Track Takes

Mexican Diplomacy
Tonight my wife and I depart for Monterrey, Mexico, in what promises to be one of many racing opportunities in the future. Monterrey is a northern city in Mexico renowned for its education and its beauty, as it sits between beautiful mountain ranges. It will be my first trip to Monterrey, as I have only passed through back in 2001 when I raced the Coahuila 21K in Saltillo.

I was invited to partake in Elite 5000m track race that is hosted by Runner's North and Director Carlos Guerrero, based on my performance at the HP Houston Marathon and at the Total Fina International Friendship Run 10K back in November. However, recovery issues from Houston have altered plans, and I will not be able to compete in the 5000m, but I am still making the trip to meet the Runners North "equipo" and establish good relations between the Mexican running federation and the On the Run Racing Team. We hope in the future, as racing team members improve, that more racing opportunities will be available for the team.

I will post a complete report of the trip, along with pictures in the upcoming days. But before I leave here are some things that have been on my mind lately...

Peter Gilmore Interview
I really liked this interview by MensRacing.com on Peter Gilmore. Gilmore seems to have his head on straight and is enjoying some fantastic running by being just an old-school, hard-working marathoner. I really like his approach to training and racing and hope one day to be able to emulate his methodology. Runners like Gilmore give me hope that a 2:15 clocking is not out of reach...

The Next Bob Kennedy?
This past weekend, the collegiate distance scene was quite unbelievable, especially at the University of Indiana. Fellow Floridians (was fortunate to be able to watch the Jeffersons race while I was in Florida) Sean and John Jefferson blazed to sub-4:00 miles, with Sean breaking Jim Spivey's school record (3:57.04) with his 3:56.44 negative-split race. John wasn't too shabby, blitzing a 3:57.85, as it was the twin brother's first times under the magical 4:00 barrier. The Jeffersons have been phenoms since their high school days, and with the ease in which Sean won the NCAA indoor champinships in 2004 in 4:00.16, this result was no surprise.

However, what also occurred at the Meyo Invitational at Notre Dame resonated loudly throughout the running community: American legend Bob Kennedy's 14-year old indoor 3000m school record of 7:55.93 had been shattered by Stephen Haas and his 7:51.00 breakthrough performance. Who, you ask, is Stephen Haas? Don't worry, I had to do some major brain-scanning to remember that (I think) he was a FootLocker All-American and a 4:10/9:00 runner. Solid times emerging from high school, but in his three years at Indiana had not truly fulfilled his potential or indicated he was capable of such a breakthrough. However, the Senior from North Carolina lived up to all expectations last weekend with his 7:51.

But here's the point of my entry: will Haas be the next Bob Kennedy? And why not? I would hope he would be thinking that perhaps he could be the next American under 13-minutes for 5000m. I hope he gets such a tremendous rush of adrenaline and hope from this performance that it opens his eyes and aspirations to push the envelope and attempt to progress like Kennedy did. Kennedy dropped from 7:53 to 7:38 in one year. Haas went from 8:19 to 7:51. Tremendous improvement for Hoosier that has a 4:08 mile personal best and a 14:06, 5000m best. We could assume Haas may drop like Kennedy did over 5000m (Kennedy went 14:21 to 13:42). My prediction: watch for Haas to run a 13:40 this outdoor season.

But let's get to the underlying issue: will Haas sub-13 minutes? Or anyone for that matter that has run faster than Kennedy did while in the NCAA? What separates a Bob Kennedy from the multitude of collegiates that show tremendous middle distance prowess? Conventional coaching theory and observation would lead to the conclusion that, no, Haas, and Jefferson for that matter, will not run faster than Kennedy and Spivey. But their records were broken, thus therein lies the potential. How can we assure that these kids (and countless others) continue pressing on towards new American records?

