NIKE vs. HANSONS--part II--The Marathon

After reading about them in Jogger's World, I'm pulling for the Hansons. No corporate whores there.

What about Josh Cox/Team Fila?

He's a real badass.

Where can I get the complete start list for the elite field or can someone post it? I like to know where I should put my money.

Anyone notice that these guys have to run the race solo on Saturday, the day before the citizens race. How many spectators are going to come out and watch 10-20 unknown runners go round 5 mile loops?

Here's a short list of some of known starters. I haven't seen anything official from USATF or the local organizing committee in Birmingham.

Chad Johnson

Josh Cox

Philemon Hanneck

Nick Rogers

Eddy Hellebuyck

Kyle Baker

Clint Verran

Scott Strand

Jeff Campbell

Carl Rundel

Anybody know of any other names????

Last I heard Todd Reeser was doing it as well. He should be tough if no injuries flare up. He is slowly making a comeback with a solid 1st one back at Twin Cities. After a year off he trains just the summer and thats it and runs 2:17 not shabby!!! Go Get em Todd!

As a supporter of the Hanson's Program and what they are developing, expecially without the big bucks from Nike or any other corporate sponsor,as the Farm Team receives it would be quite nice to see Jeff, Clint and Carl roll up and lay the wood to the Oregon Project in several weeks. Dan Browne ran very well at TWC, 211 is a very good race, but facing the facts, he had to out hoof two over age forty runners for the win. From looking at the start list posted earlier, why is it with the credentials of some of these guys they are not going to Europe, Japan for some major league spring marathon where in a field of 210-212 guys they can get pulled along. As mentally tough as Clint is I am certain a bust out performance is on the way. Maybe Chicago as good as it is, is not the race for the 213-215 crop of U.S. guys. When most of the big guns are running sub 208 or 207, they are still going to be in the second pack running with themselves. They need to be in a 209-210 wining field.

It's a shame the dim-wits at USTFA or Running USA can not provide additional support to get some of these guys into a fast spring marathon such as London, Rotterdam or something in Japan, Lake Biwa? I totally applaud the efforts of Keith and Kevin and wish their athletes the best. This is the group where the next big name american marathon runner will be coming from.

Why would USATF spend money to send someone to a Spring marathon when it is spending money putting on the USATF cahmpionship marathon in Birmingham? These guys are running for the Championship and a chance to go to Worlds.

>>It's a shame the dim-wits at USTFA or Running USA can not provide

>>additional support to get some of these guys into a fast spring marathon

Ouch...you had me until here...praising what the Hanson Brothers and their crew have done on their own...until you suddenly suggest that someone else be their mom and take care of them.

For the love of Pete, I wish everyone would stop wishing for a magic wand of exogenous "funding" from a national governing body to solve their problems. Money flows to the already successful -- in almost any pursuit anywhere on earth, not just sports -- so don't count on anyone but yourself.

Here's a possible plan: ENTER the race yourself. Flora London's probably filled the field, but I bet Fortis Rotterdam hasn't and probably supports web entries.

Then, if there's a need to come up with the coin, at the Hanson Brothers' stores, have fundraisers, donation boxes, 50-50 raffles at races, whatever, to collect from people willing to donate $5-10 at a time to to fund a guy's trip (adopt-a-runner) with little gimmicks like a "Donors of $10 or more receive a handwritten postcard from London from Clint" as a sweetener. I think a guy should be willing to do a little writing and stamp-licking on race weekend if that's what it takes to get to the show.

That's been a subject of much debate for years now. Which should take priority, the chance for a fast time and some solid prize $$ or the chance to wear the USA singlet in international competition? In some cases the patriotic response takes the singlet but the practical, career-advancing response takes the fast time/possible prize money. I don't know whether it's still the case, but sometimes it seemed as though USATF was shooting itself in the foot by staging "national championship" races with paltry prize dollars in direct competition with quality marathons (or other races). Running 2:17 or so and earning a place on the WC team just doesn't pay out in terms of career advancement (publicity, sponsorships, appearance money) as much as running 2:10-12 amidst quality international competition. As much as USATF would insist that the greater honor lies in wearing the national singlet... well, it does in one respect, but not in another. Ideally, the nat'l championships would draw sufficient quality that both ends would be achieved, but until USATF does something to ensure a first-rate course and a field comparable in quality to London or Chicago, it probably ain't gonna happen.

