Just heard Neely Spence quit the Hansons ODP and moved to Boulder, CO with her husband. I wonder what training group she will join next and if she will continue to be a Brooks athlete or have to pick up a new sponsor as well?
Also, seems like Hansons has gone through a ton of athletes over the past couple of years. Anybody have insight on the internal workings of the program?
I've met two elite runners from the program. Both were constantly injured. Both left the program.
Do you have any evidence or proof of this? Her facebook still makes mention of being a member of the Hanson ODP group (she just updated her profile pic and cover page within the last half day and very well could have removed her team affiliation if this were the case) but her twitter makes no mention of Hansons at all. Just curious as I find this interesting.
if this is true, she is likely going to join the group with Jenny, Emma, and Kara. Kara is sponsored by Skechers while Jenny and Emma are sponsored by New Balance, so they don't mind multiple sponsors within the group.
And isn't Neely more of a 10k type runner? maybe she should move up to the marathon. She could train with Kara. After Shalane and Desi that 3rd Olympic spot is up for grabs.
If I had to speculate, there are probably a couple reasons why Hansons athletes have injury issues and leave the group:
1) the winters. Its really freaking cold there which doesn't make it very fun, and the cold leads to increased muscle tension which creates a significantly elevated risk of injury. And if you're unlucky you could slip during a tempo and fall hard on your hip and be out for a few weeks or months
2) their training philosophy is a little different than other groups which might bug some people and some people may not respond well to that particular stimulus. They refer to their speed/tempo/long run days as as SOS (something of substance) days/sessions. Their general format is a 9 day schedule: 2 easy double days, speed day, 2 easy double days, tempo run, 2 easy double days, long run, repeat. Some guys (Brian Sell) may double on speed and tempo days, but most don't.
She should really go back to what worked-- being coached by her Dad and secondly focusing on being healthy for a long time. She's struggled a lot since getting lyme disease and joining the Hanson's. Doesn't seem like someone who thrives on group training.
Looked at her Facebook and she no longer has Hansons as her employer so It appears this thread has some credibility.
She somehow miscounted the laps at USATC Cross Country. I am sure Hanson brothers were not thrilled.
1. Neely has never trained in MI through the winter.
2. To have a chance in the marathon, she's going to have to find a way to handle the training without getting hurt.
agc5k wrote:
if this is true, she is likely going to join the group with Jenny, Emma, and Kara. Kara is sponsored by Skechers while Jenny and Emma are sponsored by New Balance, so they don't mind multiple sponsors within the group.
Won't happen.
Notice that group is composed of CU alum. I just listened to a podcast with Mark this week in which he answered a question about non CU people training under him, and he said he usually gets 1 or 2 requests a year, but that he only coaches CU alum.
reader of the forums wrote:
agc5k wrote:if this is true, she is likely going to join the group with Jenny, Emma, and Kara. Kara is sponsored by Skechers while Jenny and Emma are sponsored by New Balance, so they don't mind multiple sponsors within the group.
Won't happen.
Notice that group is composed of CU alum. I just listened to a podcast with Mark this week in which he answered a question about non CU people training under him, and he said he usually gets 1 or 2 requests a year, but that he only coaches CU alum.
Interesting. I was always curious about that. Makes sense though
Shooting Blanks wrote:
1. Neely has never trained in MI through the winter.
2. To have a chance in the marathon, she's going to have to find a way to handle the training without getting hurt.
1. Didn't know that.
2. Yeah she's got bad luck with injuries. She needs to sit down with her dad and the Hansons and figure out what causes her injuries then move up to marathon.
I wish her the best of luck though
L Fredericks wrote:
Also, seems like Hansons has gone through a ton of athletes over the past couple of years. Anybody have insight on the internal workings of the program?
My friend knows a guy that was in it. Hostile atmosphere/Poor coaching were the main problems supposedly.
Well since she quit Hansons I don't think she will be talking anything over with them.
I heard she didn't make her sales quota in the store and couldn't race until she got more fuel belts out the door.
Good Guy Brooks wrote:
L Fredericks wrote:Also, seems like Hansons has gone through a ton of athletes over the past couple of years. Anybody have insight on the internal workings of the program?
My friend knows a guy that was in it. Hostile atmosphere/Poor coaching were the main problems supposedly.
Really? I always had the impression that they were a good group. Can you or anyone else give examples of the hostile atmosphere and poor coaching?
Hey do you have a link to the Wetmore Podcast? I would love to hear it. Thanks
Home Schooled socially awkward girl could not leave home to go to college so she stayed home and ran for daddy. Had some sort of mental break down when getting beat in D2 Nationals which I thought was a huge warning sign.
I warned Kevin Hanson that she was not mentally stable. He liked her and said that she was a "good kid". He even defended her inability to count to 4 last weekend. I wonder if he will remain her defender?
Not popular amongst all of the other Hansons runners. Her husband is a DB and a huge negative in her life.
A great big world wrote:
Home Schooled socially awkward girl could not leave home to go to college so she stayed home and ran for daddy. Had some sort of mental break down when getting beat in D2 Nationals which I thought was a huge warning sign.
I warned Kevin Hanson that she was not mentally stable. He liked her and said that she was a "good kid". He even defended her inability to count to 4 last weekend. I wonder if he will remain her defender?
Not popular amongst all of the other Hansons runners. Her husband is a DB and a huge negative in her life.
If this is true thats so sad, I feel sorry for her. And who is her husband?
I finished in the top 10 at Club Nats in December. When my coach and I went over the competition he said of Neely she will either run great or be crying with an excuse at the finish line. She always has an excuse. That is exactly what happened. She finished out of the top 10 and was all tears. We watched her this last weekend on USATFTV and at the halfway point leading, my coach said "is there going to be an excuse or is today her day?" She dropped out in tears blaming the bell ringer.
Emotional Car Wreck wrote:
I finished in the top 10 at Club Nats in December. When my coach and I went over the competition he said of Neely she will either run great or be crying with an excuse at the finish line. She always has an excuse. That is exactly what happened. She finished out of the top 10 and was all tears. We watched her this last weekend on USATFTV and at the halfway point leading, my coach said "is there going to be an excuse or is today her day?" She dropped out in tears blaming the bell ringer.
so she's one of those types of people?
To be a great athlete you need to be talented, work hard, and be good from the neck up. She, based off your accounts, only has the 1st 2 of those traits