Just read the interview with the great Alan Webb. I'd really like to try understand why he went from being a 3.30 1500m runner to a 3.42 runner and slower in less than 3 years?
A quick google search reveals how stacked and 'lean' he was and then in some pictures looks massively out of shape.
Some of his contemporary’s - lagat, manzano, willis, all have had long careers and still perform the highest level now.
What happened with Alan?
Alan started to lose hair early. That's proof that he aged very quickly. His body is now around 60 years old.
not sure about the complete picture relating to his downfall, but I saw an interview with him where he states that he upped his training (weights and intervals) but didnt lower the intensity of reps. the example he used was that he put up more weight and also did more reps. i believe this is what is said attributed to his weight gain too.
Finasteride.
I've heard the following theories tossed around:
- He did a lot of intense speed work throughout his career to achieve that HS 3:53 and then 3:46. It has been speculated that lots of intense speed work leads to shorter careers.
- He had a receding hairline in high school. Maybe his body matured a lot earlier than others.
- He went bald and then grew his hair back. Maybe whatever he took, Propecia or whatever, messed with his hormones.
Having read the book on his single college year (sorry, forgot the title!) and observing his career from afar (ie the UK!) a couple of thoughts spring to mind.
Firstly, he did not deal well with adversity in his college year as described in the book. He allowed a winter injury to ruin his outdoor season when he was clearly in good physical shape. Is he one of those guys who wa superb when everything went absolutely 100% in his build up but couldn't adapt easily to the slightest set back?
Secondly, following from that, he seemed to lack confidence. I know he is often slammed on this site for perceived arrogance but really he went into races with clear plans and then lacked the confidence in his ability to put those plans into effect.
Thirdly, against the watch he has a fantastic range - from 800 to 10K. But as a racer he was less effective, especially outside the US. Contrast his career with Steve Scott's - someone who clearly loved to RACE!
Fourthly, it does just happen! To mention two British greats; Ovett and Cram went pretty quickly from international class to relatively mediocre quite rapidly despite, apparently, still putting in the work. Perhaps the body can only take so much high level racing and training, maybe the mind can only force the body on for so long? In 1964 Snell won two Olympic golds. In 1965 he was not the same runner; ran just about OK in the US then had a pretty mediocre tour of Europe - and retired. He said physically he was not much different than the previous year but mentally he no longer had it. Did Webb just lose that deep down inside, burning desire to excel?
He had injuries. He had a serious achilles tear and he was never the same after surgery. It's a similar story to Solinsky. It's not that complicated guys.
First, he didn't go from being a 3:30 runner to a 3:42 runner in less than 3 years.
He ran 3:37 in 2012, five years after his PR year of 3:30 in 2007.
(He had a best of 3:42 in 2009 - obviously injured that year)
He was world class for 12 years beginning in 2001.
I think the main thing that happened with his was that he kept changing things.
He did well in high school with Raczko then had trouble changing coaches in college.
Then went back to Raczko, had a bad year and then had stretch of good years.
I think he over-trained for 2008. Then was hurt the next year.
Then he went to Salazar at one point and looked good early in the year and then he just left him to train with someone else.
I think he just kept tinkering with his approach to training over the years and couldn't keep a good groove going.
Well, as I recall his downfall started with his disappointing performance at the 08' Olympic Trials after his stellar 07' year. I don't think he had any serious injury leading up to 08'. So basically, it really is more complicated than that. But generally I that it is a classic story of a runner overtraining, being great for a time, then having it catch up with him.
adsfasdfadf wrote:
He had injuries. He had a serious achilles tear and he was never the same after surgery. It's a similar story to Solinsky. It's not that complicated guys.
The Lagats, Manzanos, Willises are the rare exception, not the norm.