Will Robbie Andrews Be the Catalyst to Transform Alan Webb's Career?

Can somebody explain to me why Webb is not exclusively a 5/10000M runner?

Career on the Brink wrote:

At 28, this is Webb's last chance. But will tp Andrews be enough to re-energize Webb's career? Only time will tell.

28? Last chance?

I'm 31 and have never made USATF. Does that mean it's over for me?

old dude won't stop wrote:

Career on the Brink wrote:

At 28, this is Webb's last chance. But will tp Andrews be enough to re-energize Webb's career? Only time will tell.

28? Last chance?

I'm 31 and have never made USATF. Does that mean it's over for me?

Uh, yea probably.

old dude won't stop wrote:

28? Last chance?

I'm 31 and have never made USATF. Does that mean it's over for me?

Yes, absolutely. You will never be an Olympian or professional runner and will never make USATF. Sorry to break it to you BUT keep running and racing as it is good for you.

Also, you are 31 and call yourself an "old dude"? You aren't old, you just aren't going to improve very much in running if at all. Your best shot of improving is at the marathon.

Umm. ever hear of Lagat? He is older than 31 and still one of the best. It can be done.

Because he's much better at 800m/1500m.

Lagat ran 3:26.3 when he was 26 years old. That might have something to do with the fact that he can still run well at 38.

george oscar bluth wrote:

Lagat ran 3:26.3 when he was 26 years old. That might have something to do with the fact that he can still run well at 38.

And Webb ran crazy sick times just a couple years ago.

willy k wrote:

george oscar bluth wrote:

Lagat ran 3:26.3 when he was 26 years old. That might have something to do with the fact that he can still run well at 38.

And Webb ran crazy sick times just a couple years ago.

He didn't run 3:26. 4 seconds is a long time at that level.

How do you know? Can you cite any results? Has he tried training for it? All I know is he has personal bests of 13:10 and 27:34 he set back around 2006 when he his main event was the mile. Now he has lost speed. Let's put it this way. If moving up in distance is good enough for Lagat, I think it is good enough for Webb. Seriously, does he run into injury problems if he gets into the necessary higher mileage training for longer distances? For that matter, does anyone on this board have any clue what they are talking about when they discuss Webb?

those that can't do... wrote:

Because he's much better at 800m/1500m.

willy k wrote:

george oscar bluth wrote:

Lagat ran 3:26.3 when he was 26 years old. That might have something to do with the fact that he can still run well at 38.

And Webb ran crazy sick times just a couple years ago.

Webb ran those "crazy sick times" 5 years ago. He's been a bust ever since. Lagat is a freak of nature. Webb is done.

Alan walloped Galen in a Thanksgiving 5k about 16 months ago.

casual commentary wrote:

Alan walloped Galen in a Thanksgiving 5k about 16 months ago.

As a serious follow up to this ^ statement, what else has he done in the last 16 months?

Do you really believe Rupp gives a shit about winning a local turkey trot? Do us a favor, stop posting and get a clue.

I believe Webb still needs to run a qualifying time for the OT, which is:

A: <3:39.00

B: <3:43.00

mile: < 3:54.00

(qualifying window 5/1/11 - 6/17/12)

After his recent dismal indoor campaign, I'd put his chances of just making it into the trials at 50-50. Any word on upcoming races to attempt a qualifier?

BTW: Webb is 29, not 28.

It is crazy that Webb beat Rupp 16 months ago. Even if Rupp was dogging it, think of the difference between the two in the last 16 months. Webb beat Rupp at a 5k, now he couldn't stay with Rupp for the first 5k of a 10k.

Obviously I do not know personally that Webb is better at the 800m/1500m than 5k/10k. Neither do you. However, Alberto Salazar probably does have some insight into the situation, and he choose to train Webb for the 800/1500m after reading his logs, saying something to the effect of "Webb should be able to run a lot faster in the mile." And I personally will defer to Salazar on that. Warhurst, too, thought that Webb was a miler.

Additionally, the evidence that is out for all to see clearly points towards Webb being a stronger 1500m runner and 800m runner than 5k/10k runner. If his 800 pr (1:43.84) is not indication enough, we can just look at his relative lack of success at 5k/10k compared to in the mile and 1500m. Or his 2 mile races, which have always been worse than his mile races. And this is despite his training, which (according to Salazar, and judging by Magness' reports of training with Raczko) was actually focused a bit too much on strength (and not enough on speed) for a world class miler.

Webb ran 13:10 in his only in-season attempt at 5000m.