Why Doesn't Alan Culpepper Race Europe?

Simple, it's not worth the cost of going over. Unrealistic he will win the money spots.

It seems to if he breaks 27 then it would be worth it. financially i'm sure he's not struggling. sometimes you just need that extra push to get you over the hump. and it seems he's been wavering in the same region for awhile now, 27:30's.

Meb, on the hand, made some good jumps here in the US, but I think he should stick his neck out too, eventually. Alan just seems to be stuck in one place, albeit, a pretty damn fast place, but could he be faster? I think so. And I don't think raising himself to a higher level of training fitness will get him there; it will take running with a pack of rabid kenyans, who surge at mile 4 and run 58's and with 2 miles to go.

If your running career is determined by "winning the money spots" you're doomed, because there really ain't such a thing in this sport anyway. Geb makes a little over a mil, and that's the greatest runner in the sport. Shaq makes that damn near every game. (or maybe not, but close...)

culpepper has said that he doesn't like racing overseas because of travel away from his family.

he runs his own business too, so thats a factor.

he seems pretty content to pick and choose his races here in the u.s., and get the most money for his effort.

Have you ever raced on the Euro track circuit?

If you haven't then listen to this: it's a grind. Yes, getting in the big races can be exhilarating. Fast times, racing head to head with the best, learning how to race hard and tough, dealing with stress and unfamiliar places and food and time zones and still racing well. A few races in Europe can season a runner advantageously.

Like anything else it has to be done correctly or it can ruin a runner's whole season.

The travel from meet to meet, the logistics, and the stress has taken many a runner down.

Simply put: if running in some European track races helps a runner to their season finale goal (doing well at a worlds or Olympics), achieving a long sought p.r. then it is worth doing. If a runner goes over because they are "supposed to" and they are unsure it will really help them then it's better not to go.

Lauren Fleshman did a superb job in her first Euro season: got some p.r.'s, excellent experience and it helped her tackle her first worlds.

Blast from the past: Judi St. Hilaire, real road whore who finally made the transition to the track, made the Oly team and finished 8th in the 10K with a p.r. Did she race in Europe before going to Olympics? NO. She knew it just wouldn't work for her. She was right.

but how does Alan know if he doesn't try...

how come you never see Geb and Bekele at Stanford?

travel can be hard, there's no doubt...but if you don't at least give it a shot it seems like you'd be missing out on achieving a higher level of performance.

And I'm not saying this is the year to do it, because I agree if you have specific goal in mind, like the Olympics, it's best to focus for that and prepare for that particular race without hassling with the hardship of travel...

Euro chick wrote:

Blast from the past: Judi St. Hilaire, real road whore who finally made the transition to the track, made the Oly team and finished 8th in the 10K with a p.r. Did she race in Europe before going to Olympics? NO. She knew it just wouldn't work for her. She was right.

had she ever raced in europe before hand? if not, how did she know that it wouldn't work? couldn't you just as easily argue that she might'e run even faster had she gone to europe and gotten some experience?

part of running in europe is the experience of being away from home, running in races where you are going to get beaten - handily - but still run fast. in this way its the best preperation for the olys/wc - one more reason to go, so that when you are in a championship race, you aren't panicing.

who was the last person to medal without running in europe?

Sure. She ran in worlds in Tokyo in the 3000. She placed 8th there, I think.

She happened to be one of those runners, we all know them, who not only thrive on routine but whose performances are seriously affected by being out of their routine.

She figured that out in '91 having gone through the experience of worlds and decided that for the Oly's she would stay home. It worked for her.

so, she ran in europe in the summer of 91, then ran WCs and was 8th? correct?

Then a year later at Olys placed 8th in 10K. Not bad for a fairly inexperienced international track racer. When was the last time the US had a one two punch in an Oly distance final: Jennings 3rd and St. Hilaire 8th. The third 10 chick was Coogan who didn't make it out of the heats.

This was when running the 10 at Olympics meant two of them in less than a week. Tough go.

Apologies. Misread your post.

Can't remember if she actually raced Euro before worlds in Tokyo. I think not. Just showed up and ran worlds. The travel to Tokyo was enough to get her knickers in a twist.

He doesn't want to leave the country without his wife because she will end up at my place. That's why.

It seems to me that he is specializing in the Marathon now. A lot of elite marathoners don't run European track races.

ditto...if he was going to go to Europe he should have done it a few years ago. Now that he is turning to the marathon the only reason to go to Europe would be to run London or Berlin...but with the cash that Chicago will give him he would be foolish to go...

Still he is a stud who will rock in Athens!

I'm of the opinion that Culpepper is hovering near the apex of his ability. Sure, there is always a little room to improve, but not necessarily by leaps and bounds. He could run a thousand races with Geb and Bekele, and they would whup him every time. They are the cream of the crop, on this planet, when it comes to running.

Your point is well taken, but I think Culpepper assessed the situation and decided that he could achieve his goals without the European circuit, and he probably has and continues to do so.

Lars wrote:

I'm of the opinion that Culpepper is hovering near the apex of his ability.

I agree with you, but also think he has underachieved in his WC's/Olympics. In the latter he was sick, but I think the international experience would have allowed him to place higher otherwise.

What business does Alan run on the side?

He dabbled a little in graphic design. Not sure if I would call it a business. Good musician though. Bass,guitar, keyboard.

Maybe he doesnt have a passport or he just loves beating up on slow american runners

We are looking for Alan. Come to Europe we have a nice jail cell for you