Alan Webb not running the 1500

I like sid.

Alan,

You're a great runner, but it's probably time for a change. Insanity is doing the same thing while expecting different results. Your highschool coach might have helped you break 4min and set the American record in a meet set up for you, but since then you haven't progressed and have constantly complained of overtraining or not having your legs under you. I'm curious to see what your training group is like. Try Oregon TC, Coach Centrowitz, or somewhere with Leo or Lopez. These guys seem to peek at the right moment all the time.

sid,
like i said... your local 5k is calling your name! go RACE a 5k or even a mile if you want, but RACE it. give it everything you have, and afterwards dont make ONE excuse why you performed the way you did.

sid,
you are not all wrong, there are just so many things that need to go right for a runner to have a really good race. do you play football? then you obviously know alot about pain, I will give you that. since webb is such a high level runner, he needs to pay attention to his body, because if he were to run hard on a strained hammy he could possibly tear it and miss 4-6 months! besides, only the weak runners complain after a bad race. if you meet a real runner after a poor race, they will tell you that they just didn't run well today, but are looking forward to their next oppurtunity to step on the line. since you know alot about running, maybe you should put the football down and go for a nice 10 miler...

Sid we are defending the pride we have for our sport, and why the hell are you here if you feel this way about running?

If you _can't_ say something supportive, I mean...

Wow, you're all a bunch of experts, huh? As soon as any one of you has run even a single race close to Webb's best time, then maybe you can judge. Until then, please, if you say something supportive or constructive, shut the f*** up.

Can I ask why you are on Flotrack if you feel that way about runners?

all i'm saying is that runners make loads of excuses. a person could just say i didn't get the job done. if it wasn't true, you all wouldn't be getting upset.

Natha...

Don't make presumptions. Webb seems to be suffering the symptoms of over training. Anyone who has trained at any level knows the dangers of leaving your best performances on the practice field. He has tasted success and it is human nature to thing if I do more of what I done - I should expect greater rewards? However, training does not work that way.
I wish him the best...but this seems to happen often.

To all who criticize Webb, you must have never really tried to live on the knife's edge of training. Injury is real and trying to ignore it only leads to more time away from good training. Webb runs for a living. He devotes his entire life to the sport. He knows more about his training and racing than any of us. My heart goes out to him for the frustration that he must be feeling right now.

Seriously sid, seriously? You know must have no idea how technical is can be to win a race, and what goes into it, so when a person lose a race there's always a reason whether it be scientifically, mentally or strategically.

I think that it was really stupid of you to call runners a bunch of whimps on a running website, sid. I mean you had to see this coming dude. seriously.

Sid, if you were aware of some of the high profile running injuries of the last 50 years you wouldn't be making such comments. For a limited contact sport, running injuries can be quite grotesque. (Think Harry Jerome's quadriceps rolling up back in the 60's.) When a runner with several years ahead of him at Webb's level gets the wrong kind of pain, he has to heed that pain for anything save an Olympic Final. I truly hope for Webb's sake, as well as Legat, Manzano, and many other great miler/1500 guys who want to compete with him, that Webb makes a speedy and complete recovery for next season.

i beg to differ... Sid you obviously have never turned your television to espn and watched a soccer, football, baseball, or basketball game. As a whole, not all, make more excuses than anyone i know. maybe you have run, but not raced. there is a difference and you have obviously never experienced the latter. i too, have played just about every sport out there, but running is by far the hardest.

Sid:

your local 5k is calling... you want to know what runners go through? go figure it out. my bet says if you race it your mindset changes drastically. seriously man... dont talk crap if youve never been there before. trust me, if you were a runner you would know exactly what it feels like to go through all of those things at one point or another.

how am i an idiot. i run and i've done other sports. i think running is hard but i've never heard so many freakin' excuses about stuff. bottom line is that you didn't get the job done. Sino, are you saying that a boxer, a football player, basketball player or hockey player doesn't have to have "their whole body ready"? you just don't hear them whining. come on.

Sid is an idiot. Running isnt like other sports where you dont have to be physically fit to participate. For runners to be at their peak performance, their whole body has to be ready to go. Even if one things goes wrong, like not having enough glycogen, it could drastically affect your race.

Sid you're an idiot.

sid you got it right to a T!

Sid: my guess is that you are not a runner.

runners are the biggest, whiny excuse makers ever. i swear. quit being and suck it up. waaaah, i didn't eat the right thing and had a bad race. waaaaah, i peaked too early. waaaaaah, i didn't sleep right. waaaaaah, it was too hot. waaaaaaaah, my shoelaces were too tight. waaaaaah, my glycogen stores were not high enough.

i see u got on here and commented about yourself. well get with coach vig or centrowitz, that dude can mold 1500 guys. with centrowitz, webb could run 3:29 next yr, 3:44 mile by olypic trials

Give the guy a break !!!!!! "Come on Webb - make your years count" What do you think he gets up and trains for every day ? And then back again for a second run...... Its not as simple and "just do it". Its complicated and just as frustrating for him. Thanks for people who still give him support. Thats what he needs when times are tough.

seems like nothing ever goes his way when it counts...too bad

you hate to see the american record holder on the side lines. tough break. hopefully he can heal up and get back in action stronger than ever

it's his career to gamble with, not yours

what a va jay jay grow a pair webb

i think he should go to papa centrowitz, buckman arkansas's new coach, or vig

That stinks for Webb I was hoping he was on the comeback trail.

