Nick Symmonds: "If I got fired up about every youngster who ran a fast time, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night,"

The real problem wrote:

I am predicting a fake injury for Nick this summer. He knows that he is no longer competitive which is why he speaks so loudly. Much like Fleshman.

Remind me who won USATF last year?

sleazeralazarusrex wrote:

he's right though, with the age cheats, foreigners in the USA, improved training, shoes, etc. every month we see a hot new time.

Yes.

Improved shoes have really driven progress in the 800.

First off, we need a revolution! American middle distance running is dominated by the top 1%. 1:42-45 guys own the wealth of American 800 meters. Sure Symmonds, Soloman, Barian, Sowinski, Loxom, etc. have worked hard for their speed, but we need to give back to the 2:03 high school runner who places 4th at conference. They are not training any less hard than Olympians. The high schooler who didn't crack 2:00 until his last race at states where he split a 1:58.0 in the 4x800 arguably trains harder and has more hardship. We need to give these guys a place on the Olympic team and the U.S. team. We need to take 10 seconds from the top 1% and give back to the college kids running 1:55. The college studs running 1:49 also need a few seconds. WE NEED A REVOLUTION. NICK IS GREEDY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rowdy Teen wrote:

He won the US championship like eight months ago. Go buy some more swoosh gear, you nerds.

List Symmonds' three best accomplishments while under Nike and his three best under Brooks. Tell me about his injury history under Nike and under Brooks. Tell me how much training he did with Nike and how much touring he's done with Brooks. He left the swoosh to work for the Applebee's of running shoes.

Nick haters....

If Nick was faster... would you be OK with him fighting for the athletes in our sport?

How fast does a USTAF champ need to run before we allow him to share his thoughts?

SoConfused wrote:

Nick haters....

If Nick was faster... would you be OK with him fighting for the athletes in our sport?

How fast does a USTAF champ need to run before we allow him to share his thoughts?

+1

Centro Fan Club wrote:

First off, we need a revolution! American middle distance running is dominated by the top 1%. 1:42-45 guys own the wealth of American 800 meters. Sure Symmonds, Soloman, Barian, Sowinski, Loxom, etc. have worked hard for their speed, but we need to give back to the 2:03 high school runner who places 4th at conference. They are not training any less hard than Olympians. The high schooler who didn't crack 2:00 until his last race at states where he split a 1:58.0 in the 4x800 arguably trains harder and has more hardship. We need to give these guys a place on the Olympic team and the U.S. team. We need to take 10 seconds from the top 1% and give back to the college kids running 1:55. The college studs running 1:49 also need a few seconds. WE NEED A REVOLUTION. NICK IS GREEDY!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's something that takes a decade, or certainly years, to get right."

Clayton Murphy seemed to get it right, real quick.

xcrunner6 wrote:

It's something that takes a decade, or certainly years, to get right."

Clayton Murphy seemed to get it right, real quick.

To be fair, Murphy came from a background of 1500 training, which suits running heats of the 8 more than the 400/800 training that types like Brazier use. This actually prove's Nick's point a bit: a 1500 guy dropped down to 8, got a handle on the event over the course of a season, and his strength helped carry him through the rounds more than faster guys with better PR's. Murphy's obviously a huge talent in the 8, it would be exciting to see him dip far into the 1:44's one of these years.

The real problem wrote:

I am predicting a fake injury for Nick this summer. He knows that he is no longer competitive which is why he speaks so loudly. Much like Fleshman.

Lucky for your pessimistic self he has a small tear is his calf right now and is out.

Know who's still going to be an Olympian? Nick Symmonds.

this is a really dumb thread.

It's like the fans who get mad at the athletes every time there's a lockout. "I'd play football for half that much. How dare these athletes advocate for themselves"

this is totally correct, whether or not you like Nick Symmonds.

sticky figure wrote:

Every time Symmonds comes up, I have to think about what (i think) Pre's sister said about Pre: that nowadays there is nobody (runner) to stand up for for what they believe in.

In fact, there is. Symmonds is that guy.

Blaming pros for being a media whore? Get real. What is being a pro about? First and foremost, it is about making money, because best case there are a handful of years where you can do it as an active athlete.

Does the person with the best fastest time for the year per distance make the most money? Shit no. That's not how it works.

Centro Fan Club wrote:

Nick is the man

I see what you did here.

Symmonds says everything is about the money, whereas Pre said don't waste the gift. They both have taken stands for professionalization and fair treatment, but look at their justifications.

SoConfused wrote:

Nick haters....

If Nick was faster... would you be OK with him fighting for the athletes in our sport?

How fast does a USTAF champ need to run before we allow him to share his thoughts?

1:40.90

As a runner, I am a fan of Nick. You cannot deny that he has been the/a top 800 guy for the US for a quite awhile. He always finds a way to win or make the teams that count. I often think of Nick and Meb as workhorse type runners that consistently produce results. I quit betting against either of them long ago.

He did lose my interest when he started jumping on every social topic and giving his 2 cents. I totally back him in fighting USATF and the silly rules that limit athletes ability to make money. For me, he jumped the shark on non running social issues.

I still root for him on the track but quit following him on social media.

SoConfused wrote:

Nick haters....

If Nick was faster... would you be OK with him fighting for the athletes in our sport? No.

How fast does a USTAF champ need to run before we allow him to share his thoughts? Has less to do with times and more to do with the fact that he wouldn't represent his country at the World Championships. Every other Brooks, Nike, Asics, New Balance, Saucony, etc. put on the Red, White, and Blue, but Nick only sees GREEN!

jjjjj wrote:

Symmonds says everything is about the money, whereas Pre said don't waste the gift. They both have taken stands for professionalization and fair treatment, but look at their justifications.

I understand why you might think this if your entire worldview is formed by snippets of quotes. If you know anything about Pre's life beyond what is printed on high school XC team t-shirts, though, you know that Pre fought incredibly hard for professionalization of the sport and fair payment of athletes.

Back in 2005, even though Jeremy Wariner was the defending Olympic 400m champion and only 21 years old, everybody had moved on and thought there were so many new contenders.

LaShawn Merritt ran a 44.93 indoors in his first college race and immediately signed a pro contract.

Kerron Clement ran 44.57 (indoor world record) at the 2005 NCAA Indoor Champs.

Darold Williamson ran 44.27 (in the semis) and won the NCAA Outdoor 400m title.

Xavier Carter blew onto the scene with a 44.0 split for the NCAA-record 4x400m Relay (after beating Tyson Gay and Walter Dix earlier in the 200m Dash).

Nobody really thought Wariner was a big deal anymore. Then he won Worlds in 43.83. Nobody really ever beat Wariner in an important 400m race while he was being coached by Clyde Hart. But everybody kept trying to replace him.