Alan Webb to retire and become Triathlete (Link)

before webb the world had heard that craig mottram (aussie with 12:55 5k pb) was going to make the switch. Unfortunately he along with Webb are both on the wrong side of 30! If he thinks he is burnt out from running try swimming 6-7x's per week 6-7x runs and 4-5x riding.

Good luck to him but it is not an easy path!

xenonscreams wrote:

Does anyone know Alan Webb's swimming best times? I can't find him in the USA Swimming Database (there is an Alan Webb but it says no results found) so I'm guessing he didn't swim USA Swimming? I heard he swam as an age-grouper though. Just curious.

How far back does the database go? High school swim meets may not have reported times. High school swimming is often of lower quality than club competitions

luv2run wrote:

xenonscreams wrote:

Does anyone know Alan Webb's swimming best times? I can't find him in the USA Swimming Database (there is an Alan Webb but it says no results found) so I'm guessing he didn't swim USA Swimming? I heard he swam as an age-grouper though. Just curious.

How far back does the database go? High school swim meets may not have reported times. High school swimming is often of lower quality than club competitions

At least to 1998, because all of my times as an eight year-old are in there. It lets me put in dates from 1990 but I don't know how far back the records actually go. I know for a fact HS times don't show up there, but I don't know whether Alan Webb swam HS or club (or both). If it was only HS it's going to be almost impossible to find his times without asking him directly.

I enjoyed his trainwreck of a career

I hated him

I enjoyed his trainwreck of a career

I hated him

I refuse to read through five more fukking pages about Alan Webb, so if what I am about to say has already been noted, my apologies:

The thread starter is a moron or a bad troll. The article in now way implies Alan is taking up triathlon. It quotes his agent, who states firmly that Webb is through with track and speculates what countless others have already mentioned: that he probably could turn in an OK triathlon.

That is all.

Alan Webb wouldn't even be able to run with the top ITU triathletes now, never mind swim and bike with them

Exactly. You are all underestimating the current depth in the ITU world cup series. Alan will not be able to compete with the top 25, he might end up in the mid pack next season (2015, IF he qualifies to even compete in world cup races. There are enough guys on American soil that could beat him easily.

I have raced a few world cups ( I am not american), and all of you are underestimating the bike part. It is NOT about whether you can hold a 40km/hr or 45 km/hrs average for the bike leg. It contains a highly technical component to draft in ITU, where you have 4 - 5 lap courses with at least 6 90 - 180 degrees turns in it per lap. Becoming a strong biker is very well possible for Alan, but it takes 3 years (assuming he has no experience to drafting/biking).

I swam 4:06 for a 400m in a 50m pool (no wetsuit), this put me in about the top 10 -15 in terms of swimming ABILITY at the ITU scene (mid to end 2000). This pool ability also does not translate 100% into open water 1500m capability. Again, practice/experience of at least 2 seasons will help you out here to actually exit the water within the top 20.

Running. PR's of 14:18 (in training) and 29:20 on the road. Used to be one of the stronger runners out there, however, since the bike was my weakness, I lost tons of energy there and was only able to really take advantage of my running in a few races ( I never won a world cup, for instance).

Anyways, my point is there is a good chance that Alan would be somewhat competitive in a ITU race style series after 2 - 3 seasons, IF he were to choose to go down that route (we are not even sure).

However, please stop thinking Alan could just hang on to everyone in the first group and drop everyone with his 28 min capability. Top-level triathlon of today requires specific strength-endurance capabilities that first need to be TRAINED.

WEBB

IS

BACK

BABY!

I saw Webb down at te pool the other day. He was swimming 100s in 60 getting out and running to Wendy's were he would run in and grab a baconator. From there he would get on his bike and cycle 1 mile WHILE eating and park his bike back at Wendy's, then run back to the pool and repeat ALL of this, he did 27 reps. Looked relaxed too.

Woody Allen wrote:

I refuse to read through five more fukking pages about Alan Webb, so if what I am about to say has already been noted, my apologies:

The thread starter is a moron or a bad troll. The article in now way implies Alan is taking up triathlon. It quotes his agent, who states firmly that Webb is through with track and speculates what countless others have already mentioned: that he probably could turn in an OK triathlon.

That is all.

you're missing the point

lrcers will always write and think about Alan Webb. It's what they do.

There will be threads about his comebacks even if there aren't any comebacks.

So stop yer complaining. It ain't ending.

InWyo wrote:

Looks like he is working with Bobby McGee and appears to have a smile on his face:

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=mhu0y&s=5#.UuBXdhDn9hE

Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose.

lol

Baconator wrote:

WEBB

IS

BACK

BABY!

I saw Webb down at te pool the other day. He was swimming 100s in 60 getting out and running to Wendy's were he would run in and grab a baconator. From there he would get on his bike and cycle 1 mile WHILE eating and park his bike back at Wendy's, then run back to the pool and repeat ALL of this, he did 27 reps. Looked relaxed too.

Webb will be murder in the Triathlon. Look out Crowie!!

why the heck is this not on the lrc home page? lrc and webb are in a codependent relationship.

Maybe without webb there is no lrc.

xenonscreams wrote:

Does anyone know Alan Webb's swimming best times? I can't find him in the USA Swimming Database (there is an Alan Webb but it says no results found) so I'm guessing he didn't swim USA Swimming? I heard he swam as an age-grouper though. Just curious.

he swam somewhere around 4:40 - 4:47 for a 500 free.

commitment issues

http://running.competitor.com/2011/03/features/why-im-not-surprised-alan-webb-split-from-salazar_23921

Nope wrote:

webster, wrote:

He ranks below Jim Ryun, Steve Scott, and Jim Spivey.

Nope, to me he ranks #1 as he is the American record holder. No one cares about the old guys you mentioned.

Greatest US milers-1500 m runners of all time (yes US citizens are Americans):

1. Jim Ryun (but 3:44, 3:26, no)

2. Lagat (3:29, WC golds)

3. Steve Scott (3:47; silver at WCs)

4. Webb (3:46, some big Ws, HS record holder)

5. Spivey (3:50, WC bronze)

6. Maree (3:29)

7. Manzano and Centro (silvers at Oly and WCs, but no super fast times. Yet. You could argue that these guys should be higher, 3rd, 4th, or 5th)

8. Liquori (world leader, '70 or '71)

nn wrote:

I'll agree with you that Webb will do well on the bike as Mike has. The bike is dangerous though due to the high speeds, variable road conditions, and perhaps a lack of experience in bike racing. Could Webb be a successful triathlete? I believe the answer is yes. It will take some dedicated effort, and if he pursues the triathlon I wish him well.

I agree that the bike is dangerous at top speeds. Could Alan opt for a recumbent bike instead? That seems safer than an upright bike.

Webb is one of my favorite runners because he represents the running Everyman.

I think most of us can relate with Webbs struggles, falling short of our goals, but knowing we had more in the tank. Chasing after our glory days even though they may have passed. Nobody ever runs their best and thinks, "that's the best I'll ever do."

I hope tri training and racing invigorates him. And just maybe he'll give running one last shot in a few years and surprise himself.

Thanks for great career Alan Webb.

1:43-27:34

World Class High school mile record I never thought I would see

AR mile record

Olympic Trials Champ

European track circuit wins

Raced for the win at the world champs