Once again, conventional coaching knowledge will tell you that Haas needs to develop the speed of his teammates (sub-4:00 miling). Kennedy was capable of 3:56. Others would argue that Haas could probably sub-4 right now. Well, we shall see. Kennedy remained with his coach (the great Sam Bell) throughout his track career. Perhaps that was the one key to Kennedy's success: stability in coaching and training technique. He had confidence in his coach and confidence in his training. Kennedy also sought out to train with the best in the world, not just the best Americans. Sure, the Farm Team and Hansons are the best positives that have happened to American distance running since the 90's, but those programs pit American vs. American. How about importing (or exporting) some Africans into the programs? How good would Brian Sell be if he could train in a group consisting of Evans Rutto and Timothy Cherigat? How good could Charlie Gruber be training with the likes of Hicham El Guerrouj or Bernard Lagat? Perhaps a graduation of the "American-only" syndrome could be reached.

Spivey is perhaps America's most underrated distance runner. His range is legendary. His consistency unmatched. But he did switch coaches and he did not train with Africans. Anyhow, we need to assure that these kids are put in the best possible positions to succeed. Let's follow this experiment through...

I will restate: I hope that Stephen Haas and Sean Jefferson can both start realizing (like Dathan Ritzenhein and Alan Webb have) that they are the future of American distance running. They have replaced legends within their own institutional walls, and now should proceed to conquer the post-collegiate world. But, only time will tell if their efforts will be a little known fact, or if their efforts this past weekend spurred them to greatness. I wish them the best.

Exploiting the Africans
For all those that witnessed the Boston Indoor Games 3000m, I sympathize with you. The Boston Indoor Games 3000m was perhaps the saddest event I have witnessed since my birth. Brought to reality, to my reality, that these African distance runners are constantly being abused via over-racing and crib-robbing.

Whoever told Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia) that it would be best for him to compete in this 3000m race less than a month after the sudden death of his fiancee should be excommunicated from the running world. A part of me tells me that all Bekele wanted to do in January was roll up into the fetal position in his bed in Ethiopia and cry, and moan, and mourn the death of his loved one. He had no business attempting to race 3000m at the internationa level under such a pressure-filled arena.

Did anyone see him at the start? Heavy-eyed, not even shaven (never have I seen facial hair on an Ethiopian; hair growing in patches), and not even fit. He looked soft, fragile, robotic, compelled to race to fulfill the promise of racing in America. And for what? To avenge the death of his fiancee? Or to please agents and race directors. He accomplished nothing but more hurt, more disappointment. He came for glory for his woman and left with embarrassment. It was a sad day for our sport. A sad day, indeed, for track and field. Bekele, I am sorry.

Mile Ambition
It's about time that Track begins talk of World Records again. I am talking about Bernard Lagat's attempt at Hicham El Guerrouj's world record, 3:48.45, at the Tyson Invitational at the University of Arkansas today and tomorrow.

Lagat has a great shot at the record, but it has been a while since track's elites have attempted such ambitious records. I can't remember the last time someone attempted to set the world record. It must have been El Guerrouj back in '98, when he set the record. After that race, he pretty much retired from indoor world record setting. Gebrselassie gave the 1500m world record a good scare, but no one has seriously run a blazing indoor Mile since 1998- not until Lagat blitzed a 3:52 at the Millrose Games.

That performance was mind-boggling and a once-in-a-lifetime. Such a tight track, such a huge victory. Second place was 4:00! Almost 8-seconds in the course of a Mile over the likes of Laban Rotich and Alan Webb. It was stunning. It made me think he could sub-3:50 on a legit 200m banked track (like at Arkansas).

The only thing hurting Lagat is competition. He will be alone. There will be no Geb that chases El G. Perhaps this will stir El G out of his throne in Morocco to take notice, your record may fall, King. El G's record being broken would be the best happening in track since Bekele's mind-boggling 2004 season in which he broke Gebrselassie's 5000 & 10,000m track records. Perhaps this will get El G re-focused on the 1500 and Mile and have him give another go at it.

Bernard Lagat will not get the record, but he will run 3:48.68. So close, yet so far. Much like the finish of the Athens Olympics 1500m, where Lagat just lost out to El Guerrouj for Gold. Once in the shadow (ask Paul Tergat), it is hard to emerge on your own. You are cursed. Lagat, move up to the 5000m- quickly!