Andrew Wheating Switching Coaches: Vin to Rowland

Le tour wrote:

A Duck wrote:

Hopefully that means that within the next 18 months an agreement will be announced on a new indoor track and field facility.

Are you saying theres not an indoor track facility at the moment, or just an old one?

There is not one. And presumably if they put one in it would not make sense for them to put in an old one.

There has been talk of putting in a whole brand spanking new indoor track and field training and competition complex -- and in redoing Hayward Field to make it large enough to hold the World Championships (dream scenario).

It was announced when Vince step down as Head Coach, that he would be working on big vision projects such as those.

A Duck wrote:

There is not one. And presumably if they put one in it would not make sense for them to put in an old one.

There has been talk of putting in a whole brand spanking new indoor track and field training and competition complex -- and in redoing Hayward Field to make it large enough to hold the World Championships (dream scenario).

It was announced when Vince step down as Head Coach, that he would be working on big vision projects such as those.

I'm surprised theres not been an indoor track facility in Oregon of all places, why is that?

Regarding redoing Hayward Field I see a few problems. Stadiums big enough to host WC or Olympics tend to be rarely full unless its a huge event going on, making smaller meets lack 'soul' and the great feeling you get when a medium sized or smaller stadium is full.

Like the GP meets in Sweden, they are all full, but thats because the stadiusm aren't very big, but thats a good thing. People are stuck together instead of spread out in a huge stadium with too much empty seats.

Didn't Symmonds used to be coached by Gags? And how did that work with him coaching in NYC and Symmonds living in Oregon?[/quote]

Gags used to coach on the west coast, first with the farm team at Stanford and then went to OTC when Vin moved to Eugene. He moved back to NYC for family reasons...

I think several Americans will break 3:30 next year! Not only because there's some 15 guys capable of sub 3:35 already but because right now they (and their coaches) should all be thinking "if a 10000 specialist can do 3:28 why the hell can't I?" That mindset together with the number of candidates will make someone or several come through big time. Also, there's no global championship next year so Diamond League will see less tactial avoidances, less sit-and-kicks, and more time trials.

Le Tour wrote:

I'm surprised theres not been an indoor track facility in Oregon of all places, why is that?

Weather in the pacific northwest is mild and distance runners can train outside all year. In the Dellinger years indoor t&f was not emphasized. An indoor facility is about hosting big event indoor meets (Lananna's vision), and will also provide training facility for sprinters and jumpers.

Peter Andersson wrote:

I think several Americans will break 3:30 next year! Not only because there's some 15 guys capable of sub 3:35 already but because right now they (and their coaches) should all be thinking "if a 10000 specialist can do 3:28 why the hell can't I?" That mindset together with the number of candidates will make someone or several come through big time. Also, there's no global championship next year so Diamond League will see less tactial avoidances, less sit-and-kicks, and more time trials.

I'd give you ridiculous odds against that happening. Up for it?

Le Tour wrote:

Regarding redoing Hayward Field I see a few problems. Stadiums big enough to host WC or Olympics tend to be rarely full unless its a huge event going on, making smaller meets lack 'soul' and the great feeling you get when a medium sized or smaller stadium is full.

Like the GP meets in Sweden, they are all full, but thats because the stadiusm aren't very big, but thats a good thing. People are stuck together instead of spread out in a huge stadium with too much empty seats.

^This. I think Oregon should think carefully about building a big track stadium with the idea of hosting the WC. Hayward Field would lose much of it's charm and the great atmosphere that exists for the Trials, Pre, NCAAs, and all the other smaller meets hosted by U of O.

The problem with big single propose stadiums is what to do when you are not hosting big events. If Oregon was fortunate enough to host one DL meet a year, every conference, NCAA and USATF championship, the stadium would still be idle 80% of the time. Any event smaller than that and the stadium would be operating at a lost. Good luck getting the AAU or the USATF to host their youth meets in the far northeast more than once in a decade. Hosting a WC or an Olympics almost takes an act of God and it takes a lot more than a stadium to host events of that size and I am not sure the city Portland could handle it.

One of the smartest things the UofP ever did was to leave Franklin field intact...changing Hayward Field would be like new Coke.

Learning how to race isn't his problem - learning how to think is. He overanalyzes everything and spends all his time scared and trying to think his way out of being scared. I fear the move might be too late, but hopefully not.

