Marathon Trials - Don't sleep on the NAZ Elite

Their Flotrack 16 miler says at marathon pace, but they got 5:13's and a 4:30 mile in there.

Wouldn't it have been better just to run 4:58's like Vail did?

What's the theory here? Stimulation from hitting the 2 pulses at sub 5 and sub 4:35 within a 16 miler? 3 weeks out?

How is this better than 16 @ 4:58?

If someone throws in a 4:30 surge at 18 or 20 miles in the race do you think that this workout gives them the ability to handle it?

Why show your cards in a workout video. If I was Rupp I would put the hammer down just to see these guys break.

Come and get it, boys.

Estrada did 20 @ 4:55 in December. Can you handle that in the race at 65F

See the similarities wrote:

Ben has learned from Hansons and McMillan and added his own to make for a great marathon program.

+1. The guy has learned from two of the best groups in the U.S. I think his guys are underrated at this point.

I took Ward FTW. Proven great runner in the heat of LA.

hrclinton wrote:

I took Ward FTW. Proven great runner in the heat of LA.

His PR is in the brutal heat and humidity last year in LA and he won last years 20 and 25k champs beating most of the marathon elites in the process.

No sure why he is not being mentioned as a real contender vs fringe for what will be a hot day race, records temps this week in LA people!

Oh and BTW his coach Ed Eyestone has made a couple of Olympic teams and knows the peaking process for the marathon.

asterisks wrote:

His half pr came in Houston. Arrs says it is 1:40 fast.

His marathon pr came in Berlin about 3 min faster than normal

He is a solid 63--2:15 guy

So I guess every world and national record run on the Berlin course should be stricken from the record books?

As well as Hall's 1/2 marathon NR @ Houston?

Your stupidity absolutely blows me away, this is why I rarely visit the LRC messageboards.

Don't sleep on Pat Smyth, man. The dude's a monster. Killed it at U.S.A. Mtn. Running Champs this summer and the U.S.A. Trail Half Marathon Championships. He finished 25th with a 2:15 in 2012, I think he could at least be a top ten contender.

You missed the point.

Is PR's count. It is just that they are misleading.

He is not in the same class as Ward or Kibet or Pennel or Curtis.

Those guys are not as good as Meb, Ritz or Puskedra

A top 10 finish would be a good run from him. Anything better than that would fall into the dream category, like when he predicted a 2:08 debut.

asterisks wrote:

You missed the point.

Is PR's count. It is just that they are misleading.

He is not in the same class as Ward or Kibet or Pennel or Curtis.

Those guys are not as good as Meb, Ritz or Puskedra

A top 10 finish would be a good run from him. Anything better than that would fall into the dream category, like when he predicted a 2:08 debut.

Dude ran 2:12:28 for 26.2 miles and 61:47 for 13.1 miles on paved roads.

What's misleading about that?

A marathon is a marathon.

2:03:02 has been run on the BOSTON course and THAT didn't even count for record purposes.

Okay then tell me which guys above he will beat.

asterisks wrote:

Okay then tell me which guys above he will beat.

Llano has no chance of making the team. This is his coach thinking he is waaaaay better than he is and then trying to convince him. Another marathon with let downs.

I'd pick Llano and Taylor both for top 10.

Scott Smith is 29 and has broken 64 and 2:15 once. Top 20?

Ben Bruce DNF unless there's a Hoka bonus for finishing.

easy to call 1 and 2

ritz 1

is on his game. 209 low 208 high.

pust 2

is on his game. can go 207 no doubt but 209 is the bet.

rupp 3, the prediction is that if he's feeling ok at 20 miles he'll run for third and make the team, and it'll be a great training run. say in 2:10 flat. going for a win, will accomplish what? nothing really.

then come OG, he has the 10k and a crap shoot at an OG medal, where any top guy on top of his game can score.

longjack wrote:

easy to call 1 and 2

ritz 1

is on his game. 209 low 208 high.

pust 2

is on his game. can go 207 no doubt but 209 is the bet.

rupp 3, the prediction is that if he's feeling ok at 20 miles he'll run for third and make the team, and it'll be a great training run. say in 2:10 flat. going for a win, will accomplish what? nothing really.

then come OG, he has the 10k and a crap shoot at an OG medal, where any top guy on top of his game can score.

Prize Money Breakdown

1st — $80,000

2nd — $65,000

3rd — $55,000

4th — $25,000

5th — $20,000

6th — $15,000

7th — $13,000

8th — $11,000

9th — $9,000

10th — $7,000

If Rupp can gain a place or two for an extra $10-25K he will. If he can run a minute faster and win, he will.

Seb Coen wrote:

The only thing the NAZ Elite is going to win is the award for being the most over trained group. I doubt if any of them run well.

And overkill social media.

Average group for the amount of support they receive!

scorecard wrote:

Seb Coen wrote:

The only thing the NAZ Elite is going to win is the award for being the most over trained group. I doubt if any of them run well.

And overkill social media.

Average group for the amount of support they receive!

You nailed it! The chump of the year team, runs at the US XC club championships wins and acts like they are nationals champions. Note that these champs are for non elite local clubs, not shoe company sponsored teams.

McMillan Elite won this same meet and celebrated in a similar fashion and 5 years later were out of business.