What a bi+ch

What a

Webb is plenty young. It's more a question of desire than age. He needs to get as far away from running for as long as he needs and come back ready to kick some ass! Maybe a short cross country skiing career wouldn't be bad at this point.

i think he is not going to do much his rest of his career

i think hes reached the point where things are going to go down hill from where his is

u need to shut up and be for real. he's not a pessimist, he's a realist. ur just so nieve and stupid so get real. i don't think he's done i said it on a previous comment down there that i think he needs to take time off and then get with a real coach. salazar, cook, gags. hell coach vig is in virginia he should move his arse back to virginia isn't that where he's from? train w/ coach vig they have a solid group there and earn back the respect of the usa track fans!!! Web u better go to virginia!!! or i'll kill you! jk!

neither wetmore, nor salazar are mid distance coaches their best athlete's run 10k and up. Warhurst may have worked out if given the proper time, but we all no the end of that story. Vin Lananna, Arkansas old coach, or someone mid distance oriented would work

You should become a pessimistic writer.

Who knows what his problem is... I don't think we should judge him since we have no clue what he is going through.

I think the guy just needs a new coach and a fresh start. Wetmore, Salazar... hell anyone. He still has time to realize his potential, he just needs to get his ass in gear. Definitely a disappointing day though

He's done.

Period.
Done.
No more questions asked.
This is probably just a coverup for lack of fitness anyway, lets be serious... He ran all out in the Prelim and knew he was gonna get smoked if he ran the final, and couldn't suffer the embarassment... He is done. Even if the injury is legit... He's done.

wow im pretty sure the guys i said would be the only ones that have a shot just went 1-5 ha

Alan, make your prime years count.

something always happens to him. i think what he needs to do is take some time off of running. then when he starts back up get with an experienced coach that knows what he's doing ( cook, salazar, otc track club). webb has talent but talent doesn't win championships, smart training and coaching + hard work does it!!

Webb is a very good runner, but lacks the success in the big races to make him a great runner. I think he has 2 years left where he will be in peak form, (if he actually can do anything with it is yet to be seen). But If he moved up to the 5k I think he would be better suited. Though Lagat is what 32-33 and won in Osaka.

2:31PM start time on the Pacific Coast.
So yes, the Men's 1500m Final will be on TV (NBC).
:)

Will the 1500m final be live on flotrack or live on tv??

D. Torrence is going to really appreciate his switch from Puma to Nike when he is allowed into the finals. Were he still with Puma, the final would stick to 11 people, but as we have seen in the past with Nike sponsored USATF championships, the rules can be bended when the money is in the bank.

Lee. your comparing Webb to a marathoner..not so good of an anology..i think webbs done..i mean he might get a few good wins here and there..he wouldnt have even have been top 3 if he was healthy. the only guys that have a shot are manzano ulrey lomong leer and pifer.

Wrong. 10k and marathon are more suited to runners with strength instead of speed. Look at Haile G. He doesn't have as much speed as he did before, but now if one of the top marathon runners.

David Torrence should be allowed to run the finals. He was the next place in that heat. It's only fair.

The comments about is age are really, really stupid. Alan is 26 years old, 10k runners usually peak at age 28-30. You can see guys over 35 years old winning big 10k races. For example, the guy that finished second in the beijing olympic marathon, right after Wanjiru is 37 years old, he also ran PB last month 2:05 and he started running at age 23! So I think Alan has a good 10-14 years left.

does this mean garret heath will get to run in the final or will they just run an 11 person final?

Well he'd have to go back and re-do his whole career if he wanted people to completely support him. Like maybe race well when it counted.

webb is the biggest loser ever. he runs the american record in a meet made for him.. other than that he doesnt do anything, he just gets his ass kicked in big races while looking like a freak with a huge head. it looks like he is a alien or something.

That really sucks. Go check out my blog and comment: http://www.joshcarr1990.blogspot.com/

He should turn his sights to the 5k or something. I mean, the guy has run 13:11 before. If he improves by 13 seconds and change he has the American Record in that too. He can clearly handle the mileage, he ran a fantastic 10k, maybe he just needs to change his focus if his glory years in the 1500m are over. He's already got the American Record, he should gun for another one.

I hope he shuts of all of you naysayers up really soon...like in 2012

People have made more unlikely comebacks and it would be great if he could turn things around next year but I too have been fearing the worst for awhile and after this, I think he's done. I just hope he can go out on a better note than this.

Webb is 26 for pete's sake!! He should have a good 6-8 years left.

I believe that I speak for all of USATF fans when I say, I AM HIGHLY DISSAPOINTED IN THE PROGRESS AND STRIDES THIS YOUNG MAN HAS MADE IN HIS CAREER, POST HIGH SCHOOL.
Webb has some accomplishments under his belt, but has failed to perform on the biggest stage, for one reason or another.

If a runner gets injured more than once during his peak years - usually its very hard for them to get back. While I don't doubt Webb's passion and his work ethic, I am afraid - age wise - he will be past his peak by next year.

i honestly think his days are coming to an end as an elite runner

I was really hoping he could come out with a big performance today. Hope he recovers well. I still don't think he's done. He's got some run left in him.