Jared Ward tells LRC trolls to shut it

the truth hurts wrote:

Predictor wrote:

The US greats of the past would have been in a second pack battle finishing in 2:09. This thread wouldn’t be that much different.

Correct. Shorter and Rodgers were 2:10 guys. Rodgers only broke 2:10 in Boston which is a net downhill course. They would get stomped on by today's African runners.

Have you seen the shoes Rodgers used in '75? Let's give him 4% faster.

Mugician wrote:

Perhaps we have too high of expectations. How many Americans in a typical Olympic year have a shot at a medal in the 100? 200? 400? Etc. Usually we have maybe an average of one runner with a shot at a medal per event. So some events we have 2 or 3, some events 0, some events 1. Our present state of American marathon running doesn't appear to be outside the realm of our other events.

In 2016, there were 47 "athletics" events and the U.S. won 32 medals. At an average of .6 medals per event, winning one of those in the Marathon looks pretty good.

But people are complaining that Rupp is the only American running under 2:10, not complaining that Rupp is the only legitimate medal contender.

I'm not the type who only cares about times, but it's hard to argue that Americans don't lack depth in the marathon, even compared to other events. Look at some stats from the last year:

Event: 100th best time from the past year; #of Americans in top 100

Marathon: 2:08:36; 1

100m: 10.15; 30

1500m: 3:37.98 (90th); 14

5000m: 13:28.57; 15

If he's the best we've got, and it's gone to his head, then we are in big, big, trouble.

physics defiant wrote:

Yes, but they are still not doing as well as the guys 30-35 years ago.

Short course. ;)

rojo wrote:

1) I liked Ward's post.

2) The US likely will send a strong team to Rio.

3) Despite 1 and 2, that wasn't a great showing for the US in NYC. The reality is Ward almost pulled out of the race six weeks before it took place so the fact that he was still top American isn't a good sign at all for anyone not named Jared Ward.

It's great for Ward as it shows he's on the comeback trail from a tough 2 years. But the reality is he was far from his top shape. The facts show that he finished more than 6 minutes behind the winner when in Rio he was less than 3 minutes behind.

I honestly think we've entered into a phase of American marathoning where you have to run NYC/Boston every year to stay relevant and get paid. They're fun races but it's hard to run fast there. I think the 3 @ 2:12 & 1 more @ 2:13 is worth someone being able to go 2:09-11. Now they haven't done that but they don't line up for Berlin and London every year with paces. I don't think US marathoning is in a bad spot right now.

I also think it's hard to compare the OG to NYC 2018. The Olympics had very warm + humid weather which affects everyone. Some people, like Ward, do exceptionally well in the heat. With perfect weather, the top marathoners are running 2:03s. It makes sense for an American not named Rupp to be 6 minutes back of that in 2:09. So 2:06-flat at NYC for the top runners and 2:12 for the top American seems to align with a 2:03/2:09 on a flat course.

vivalarepublica wrote:

Publically addressing comments on this message board is a zero sum game.

I think you mean lose-lose situation. "Zero sum game" means you're in a closed system where for one person to win another person has to lose; one's gains minus someone else's losses, sum out to zero. There's no winning on LRC; everyone is just a loser.

He cheated by using shoes that are not available to all. Same with Desi and Biwott.

FFF wrote:

I've lost count of the number of US men's marathoners who would run 2:10, 2:08, 2:08, 2:07, or 2:06 if they'd "just run on a flat, fast course like Berlin or London."

Until someone named Galen Rupp actually does go to Europe to run a flat, fast course, Ward can shut the hell up.

Someone named Galen Rupp DID go to Europe and ran on a flat, fast course.

Saucony Cheater wrote:

He cheated by using shoes that are not available to all. Same with Desi and Biwott.

Biwott wear Brooks

THIS is the type of mindset that is contributing to the problem

Grammar police wrote:

vivalarepublica wrote:

Publically addressing comments on this message board is a zero sum game.

I think you mean lose-lose situation. "Zero sum game" means you're in a closed system where for one person to win another person has to lose; one's gains minus someone else's losses, sum out to zero. There's no winning on LRC; everyone is just a loser.

Or everyone can get nothing. It's a zero sum game for the elites that address the message board. For the trolls and Letsrun, they win out.

I like Ward. Rooted for him at the OGs and thought he showed everything you want from a marathoner representing your country -- short of super fast talent. This IG post is exactly what you want from someone like him in his position and in the situation that US marathoning is in.

Reading between the lines is fundamental wrote:

Reading is fundamental wrote:

I didn’t see one mention of LRC, Trolls, or shutting it

You don't know how to read between the lines, do you?

Never mind that, who’s Jarod Werd?

Ridiculous. USA's status in marathoning is being quantified strictly by time here. Or so it seems.

We had a top finished at Chicago (and a winner last year), 4 in the top ten at NYC this year. Who cares what the time is. As long as there are Americans in the top ten at a lot of races, that seems like a strong showing to me.

Meh.. wrote:

The fact that these guys can't be faster than our top guys 30 years ago is pathetic.

I think he is a lot closer to those guys than you are. Makes no sense to fault someone is is making the most of his talent.

Of course he does, same with Desi. Nobody said he/they wear Saucony.