Apparently decided a gold medal is more important than beating your head against a brick wall in a "glamor" event.
www.flotrack.org/videos/coverage/view_v ... ky-5th-ave
Are you listening, AW...? The 5,000m. beckons...
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Posted: 23 Jul 2008 14:01 Post subject:
Cyril wrote:
[ What trait would you be looking for (in Goucher or Webb) that would suggest they were SCs? I would think they would need to at least give it a shot in training for you to assess their ability.
Is there something about the way they run? Their frame?
I tend to agree that the steeple is quite a specialized talent and just because someone is a stellar middle disatance guy doesn't mean that they will also be a good steepler.
But, can you exclude these guys from the event without even knowing if they can run over barriers well? It would be a shame if someone like Goucher has some ability over barriers but never discovered it because he was discouraged from even giving it a try.
[Brian]
I posed this initial question because I've always believed someone with 5,000m. stamina and good Mile speed potentially might make an excellent steeplchaser. This type of athlete might have an advantage as far as just how much energy each barrier takes to clear throughout the race: all other factors equal, someone who on a 1-10 scale of effort can maintain speed at 4 or 5 will certainly have an advantage over someone who needs a 6-7--either a faster pace throughout or more reserves left at the end. No, hurdling isn't a key requirement--the aforementioned stamina and sustained speed is--but having any hurdling experience certinly helps (my point regarding Goucher).
I knew a collegiate runner who used to run the IM race in smaller meets (among another race that day) so he could improve his 400 speed and his hurdling technique. He got down to the low 8:30's in the steeple; I always thought the Bowerman types would have given him an appreciative head nod.
Many other coaches believe the same about the necessary stamina/sustained speed. Dellinger, for just one, used to differentiate between 800/1500 guys and 1500/5,000 guys regarding their optimum racing range and would train these groups accordingly different. Steeplers would be included in the 1500/5,000 group, plus specialty technique work over barriers.
1500=(sustained) speed.
5,000=stamina.
Both=potentially good steeplechaser.
To me, both Goucher and Webb *could* fit this potential profile.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Add Chris S.
Go, dude!
www.flotrack.org/videos/coverage/view_v ... ky-5th-ave
Are you listening, AW...? The 5,000m. beckons...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: 23 Jul 2008 14:01 Post subject:
Cyril wrote:
[ What trait would you be looking for (in Goucher or Webb) that would suggest they were SCs? I would think they would need to at least give it a shot in training for you to assess their ability.
Is there something about the way they run? Their frame?
I tend to agree that the steeple is quite a specialized talent and just because someone is a stellar middle disatance guy doesn't mean that they will also be a good steepler.
But, can you exclude these guys from the event without even knowing if they can run over barriers well? It would be a shame if someone like Goucher has some ability over barriers but never discovered it because he was discouraged from even giving it a try.
[Brian]
I posed this initial question because I've always believed someone with 5,000m. stamina and good Mile speed potentially might make an excellent steeplchaser. This type of athlete might have an advantage as far as just how much energy each barrier takes to clear throughout the race: all other factors equal, someone who on a 1-10 scale of effort can maintain speed at 4 or 5 will certainly have an advantage over someone who needs a 6-7--either a faster pace throughout or more reserves left at the end. No, hurdling isn't a key requirement--the aforementioned stamina and sustained speed is--but having any hurdling experience certinly helps (my point regarding Goucher).
I knew a collegiate runner who used to run the IM race in smaller meets (among another race that day) so he could improve his 400 speed and his hurdling technique. He got down to the low 8:30's in the steeple; I always thought the Bowerman types would have given him an appreciative head nod.
Many other coaches believe the same about the necessary stamina/sustained speed. Dellinger, for just one, used to differentiate between 800/1500 guys and 1500/5,000 guys regarding their optimum racing range and would train these groups accordingly different. Steeplers would be included in the 1500/5,000 group, plus specialty technique work over barriers.
1500=(sustained) speed.
5,000=stamina.
Both=potentially good steeplechaser.
To me, both Goucher and Webb *could* fit this potential profile.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Add Chris S.
Go, dude!
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