Why isn't more top NCAA talent flocking to Hansons?

I remember Keith or Kevin posting here like a year and a half ago saying that people need to stick with the program 8- 10 years to really develop as a distance runner. DJ do you honestly see your current crop doing that? Also, the lot of people who left before I guess didn't see any chance that in 8 or 10 years they would make it to the next level if they thought they should do something else with their life. Why don't they give it the fair shake?

????? wrote:

wow who is this DJ guy? does he run for Hansons?

Nah, hell I can't beat the women in anything over a 400, but I am an employee/helper of the program. Just trying to give my all to help something that many feel IS making a difference. Please forgive (or ignore) me if I come off sounding like an expert, I just get bothered by some of the things I read. As far as the other question about the 8-10 year commitment, Brian has been here since 2001 (4 years), Clint was a charter member (6 years), and Chad was here in 2001 then left and has now been back for a few months. I like to think of what will happen in the next 4 years, and it gives the guys and gals something to look forward to if they stick it out.

clearly you haven't run 140 plus miles/week to know it's way more than the time you're out hitting the concrete. if you have run anything decent it surely hasn't been of substance.

Keith and Kevin want the praise and attention for results. That is why runners have left. There are much better training groups and coaches. Still their effort should be applauded.

I just listened to Kevin talking to the press and his exact quote was --Keith and I are just facilitators, the athletes deserve 100% of the credit-- Here in Helsinki they are certainly not trying to take the credit for the athletes performance.

DJ wrote:

Secondly, I never give the "company" line, so much so that I know people would rather I shut my hole and not even bother to respond to these "posts".

Watch it Don. You're going to lose the car, expense account, and executive restroom privileges if you're not careful.

great apes wrote:

ton of reasons, not individual attention, dont get to race a lot, hansons are very strict, a lot of people dont have good success.

As a team member I may be able to speak to this a little better than others.

1. Between Don, Keith and Kevin we get all the individual attention any of us want. There have been some guys that require hand holding but all of them have left. These guys never miss a workout. There are plenty of very good athletes that have a coach design workouts from hundreds of miles away. Not us.

2. We know that it takes a strict lifestyle to try to compete with guys that may be better than us. We need to do other things better.

3. Having been here for 2 years, I can tell you that every single teammate that has been here during the last couple years has improved. Some athletes have had problems with the amount of work or wanted to do different workouts. Some of these guys would skip afternoon runs or change the schedule slightly and then not improve but that is it. I don't blame the coaching if the runner is not following what they are supposed to run.

4. I am not sure that Keith or Kevin want any more athletes. Our group is frickin huge now.

egos! wrote:

Keith and Kevin want the praise and attention for results. That is why runners have left. There are much better training groups and coaches. Still their effort should be applauded.

It probably depends on what you are looking for. If I am a marathoner, there is currently no better training partners that the Hanson crew. Everytime someone puts down the Hanson Bros coaching these guys suprize us all. Great job today (again)Team Hansons . Sell and Verran both shocked me.

egos! wrote:

Keith and Kevin want the praise and attention for results. That is why runners have left. There are much better training groups and coaches.

Jeeeezas freeeekin tap dancin'....I don't know what's funnier. This praise and attention crap, or Dukerdog's response. I know Dukerdog is really kiddin', but that "egos!" is (or thinks he is) serious? Yikes! Thanks to you both, I needeed a laugh. G'Night all....

you know in a two page thread, no one actually answered the question initially posed. not even the belligerent hansons rep.

hello kitty wrote:

you know in a two page thread, no one actually answered the question initially posed. not even the belligerent hansons rep.

"I think the real reason is that people don't like (don't bite my head off for saying this) the setup for several individual reasons. Some might be the training ideas, for some it might be the coaches, some it might be moving to Michigan away from their families, some it might be they don't like the guys, the weather, the overall environment, some of the rules. The list of reasons is probably long, it doesn't mean they are right or wrong for thinking this, it is what it is."

I think it's hilarious that they say they don't babysit their athletes but yet they have this rule that says they can't date?!?!?! Ten to one says there are other weird rules like that and people say why bother with this.

Why do the majority of NCAA talent not flock to the Hanson's? Because - The Hanson program is a unique program that requires a particular attidute and focus. Some athletes such as Ryan Shay has family in Michigan yet chose to train elsewhere. For Ryan Shay, perhaps, he is more comfortable with a different way of training and living. That's nothing negative against the Hanson program. Everyone is different. Ryan's focus isn't wrong? The Hanson athlete's focus isn't either?

But you're wrong to believe that Hanson athletes aren't just as talented as some of the "top" NCAA athletes. Some, like Brian Sell, are extremely talented. Trent Briney is talented. Chad is very talented. Jeff Campbell, when he ran for Hanson's, was as well.

The question really isn't worth answering because it presupposes what it means to be talented. All-American? Talent grows in time. Sell's talent, and many others on that program, are growing still.

i don't think you know what presupposes is. you can ask a question after making an assumption, duh.

well you'd think you'd get at least ONE right? don't tell me kids from Wisconsin or Arkansas don't have the right attitude or focus, they've been training hard talent or no talent for four years already and without classes to bog them down are ready to make it to the next level.

light bulb wrote:

you don't need to go to hansons to work hard or run a 2:15 marathon.

How would you know?

It's cold as shiite up in Michigan, that's why.

well for only 3 of the guys it's true.

geez well you think every other US marathoner who has run under 2:15 went to Hansons?