Webb's downfall?

I don't think anyone really knows. Even by Webb's own account, he was healthy but he just couldn't run any faster.

Trained too hard, too intense. You can only go all out in workouts for so long. If he backed off a little he probably would have had a longer career but may have never got that American record. It's a toss up because now you see athletes running faster older (farah, Willis). I wonder if he just ran relaxed mileage for a couple years with tempos and strides he may come back. Intense tri training with workouts isn't helping his system. Just needs to go easy for a bit and we could see a revived 10k Webb.

He would tell you himself that he didn't stick with coaches or programs for long enough periods of time. If you look at his history, beginning with his year at Michigan, you'll find that he jumped around a lot.

Short telomeres and premature aging. Webb had the talent to run sub four with hardly any training. He would have at least managed his teen aged times if he wasn't old internally.

Thought he could compete clean...

Other options wrote:

Trained too hard, too intense. You can only go all out in workouts for so long.

How do we explain Steve Scott's career then? Bernard Lagat?

A lot of it is genetics, lifestyle, mental outlook, etc. Some folks can handle years of intense training before they breakdown while others can't. It has been speculated the years of intense training may have played a part in Scott developing cancer (testicular and prostate).

Training intensity has ZERO to do with testicular cancer. Stop. Just stop. Holy crap.

Urologist in Texas wrote:

Training intensity has ZERO to do with testicular cancer. Stop. Just stop. Holy crap.

Common sense POD.

Life endangering hair transplant. GVH, or Graft Versus Host, is an insidious disease which Webb suffered from. His hair transplant was rejecting his body, meaning that he had to remove his hair graft or die.

Happened to me though I wasn't elite. I was running 50ish min for 10 milers then all of a sudden couldn't crack 55. It literally just happened.

I didn't say I believed it but others have stated and Scott even says in his book the years of high intensity training could have damaged his body and perhaps was a factor in the cancer. I am not aware of any studies proving or disproving this but has anyone truly studied if there is long term cellular or associated damage from long term high intensity/high mileage training? So get off your high horse alleged Urologist in Texas, I was just documenting what others have said regarding a possible link.

High horse? This is what I do for a living. It's people like you out there throwing around black pearls that make it hard for everyone else in terms of public education. If "you're not aware", then why would you post it? How about you just plain get off your horse and out of the stable...please don't try and defend your remarks. Seriously. Further, please stop making it difficult on other people. This being letsrun, an idiotic and ill informed response is likely to follow from you. Your feelings are hurt, and you feel like you need to defend yourself. Sure, whatever. Get it out if it's going to make you feel better. I honestly can't believe this place. Makes me wonder how much validity or truth half the things stated on this forum have...

He lost the hunger after achieving his goals of high school record, Olympics, world championships, international victories, and American MILE record.

He was done the day he left Michigan. And yes, I realize he set the American record in the mile after that. So let me explain: He left Michigan because he expected to run 3:49 his freshman year, and when the results didn't come immediately, he decided to go back to what he knew. And thus set in motion a cycle of prioritizing short-term gains in favor of any long-term plan. He seemed to live and die with every workout and race. He never seemed to peak at the right time. His tactics could leave you scratching your head. There was never anyone who sketched out a long term plan, reined in his training, and got him to relax, see the big picture, and gain confidence in what he was doing every day. And even despite al of that, he still ran 3:46. What a goddamn talent. But oh how things might have turned out if he had only stayed at Michigan.That's my arm-chair analysis.

Urologist in texas wrote:

High horse? This is what I do for a living. It's people like you out there throwing around black pearls that make it hard for everyone else in terms of public education. If "you're not aware", then why would you post it? How about you just plain get off your horse and out of the stable...please don't try and defend your remarks. Seriously. Further, please stop making it difficult on other people. This being letsrun, an idiotic and ill informed response is likely to follow from you. Your feelings are hurt, and you feel like you need to defend yourself. Sure, whatever. Get it out if it's going to make you feel better. I honestly can't believe this place. Makes me wonder how much validity or truth half the things stated on this forum have...

51 yr old male how come I wake up every two hours and have to go to the bathroom even if I cut back on liquids after dinner. Thanks

A Urologist is not an Oncologist.

I like this response the best. However, if Webb had stayed at Michigan that would only cover 4 years, not his whole career. It's possible staying with a program would have taught him the value of patience and trust in this coach, but Webb was impatient and I suspect wanted control so he went with his inexperienced high school coach which resulted in his career-long inconsistency. I also think Webb was an early physical maturer which certainly helped his high school record. Webb did not look 18 when he was chronologically 18. Early maturity though, is just another way of saying he ages fast and Webb I think aged out of his running career. No matter how he trained I doubt if he could have had a long lasting Bernard Lagat-like career. All you have to do is look at his receding hairline (in high school).

The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long - and you have burned so very, very brightly, Alan.