Alan Webb 2:23 ! 1000m time trial

Good to hear that he is back running strong again....

Jason

Landover is in Iowa--that's my church. Landover Baptist Church. Ever heard of it?

That time stinks. No where close to his level of fitness when he ran 3:53 for the mile.

In fact, Ahshole, it is the same pace as a sub-3.36 1500m, which is the equivalent of a 3.53 mile. As a time trial, that is supposed to be the date pace that he should run, secondly it is frickin December, not May/June!!! Give the kid a break - you have got to be the most negative jerk that I have ever read on this board.

I thought the same exact thing. For how much training he's been doing, he should be well ahead of this phase. Thats the same time he ran as a senior. Not much improvement.

I heard Ritz just ran 2:22

In High School his training was geared towards breaking 4:00 indoors, he was doing speed work with spikes and his 2:23 was run in February. Runing 2:23 in practice in December when it is the first time you put on spikes in 6 months isn't bad.

Now that he is going to altitude I wouldn't expect much if any speed work for the next month. If he manages a 2:20 or 2:21 this indoor season that would be pretty good progress to build on. There isn't going to be any high quality sharpness training until May. He ran his 3:53 and the two 3:38's in May and June of 2001. He wants to slide that peak performance to July and August. I am sorry, but you are going to have to wait 6 or 7 months to make any valid criticism of his performances.

This would all be settled if he would just run in one of the Golden Spike Tour miles. Boston,New york,or Arkansas who cares which one just run. I want to watch this talent along with the rest of America.

JasonInBangkok wrote:

Good to hear that he is back running strong again....

Jason

Nice to see Jason back this way.

What difference is that going to make - if he runs fast, then too many arm-chair coaches will say that he is peaking too early, and if he runs slow (at least relative to the high standards the jerks on this board expect of him) then he will be deemed a failure. So what would be "settled".

As perspective has said (someone who gets it!!) wait until may/june or even july to see what he does on the track. In Europe, many good athletes don't open their season until at least May! Given the press and internet clamour, he might be better to wait until outdoors to race on the track.

If he isn't in a hurry to prove to America his worth (for dumping Michigan/Warhurst and/or defending his Nike contract) then even making an attempt at the 4km XC team wouldn't be a bad idea either. But then I guess that he has to satisfy all of you and at least get back to his 3.53 (presumably in his first race) or he and/or Razcko will be pariahs!

Maybe some of you should look at the career progression (and training for that matter) of someone like Steve Cram to see what it takes to become a world record holder in the 1500m/Mile, or at least a sub-3.30 guy - it might open your eyes. Interestingly, Cram averaged 60-70 miles per week in his base period, maxing out at 80 miles - it's a good read (see Athletics Coach Vol.29,#2 - Summer 1995).

Webb ran the fastest mile of his career already. He'll never run that kind of time again.

Stay off the crack DII coach then maybe you'll get a DI job.

Chris Farley,

How interesting, you (a man killed by drugs) accusing someone for being on crack. D1 is not all its cracked (get it) up to be.

The living version of Chris Farley ran 2:33 at MCM this year. Hey Chris, are you eyeing anything this Spring or will you wait until Fall? Methinks you have a sub 2:22 in ya.

My question is an honest one without any negativity intended. Who called this a time trial instead of an opening race and why? If it is during a competition, it is a race. Is this a way to take the pressure off? Was it just a poster that called it a time trial? This young man has nothing to live up to in regards to time etc. so it is not necessary to take the edge off by calling a race simply a 'time trial'. When someone calls something a time trial, I get the impression that they are trying to convince everyone, including themselves, that it is a very controlled 'easy' effort and much MUCH faster is to come. Webb has nothing to prove to anyone and I hope he is not getting in the habit of so many Americans in quanitifying all efforts to paint them much different than what they are. All that said: Alan Webb ran his first indoor race of the year in 2:23 for 1000 meters, a very good opening effort! Good luck to him and all others.

Point taken. But here is the problem with your documented point. I am a spectator of the sport not a critic and It is my interest in watching Webb run that leads me to my thoughts. I understand what the summer season means to every track career but I would like to see him RUN. I plainly would like to see him not here about him. This 1000 meter time trial is great but who cares. As a fan I want to see some guys mix it up. It sounds as if he is in shape so let them get it on. This might help create an interest in the sport that most people care about once every four years.

2:23 is ok but the bottom line is that for someone who is getting 250,000 U.S a year, I think we need to see something a little better!

You guys really know how to analyze something to death. I'm already tired of hearing about this and I just read about it 5 minutes ago.

Who needs to see something better? Are you paying him?

He ran a freaking workout. YOu can call it a race or a time trial I don't care. He's ready to run 3:58 right now, indoors, in December. Is he supposed to run a world class race every time he steps on the track?

Is this how its going to be with this guy, scrutiny every time he steps on the track? Are there going to be guys spying on him at practices ready to report back that he looked like he was straining a lot on that 10th 400 in 56?

The bottom line is you will see something better when it matters. It doesn't matter how much he's getting paid. And I don't think 250,000 a year is all that much for Nike. They wanted him and they gave him an offer he wouldn't turn down.

Its like every kid who gets a full ride to college isn't nearly worth that amount either. Maybe 10 percent are, but all that scholarship means is they had to match what others were offering. You're basically hoping for a guaranteed all-american for 2 or 3 years, someone who may potentially be great but at worst will win conference championships. But the main thing is getting a big name will attract attention from other recruits to your school.

Nike is doing the same thing. Webb is a big name and may possibly be the great American 1500 runner. Or may not. But giving him some money to have him affiliated with Nike prevents them from missing the boat and having some other company benefit from his name.

If he feels obligated to immediately win a world championship this year because he's being paid well that pressure isn't going to help. Be patient and give him 3 or 4 years and see where he's at then. I'm sure that money is nice but if we want our talent to compete with the best that is what its going to take to keep our top guys in the game long enough to develop. I see nothing wrong with supporting our top stars handsomely.

Has he earned it yet, no. If he doesn't produce eventually he'll get dropped just like Spivey and others before him.