What is Robby Andrews thinking?

he's not particularly likely to qualify in either event, but his chances of making the 1500 final are more secure than the 800.

On his current form he's not beating Jock, Loxsom, Berian, Sowinski etc.

He has a better shot in the mile. Centro is a lock, Leo most likely makes it, but after that he's fighting with guys who've run decently fast (Leer, Torrence, Blankenship) but have never gotten over the hump and made a team.

I would tend to think he knows what he is doing better than we do. If his goal is to make a team, then times are not so important as a slower tactical race is likely in the final. In any case it is silly to question him when you don't know anything about the specifics of his training or current condition. Maybe he makes it interesting.

Les wrote:

Well Andrews ran the 1500 at the 2012 because he thought his chances of medaling were better than the 800. After trying (and failing) to run with Rudisha in New York, maybe he again thought his chances were better at the 1500.

This is a really good point. When I made that op I didn't even think about what his chances are at worlds in either event. Certainly Robby Andrews isn't about to take down Aman and Amos anytime soon let alone a healthy Rudisha. And if he somehow got a perfect storm of really slow 1500 heats and positioned himself well maybe his extremely slim medal chances are slightly less slim.

But at the end of the day he has to make a team before he can medal. And I just don't see it happening in the 1500 and I'm not sure why people do. I get that he has the potential throw down a big kick and win slow races. But when have we actually seen him do that at the professional level? There's more to it than being the fastest 800 runner in the mile guys, even in slow races. Not that his 800 record on the pro circuit is super impressive either, but I think his talent could take him further in the 8, especially this year.

And the reason I think it does matter even though he probably won't make the team either way is because he is so talented. This guy should be making teams by now. Hopefully I'm wrong and he's been really working on his 1500 tactics and he kills it this weekend. But when I saw that he chose the 15 my initial reaction was to think "oh no what a waste."

Bonkers wrote:

he's not particularly likely to qualify in either event, but his chances of making the 1500 final are more secure than the 800.

On his current form he's not beating Jock, Loxsom, Berian, Sowinski etc.

He has a better shot in the mile. Centro is a lock, Leo most likely makes it, but after that he's fighting with guys who've run decently fast (Leer, Torrence, Blankenship) but have never gotten over the hump and made a team.

Think the 800 is deeper this year. Just making the final will be an achievement.

7 WORD HYPE MACHINE

CAS LOCK-SOM

DUANE BANG

THE BORIS BERIAN

I think how he ran at New York was gonna impact which race he'd run.

New York was lack luster, so he moved up to the 1500.

Honestly I respect his decision. He isn't racing based on what others are doing. But what he wants to do.

It may have been three years ago but he's still very much the same runner that pushed Mo Farah and Galen Rupp to the line at the Oxy meet in 2012 when he ran 3:34.78 (approx. splits; 43.5, 58.3, 58.8, 54.1)

At the Oly trials that year he had NO trouble in the prelims or semi's and ran a very respectable Finals. 11th with a lap to go and finished 5th with a 53.9 last quarter.

I'm an Andrews fan so I may be bias but I'm not convinced he's a worse miler now then he was 2 years ago. He was capable of making the Olympic team then and he's capable of making a worlds team now. His 3:57.15 at Adrian Martinez wasn't going to inspire any hype but he did look awfully comfortable, and lets be honest he's always been more than content running whatever race is in front of him. I'm happy that he chose the 1500 and IMO it certainly makes the entry list more interesting.

Ok, now that he is in the 1500, how should he play it as a speed-oriented miler? I mean the obvious answer is sit-and-kick, but then again they say that the kick comes from strength, not speed.. So which is it?

Speed comes from strength only off a fast pace. Running a 56 to close a 3:33-3:34 is not something that requires great speed. A 53-54 second 400 runner can do this with proper endurance. Running a 52-53 off of a few 60+ second quarters requires speed. You pretty much have to be 50 flat or better to pull this off.

So Robby needs to hope everyone in the field is as stupid as Blankenship and allows the pace to dawdle along at 62-63 for 1100 or so meters. He cannot, however, go all the way to the back and stay there. He needs to be mid pack at the bell, or whenever the kicking starts. 3:05 or worse through 200 and he has a chance to run a 38-39 and make the team.

Robby Andrews. Who?

sorry, hard to find much enthusiasm for the guy.

His time at the Martinez Classic was not a great time, but he was in control of that race from the jump. Not to fall into a LRC meme, but it was too relaxed to be believed. And if you go back to his HS years, his best race was his national record 1000m - previously held by Webb. 60.something thru 400m, 1:21.9 last 600, 2:22.28. He's a very good 800 runner, but if he's smart, he's potentially a great 1500 runner. He can glide along and then crush. In the 800, on the world stage (and even at nats), there's no gliding. This could be as much about the Olympics as it is about making the World team. Either way, 1500 is a better event for him.

Whatever he chooses, I wish him the best. Class act all the way...

The race will be more fun to watch with him in it. And probably more fun for him to run than the 800. That makes it a good choice from where I sit.

Blame it on the Vig...

If he intends to run the 1500m at the trials, then he needs to get more experience this year.

Not saying he should or shouldn't run the 1500m at the trials. But if so.

A Racer wrote:

Speed comes from strength only off a fast pace. Running a 56 to close a 3:33-3:34 is not something that requires great speed. A 53-54 second 400 runner can do this with proper endurance. Running a 52-53 off of a few 60+ second quarters requires speed.

3:34 - 56 = 2:38 through 1100m

That's 57.xx 400m pace.

No 53 second 400m runner on Earth is capable of running the equivalent of a 3:52 mile. Do you really believe this is a possibility?

I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!

A Racer wrote:

Speed comes from strength only off a fast pace. Running a 56 to close a 3:33-3:34 is not something that requires great speed. A 53-54 second 400 runner can do this with proper endurance. Running a 52-53 off of a few 60+ second quarters requires speed. You pretty much have to be 50 flat or better to pull this off.

You're nuts if you think there's a 3:33-3:34 guy out there who can't run faster than 54 seconds in the 400.

Sorry didn't read the post above mine.

2012 Oxy wrote:

It may have been three years ago but he's still very much the same runner that pushed Mo Farah and Galen Rupp to the line at the Oxy meet in 2012 when he ran 3:34.78 (approx. splits; 43.5, 58.3, 58.8, 54.1).

I never watched that race before. Great watch.

Madmandoc wrote:

I would tend to think he knows what he is doing better than we do. If his goal is to make a team, then times are not so important as a slower tactical race is likely in the final. In any case it is silly to question him when you don't know anything about the specifics of his training or current condition. Maybe he makes it interesting.

Exactly. So many people are citing PRs and past performances, but that has little to do with his current form (see Alan Webb). He may be in better 1500 shape than 800 shape at the moment. I would like to think he and his coaches know his training and body better than we do at the moment.