3:54 Webb? Really?

You basically told us NOTHING, and if we are already talking 2016, then yeah, this is a bad sign.

Yeah pretty much, It is a bad sign. But everybody keeps referring to doomsday scenarios "Webb is finished", All I'm saying is there are plenty of runners who were successful over the age of 30 at 1500 meters. Most of them probably haven't been on that level for as long as Webb, But its too early to write him off, he is still supremely talented. Even though he hasn't done anything lately there are plenty of opportunities left.

So what you are saying is that I could beat him... I considered myself a scrub.. 3:52 was my fastest...

How the mighty have fallen, thats why I went to college and have a badass job that allows me to run when I want and I love what I do.

Don't be a college drop out like Alan Kids! you only Jew your future over

None of us can truly diagnose him, but he doesn't have the same bounce in his stride. Isn't overtraining the most common, and therefore likely, problem? He had a similar look right after he left Michigan, when he was getting beaten all over the place.

I do wish him the best. I've had some races like that (on a much slower scale) when I didn't know what was wrong with me and the pack ate me up in the last lap. It's a terrible feeling.

amazing to see how dejected he is on letterman when talking about his us nationals race.

wanting to win is one thing, but having that tough a time with a loss strikes me as quite another...

If his coach is as good as people say he is, then it is not overtraining.

Those are some interesting comments.

How about we tell the "kids" not to take advice--about running, college, or life in general--from a racist jack@ss like yourself?

on the real side wrote:

So what you are saying is that I could beat him... I considered myself a scrub.. 3:52 was my fastest...

How the mighty have fallen, thats why I went to college and have a badass job that allows me to run when I want and I love what I do.

Don't be a college drop out like Alan Kids! you only Jew your future over

My 2 cents wait for 2016 wrote:

Yeah pretty much, It is a bad sign. But everybody keeps referring to doomsday scenarios "Webb is finished", All I'm saying is there are plenty of runners who were successful over the age of 30 at 1500 meters. Most of them probably haven't been on that level for as long as Webb, But its too early to write him off, he is still supremely talented. Even though he hasn't done anything lately there are plenty of opportunities left.

Sure, there have been a few runners who've had success on the world stage after the age of 30. But it depends on what you call "success". For Webb, I would consider a medal "success" because he has the talent for it. How many 1500m runners over the age of 30 have won a medal at a WC or OC? Out of those runners, how many of them had a history of frequent and prolonged periods of injury, illness, and/or burnout?

I'm guessing the number is quite small and I don't expect Webb to buck the trend. I'm not trying to bash the guy here. He's had an enormous amount of pressure to deal with since he was a teenager. Just because someone has the talent doesn't mean they're cut out for professional racing. The sport hasn't been kind to him and I think it's time for him to move on with his life.

There has never been a 3:46 miler that has not gotton at least a WC or Olympic medal. Webb is just another sign of just how mixed up US distance running is.

This is why I don't get that excited about some amazing prep talent. You know at least 60% of these guys will fade away by their mid to late twenties. Some don't even last that long.

As a Phoenix grad, this hurts every single time I hear/read it. Jesus, I hate being embarrased about where I went to school. It's not that I don't understand people's disdain for the school--it's pretty bad. But I did what I had to do to get an education. It was either that or continue to beat my head against the wall working the same crappy jobs I was working. I still have a crappy job, however my compensation has doubled. So it was worth it to me. Just sucks being looked down upon after telling folks where I bought my degree....Yeah I got it, I am stupid and everyone who went to a real school is better than me.

spellerofwords wrote:

Academician? Even Phoenix grads can distinguish "their" from "there" or "they're..."

He should consider doping himself up to the gills, failing a drug test on purpose, blaming it on a male enhancement supplement, and making a porno to "redeem" his reputation during his suspension.

BTW that Jew comment was really pathetic from a supposedly educated poster.

"He is still supremely talented."

Evidence?

If he was clean, he USED TO BE supremely talented.

If something has changed, say biochemically, or biomechanically regarding his achilles, etc., then he is no longer supremely talented.

Certainly there is no evidence that he is currently "supremely talented". I personally ran under 2 minutes for 800m after age 40--Webb's performance isn't just "not great", it SUCKS. There has not recently been any evidence that he has "supreme talent".

Whatever magic he had, he has now lost it. "Talent" is a combination of physical, mental, and emotional dimensions. Like another poster said, "how the mighty have fallen".

As for the nice narrative that another commenter posted, it is a good story, but again, there is no actual evidence to suggest that it is true.

What does Webb really have to say about all this? Has he said anything of value, or is he just rudderless?

Look, maybe the guy is just a flake who used to be a fast runner.

I'm not saying that he cannot recover what he has lost, but IMHO there isn't enough time for that recovery to meaningfully occur before trials.

As far as the London games go, he is finished.

IMHO, he is just finished, period.

Not uncommon to people who have tremendous success so early in life.

Maybe he will resurrect himself later in life, get a degree, find out who he is, run in his 40's, whatever. His elite career is done.

I thought Webb got his degree already.

My understanding is that he has his degree as well. To this end, I think Jager also has/is in the process of getting his degree.

Just because someone "goes pro", forgoing NCAA eligibility, doesn't mean they can't still go to college.

actually...Webb workouts at Michigan according to the book really were not that much in volume...just the intensity was crazy. things like:

600,2x400,4x300

800, 600,600,800

8x400 with full recovery

usually ran 4-6 200s a day or two before a race.

his heaviest load, it seems like was the Michigan itself. and in the book he only did it one time that spring of 02.

It has been mentioned many times before Webb got his degree.

Folks, maybe his achilles injury was a lot more severe than most thought. He could be favoring it in a race in the fear of tearing it again.

Maybe, the surgeon should have put supportive wires in the area of the tear. I know they do this with ruptures.

Webb's achilles surgery was in December '09 and by September '10 he was running 3:36. November '10 was the 13:37 road 5K win over Rupp and March of '11 he ran 3:37 in Australia just behind Kiprop and just ahead of Willis. He won the road mile at Drake last April (4:08) but got 4th in the track mile (3:58 - 0.51 behind the winner). That was his last quality race.

He did longer workouts, as well. Found this quote in particular: