How did Donavan Brazier go from running 1:43.55 and winning NCAAs to bombing out of the US Trials 21 days later?

err...

he ran 1'43.55 in ncaa final

he was obviously tested after this or are you going to claim ncaa don't test winners of their prestige meet ???

DickSymmonds wrote:

no explanation required wrote:

Wait, were we supposed to be surprised that a guy who peaked perfectly at the end of a very long collegiate season wasn't still on top of his game 21 days later?

He had not peaked.

Would you say Murphy peaked with his NCAA 1500? If he listened to you, he'd not have that bronze.

Murphy had an endurance base, Brazier does not. Do you know the difference between apples and pears?

Go. Away.

dfds wrote:

Was a cool story. Never had any idea that Johnny Gray is such a mileage advocate.

Same here. I can't help but think that Brazier could be a flash in the pan if he doesn't change his approach. All that stuff about him "never liking" track or cross country, his aversion to running more than 30 miles a week...I sincerely hope I'm wrong because he seems like a nice kid, and he's supremely talented.

Between him, Murphy, and Berian, the US could be stacked at 800 for the next decade!

He got so famous after the 1:43 that he was too happy to summon that level of hate ever again.

Reader of article wrote:

dfds wrote:

Was a cool story. Never had any idea that Johnny Gray is such a mileage advocate.

Same here. I can't help but think that Brazier could be a flash in the pan if he doesn't change his approach. All that stuff about him "never liking" track or cross country, his aversion to running more than 30 miles a week...I sincerely hope I'm wrong because he seems like a nice kid, and he's supremely talented.

Between him, Murphy, and Berian, the US could be stacked at 800 for the next decade!

+1

A 19 year old kid goes from running 1:47 all the way down to 1:43 and we still somehow find a way to criticize him! Picking holes in his mileage, his tactics and even referencing him not wanting to extend his track season when he was an 11th grader (which is exactly what an 11th grader should be saying if he wants to be in the sport for another 10 years).

Even if he did the exact same training as last year, he'd still improve - so there is no need to drastically change too much too soon. If he only adds 5 miles a week to his yearly average, he'd be at 50 miles a week by 2020...same mileage as David Rudisha, with an athlete that has similar speed. All his coach/manager needs to do is to manage his racing between now and then and focus on the European summer

The kid is a star.

PS think 80 miles a week was a slight exaggeration from JG

http://www.flotrack.org/video/983641-workout-wednesday-duane-solomon-long-run

great piece. illuminating. shows that it was a real shame, and makes me wonder what could have been, considering murphy's shock bronze.

calculo wrote:

err...

he ran 1'43.55 in ncaa final

he was obviously tested after this or are you going to claim ncaa don't test winners of their prestige meet ???

Can you not read?

I think either Solomon has a terrible memory, is an audacious liar or terrible at racing.

In that video where he is jogging claiming that is a workout he reminisces about the following workouts:

700m in 1:26/1:27 (1:39 low pace, why not just finish the 800m for a WR?)

FOLLOWED BY a 400m in 46.0

Also, 3x400m in 51s with 200m jog recovery. Times 3. So 9 x 400m in 51. Right.

Also he sounds stupid as hell and told people to add him on fcking Xbox: bigboss800

Wow.

And no I'm not nice.

dfds wrote:

Was a cool story. Never had any idea that Johnny Gray is such a mileage advocate.

I trained at least once/twice weekly on the track with JG in his early days with SMTC, and for coach Merle McGee. Don't recall exactly how many miles per week Johnny ran but it likely was between 60 and 70. I typically put in 70 to 80, doing two a days. Johnny was also doing two a days during most weeks so I suspect it was about the same. Merle's coaching philosophy (modified Igloi) had such a huge impact on Johnny, it would not surprise me in the least that he goes what he knows works, with his own athletes, with an emphasis on mileage and interval work.

sanchobaile wrote:

great piece. illuminating. shows that it was a real shame, and makes me wonder what could have been, considering murphy's shock bronze.

Murphy is a well prepared racer. Not as much of shock as some believe as his in season progression showed him able to be in the hunt in the final at the games.

Brazier to young to inexperienced,poorly trained, mental mess, turning pro hype, jump in coaches , he did everything wrong.

Lets see what he can as indoor comes around. As an 800 guy he has to now earn his keep on the track.

Drugs were out of his system.

BullSlacker wrote:

I think either Solomon has a terrible memory, is an audacious liar or terrible at racing.

.

Either? How about all three.?

3x400m in 51s with 200m jog recovery. Times 3. So 9 x 400m in 51.

Not sure about the 3 sets of 3, as the workout use to be 3x2x400. I did 3x2x400m with KD (who was coach by JG at the time) in 50/51

Workout was

- 20min WU + 10x100m 2 easy 1 good

- 2x400 with 200j 51/51

- 2 laps jog

- 6x150m with 50 jog 1 easy 1 good

- 2 laps jog

- 2x400 with 200j 51/51

- 2 laps jog

- 6x150m with 50 jog 1 easy 1 good

- 2 laps jog

- 2x400 with 200j 50/51

- 5 laps CD

My point wasn't to pick holes in what he's accomplished, because what he's accomplished is nothing short of incredible. The reason for my hand-wringing is because he's probably the most talented runner (you could quibble with me on this, but I think he's on par with Webb) that's come along in the last 15 years.

Having said that, I think there's a difference between not wanting to extend your season and "never liking" track or cross country in the first place. I grew up hunting and fishing, so I completely get why a high school-er might not want to extend their season any longer than they have to. But "never liking" the sport is a different issue. If he does in fact want to be in the sport for another 10 years, then he had better "like" it, at the very least. Otherwise, it's going to be a miserable slog.

As you say, he's only 19 years old, and he still has plenty of time to improve. I really want to see the kid do well, but I read that article and am less confident that he's a sure thing for an Olympic medal than I was before I read it. And that says it all, that people already view him in that light.

JRinaldi wrote:

3x400m in 51s with 200m jog recovery. Times 3. So 9 x 400m in 51.

Not sure about the 3 sets of 3, as the workout use to be 3x2x400. I did 3x2x400m with KD (who was coach by JG at the time) in 50/51

Workout was

- 20min WU + 10x100m 2 easy 1 good

- 2x400 with 200j 51/51

- 2 laps jog

- 6x150m with 50 jog 1 easy 1 good

- 2 laps jog

- 2x400 with 200j 51/51

- 2 laps jog

- 6x150m with 50 jog 1 easy 1 good

- 2 laps jog

- 2x400 with 200j 50/51

- 5 laps CD

Yeah that's interesting and really great, but I've literally just written down what Solomon said with his own mouth what he did. From the video you posted.

If DB doesnt have Pure Hate after how the OTs went, he never will.

He's 19 years old. 40-50 would be great, but you can't send him to that right away. I agree he does need to up his mileage, but that can be done gradually. Not sure he ever needs to run an 80 mile week. He would have been fine if the A&M coaches didn't get so butt hurt after he went pro. It would have been dumb for him to continue competing collegiatwky.