a place in the Olympic team. Hopefully both can build on this and have good runs in Athens.

As for the bitter Brits comment, think you'll find only two people were seriously bashing Brown in this thread and only one of them is British. Most of the British distance running community support and respect Jon and will be delighted that he'll be toeing the line for GB at Olympics.

I've never doubted Brown's ability - I just think he's a miserable git - and his behaviour this week was petulant and childish IMHO. Still, he did what he set to do and he's booked his ticket to Athens so good luck to him.

With a bit of luck his sponsorship will run out after Athens and he wont be bothering us with his attitude anymore.

Yet again Brown proved the doubters wrong, looking very comfortable and doing just what he had to do, the guy is a class act and I think its no surprise that virtually the entire British elite starters chose to key their race off him, that gives you an idea of the esteem he is held in by people who know what they are talking about. I think one of the reasons Dan Robinson ran so well and also some of the other british guys was due to the way rown approached the race. Again little provision had been made for the top British guys seeking a qualifying time and Brown helped solve the problem by running an even conservative race.

As for the chumps on this board who say the Sydney Olympic race was weak, who exactly was missing? It was probably the strongest olympic field ever.

Dustin hoffman has it spot on when he talks about the hypocracy over how the press and the public judge Brown/Radcliffe's actions, talk about double standards, its laughable.

As for Iedford making him out to be a villain, anyone who saw his interview on BBC would see that he is a quiet, humble, articulate man who is a great runner and does not profess to be any kind of 'celebrity', time and time again he lets hs running do the talking but the British public are not interested because he is not a 'marketing mans dream', I for one apreciate his attitude over those of his better known, media luvvy contemporaries...

Good job by Jon Brown - did what he had to and not too hard which should help him for Athens. Thought he handled the race very well given everything thats been written and said this week.

I disagree though Waz when you say the Brits keyed their race off Brown. Bannister, Lobb and Chepkwony went off some way ahead of Brown for mile one and once it settled down the group were following the two GB pacemakers. I never even saw him until about 3 miles when he pulled up alongside. The pace was quicker than planned, the pacemakers slowed it at 10k and Brown went ahead. Nobody covered it initially but when Burns and Cariss followed then the rest realised that could be the three spots and only then did they make their move.

Brilliant to have 13th Brit run 2:19:10. Much better than last year when 2:20:50 was 3rd Brit. OK so it was olympic year and a few people come out of the woodwork but at the end of the day, look how many guys ran PBs and that shows you what a difference the squad weekends have made.

I guess I should have started a thread titled "Is Jon Brown quite a good runner?"...

Still, it was very encouraging to see so many Brits having a real go at getting the qualifying time and even if most fell short it was great that so many ran PBs. A just reward for all the hard work. Perhaps all the sub-2.20 guys should get together and run an Autumn marathon?

well done to all of the british guys. watching the race in bed i was really impressed with the northern guys running.

super runs from dave norman, gaz raven and mark hudspith. those races were inspirational.

Bazza wrote:

Perhaps all the sub-2.20 guys should get together and run an Autumn marathon?

Bud is already looking into it for us. A group like that is definitely the way forward. From my point of view (and probably all the other guys who ran 2:18), maybe 30-40secs slower at halfway though. 66.40 first half killed me but I had so much time in the bank I smashed PB. Conserving 30-40 secs early on could save 2mins in the last 15k when the real position changing happens.

That's good to hear. I'm sure that as a 'package' a group of good British runners could be quite saleable even to a big marathon like Berlin or New York. Closer to home you've got Dublin which isn't a bad course, though the weather is a bit unpredictable.

Hi Bazza

Bud mentioned Chicago and Amsterdam yesterday. Both are quick and appeal to me but it depends how many are interested. Chicago will be a lot more expensive to get to and we would possibly need longer beforehand with the time zone being so different.

You know Bazza, some people seem to miss the whole point about Master Brown.

This thread had more to do about his whinging and downright unprofessional behaviour, not whether he can run under 2:15

People seem to miss the point continually about the lack of performance of Brown to warrant getting paid large appearance fees.

Congratulations on him running 2:13, his fastest time in 4 years.

Now let him follow it up and go get the medal in the marathon that everyone seems to think he is capable of.

British distance running is at a low point and yet again Brown has proven this by being first Brit home in London with a 2:13

In some countries a 2:10 is not good enough to make their marathon team, this should be noted when discussing the pool of talent available at this year's Olympics.

And yes, 4th place doesn't count. Any of the top marathoners will probably take their foot off the accelerator once they realise they cant grasp a medal, rather saving themselves for a lucrative fall race.

There is no team event at the Olympics, so you unlikely to have ALL the class athletes in the Top 10

You are finding various countries becoming more professional in their selection policy and squad selection, paying their athletes not to run a marathon in the build-up to the Olympics, but then they don't have 2:15 as a qualifying time.

Some of the World's top marathoners are more likely to run 2:15 pace for the marathon in training.