A Duck wrote:

Flo'da boy wrote:

Rowland coaches Symmonds right?

Wheating shall be back with a vengeance. He seemed to stagnate under Lanana without frequent collegiate racing.

Wheating is a big mystery, and the mystery is health, and learning how to race internationally.

How big of a stadium does the IAAF require for hosting the WC? I'm guessing at least 60,000. IF the US ever hosted the WC, would it even sell out regardless of location?

As much as I would enjoy attending, I'm not sure it's worth the investment and effort.

TrackCoach wrote:...changing Hayward Field would be like new Coke.

I would be happy if Hayward had chairs instead of bleachers

Mark always struck me as a runner who got the best out of his own level of talent (not the most talented MD runner in the UK in the 80s, but has an olympic medal); so i would expect him to be able to work out the way to get the best out of his athletes.

.......but hey, salazar couldn't beat my granny in a sprint but can coach anyone in his group to finish like Vaatainan, so maybe what you can do for yourself and what you can coach others to do aren't linked.

slowcoach wrote:

Mark always struck me as a runner who got the best out of his own level of talent (not the most talented MD runner in the UK in the 80s, but has an olympic medal); so i would expect him to be able to work out the way to get the best out of his athletes.

.......but hey, salazar couldn't beat my granny in a sprint but can coach anyone in his group to finish like Vaatainan, so maybe what you can do for yourself and what you can coach others to do aren't linked.

You are correct in your last paragraph. Go to a training camp in southern Europe at the same time as russians for example, and you'll see this short, fat men coach great athletes. It's hilarious. Coaching high jumpers and hurdlers twice their size.

Regarding the comment about Hayward field, atmosphere was the word I was looking for!

Original Gangsta wrote:

Peter Andersson wrote:

I think several Americans will break 3:30 next year! Not only because there's some 15 guys capable of sub 3:35 already but because right now they (and their coaches) should all be thinking "if a 10000 specialist can do 3:28 why the hell can't I?" That mindset together with the number of candidates will make someone or several come through big time. Also, there's no global championship next year so Diamond League will see less tactial avoidances, less sit-and-kicks, and more time trials.

I'd give you ridiculous odds against that happening. Up for it?

It'll be kinda hard for any of us to collect a win, but for arguments sake I'll say a number - 3!

But of course those 3 Americans will also be aided by those Ethiopian and Kenyan 5000 and 10000 meter runners who'll be inspired by Mo Farah's 1500 time and speed work this year (unless he totally flops at Worlds) - I therefore also predict that we'll get a total of 8-10 new sub 3:30 runners in all next year, for starters the whole Ethiopian 5000 squad as of this year should all have it in reach already (plus Kenya's Rudisha might try moving up from the 800 for stamina since it's a non championship year)! ;-)

Remember 5000 in Paris last year? We got 6 new sub 12:50 guys from out of almost nowhere in one single race! I can't see why something similar shouldn't be able to happen in the 1500 in a season that will be all about speed and times.

Whah, crybaby oregon, boo hoo.

You better get used to the idea of Wheating running for South Africa in Rio 2016.

insightlessness wrote:

Learning how to race isn't his problem - learning how to think is. He overanalyzes everything and spends all his time scared and trying to think his way out of being scared.

I fear the move might be too late, but hopefully not.

Agree with you mostly but I think this change is what he needs. He might need to be without Russell Brown too for a few reasons, no disrespect but I think it's a positive change for Wheating there.

He needs to look at the focus and desire and discipline that Nick and Jordan have and emulate that. He is the most talented, but has been the most lost and injured.

I bet he comes back with a vengeance.

I cannot imagine the line through security in Eugene at the airport after a world champs. You'd have to bring a tent and lots of beef jerky.

slowcoach wrote:

Mark always struck me as a runner who got the best out of his own level of talent (not the most talented MD runner in the UK in the 80s, but has an olympic medal); so i would expect him to be able to work out the way to get the best out of his athletes.

.......but hey, salazar couldn't beat my granny in a sprint but can coach anyone in his group to finish like Vaatainan, so maybe what you can do for yourself and what you can coach others to do aren't linked.

This is because Salazar has been contemplating how to develop a kick since March 1982.