Since nobody in this field will make the Olympic team the whole race is a mute point.
Since nobody in this field will make the Olympic team the whole race is a mute point.
I wonder if Andrews is working on new tactics this year. I seem to recall a Flotrack interview or something where he stated he knows he can't spot those top 800 guys too many meters when he's running off the back and then trying to kick like hell in the last 200 in order to win. It looks like Symmonds was making a similar adjustment in the last World Championships and whatnot.
Thoughts?
moot
The fact that Webb's 800 has stayed relatively static while the rest of his long races improve is proof of that he is still doing a ton of aerobic work. It's the beginning of May and he is working towards the Olympic games, not the trials.
That neither Andrews or Webb had much for an extra gear probably just confirms that they are working on strength for getting through the rounds.
It couldn't be clearer that Webb is in the midst of heavy aerobic training and that the 800 today means nothing one way or another about whether he can run extremely fast in the 1500 by the time of the Trials.
Don McClean wrote:
The fact that Webb's 800 has stayed relatively static while the rest of his long races improve is proof of that he is still doing a ton of aerobic work. It's the beginning of May and he is working towards the Olympic games, not the trials.
That neither Andrews or Webb had much for an extra gear probably just confirms that they are working on strength for getting through the rounds.
Moo point.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLwYpSCrlHU
Like a cow's opinion. It does not matter. It's moo.
webb is definitely lacking pure speed. watch in the beginning when he toes the line, he's like about to explode and almost false starts. then the race starts are he barely makes it out to mid pack. his pure speed needs work, he's definitely good for a 1:47 in a race like that if his pure speed is better.
If Webb could get in 1:49 shape he might be a factor, but at this point, there's simply no way.
1:49 for Webb means 3:36/3:54 on a great day by the trials.
By the Olympics if he keeps getting better he should shoot for making the finals.
A10 Pilot Willow Grove PA wrote:
Thank God, the US has hand full of top milers right now to overcome this horrific slump Webb is having...
Four months is a slump.
Five years is a death crash.
Unless he can get back his leg speed velocity he is Done.
Don McClean wrote:
The fact that Webb's 800 has stayed relatively static while the rest of his long races improve is proof of that he is still doing a ton of aerobic work. It's the beginning of May and he is working towards the Olympic games, not the trials.
That neither Andrews or Webb had much for an extra gear probably just confirms that they are working on strength for getting through the rounds.
Haha. What more does this guy need to do to convince you that he's toast? I swear to God, Webb could go out next week and run a 1500 in 4:10 and you guys would be all, "Hmmm. Well that seems about right since the Trials aren't until June. He doesn't want to peak to early! Derherher....".
This is a (modest) SB and 3:42 mile pace. Count me on the bandwagon.
I've got to say that I am a little disapointed in Robby's performance after being spoiled by the great relay legs from Symmonds and KD at Penn. Looking foward to OXY in a few weeks.
Please people, do you really think he's lost his speed? He just raced a 5000 and a 1500 last werk at presumably full effort. HE'S TIRED.
There is no way last week was at full effort.
So we're in agreement that Webb's speed is lacking but his strength is good? And that Andrews didn't have his usual closing speed? Wonder what they're focusing on in training...
That said, it is weird to see Webb run times like this but I doubt that Vig has forgotten how to train elite middle distance runners.
There was no kick -- Andrews came through the 400 in 52.
yeah it seems like webb right now is just in great aerobic shape compared to his speed. from a 1:51 (and the lack of a kick in his other races) obviously he has no speed right now, which needs to improve a lot by the trials. But running a 3:38 off that speed is aerobically just sick, as well as his 13:49 5k just 25 minutes after that 3:38. Unless his speed starts to improve dramatically making the Olympics is gonna be real tough, but he's gonna be running some good 1500 times by the end of the season and great 5k's. And if he does get his 800 down to 1:45 this season I don't even wanna know what kind of 5k he can run at that point!
A10 Pilot Willow Grove PA wrote:It makes you appreciate the longevity of Lagat, Scott, Maree, and Spivey.
Really? IMO Webb has better longetivity than Maree. His career may be more spotty, but Maree never went under 3:36 after the age of 31 and he had a faster PR than Webb. Webb is looking like he might do it at the age of 29, and he was elite years before Maree was, and he's not done yet. Webb is in his 12th year since he went 3:53 in the mile, and i expecect that we will see a few more years after this one of some big times from Webb if he stays healthy. How many runners run a 3:36 equiv 12 seasons apart and counting? Because that's what i see coming.
So all things considered, it makes you appreciate the longetivity of Webb. Thanks.
Hey I was at the meet.
Robby Andrews was really sweaty before the race and it was like low 70s/high 60s and a slight breeze and cloudy...so cool. Like he was sweaty enough that I was wondering if he had done a hard/long run beforehand. Also, after the race he was squating next to/hunched over a trash can for 5-10 minutes. So maybe his stomach was affecting him or something.
I saw Webb crack a smile right after the race, so I don't think he was terribly upset with it all. I talked to him briefly and he's all go with the 1500m. Definitely 1500. I asked him about the 5000m and he said maybe in the future. I think he said he wouldn't be running any more for the year (but he may have been responding to something else...he was kind of in a hurry to get going) He said that he needed to get a good 800m time to get a really fast 1500m time. So maybe he'll be in more 800s.
Overall though, Webb seemed calm and cool with the way things are going (though still knowing he needs to get faster). I have faith he's going to get where he needs to be.
All the best!
Nice run from Alex Taylor out of the 2nd section. Faster than Webb. Did he lead it from the gun?