Or...you could just sack up and run a fast time. Stop whining! Guess why we always fail? Because the course, the conditions, the field, etc. just aren't perfect enough. Boy, if we could just find an indoor, climate controlled, indoor 'thon with highly paid pacemakers, then we'd really have something!

Bottom line is that our current crop seems more fixated moderate hitting time standards than going for it. Where are the new Salazar-types? You know, a bit cocky and calling out their 2:09 or announcing a run at the record. Waah, waah, waah! I guess what Michael Moore says is true, Americans are completely dominated and motivated by fear. Oh well, until the Carlsbad Cavern Marathon takes place and all post collegiates are given six figure stipends, I guess we'll have to be content with the status quo.

Is there going to be rabbit? If there is a rabbit then this can't be championship race, right? Aren't rabbits banned from championships? Will there be one at the trials? At the Olympics?

Better, Jimmy!

A special pace car will help our young lads. It is a no emissions, electric vehicle rigged with a Jumbotron on the back. This blocks any wind from hitting our fragile athletes while allowing them to play XBOX or watch TV during the race. A set of AC blowers will keep the running zone behind the pace car at a constant and comfortable 52 degrees. The AC unit will also enrich the surronding environment with additional oxygen. The runners will also be handed caffiene spiked Gatorade from aid stations mounted on moving motorcycles. Not sparing any expense nor aid to our fine young champions, race organizers are paying and bussing in thousands of homeless from around the south to form a gauntlet of enthusiastic spectators.

How can we lose?

Word on the street is that Mike Franko (Oly Trials "A" Qualifier) will return the favor and pace Clint Verran and the lead pack at Birmingham...

Alberto sacking it up in a us championship. 2:09 ???? Get off of this mans jock. Alberto never ran faster than 2:11:40 in an OLY trials or games. This is a discussion about US championships. They obviously hadn't mastered the drug cycle yet. Sacking it up?? Alberto never ran worth a shit wearing a US uniform? Was that poor coaching? or unwillingnes to "sack it up"?

True, yes, but by the time Al was in a US uniform he was a crispy shell of his former self. Hindsight is 20/20, but I guess one could knock him for skipping Boston in 83 (and fighting it out for a World Champs spot) for a payday at Rotterdam and Fukouka that year instead.

I know I am getting a little off topic, and the original thread was about who was running US marathon championships from Hanson's and Nike, but the Salazar post gave me an opening.

when Greg Meyer was rumbling over the field in Boston 1983 (enroute to a 2:08 if he hadn't slowed down to enjoy the runaway victory), he was training at a level that I think was very serious indeed. Including tapering for the Chicago version, but excluding the 30 mile recovery week afterward, Meyer averaged just about 100 miles a week for 10 months straight. The numbers range from 75 to about 140. Most of this training was done at low-altitude and in Massachusetts where the weather in the winter is a little interesting.

I'm a sprinter and only watch you distance crazies from a far -- I have no illusions of grandeur -- but how many of these folks mentioned above are putting in the heavy marathon mileage like Meyer did ? 20%, 50%, 100% ?

I can only speak for the guys that are in the program but Verran and Rundell have averaged over 120 mpw over the last 10 months including 2 marathons (Boston and Chicago). This includes taper weeks and recovery weeks. Jeff Campbell averaged about the same minus a minor gimp period. Chad Johnson averaged over 125 mpw for the year that he was with the program. Brinker and Sell are averaging more than Greg's 100 mpw over the last 10 months and they are concentrating on cross-country.

Portland Runner, your vision exisits!

excellent. I remember Sell from college and the guy seemed like an animal. Now my expectations are even higher for your group. Given the right conditions in Boston (happy wind like for Kempainen), 2:09 or lower is definitely reasonable.