t-and-f: More Edmonton Comments: Suzy and KK
Trying to send out a 2nd time: Well since everyone is commenting about everyone's comments at the Worlds I felt I'd chime in with a piece that was extremely well received at our website. It deals with the ridiculous post race comments of Suzy F-H and Khalid Khannouchi. I only excerpted the part on them. Full article at: http://www.letsrun.com/tutd080701.html Warning: If you don't believe in criticizing top athletes read no farther. Thumbs Down: 1) Pathetic Excuses - Suzy Favor Hamilton and Sandra/Khalid Khannouchi Suzy and Khalid, the two Americans, probably deserve a pair of thumbs down for their actual performances as they went to Edmonton as rare American medal favorites in distance events and left with a pair of DNFs. However, since lately we've been ripped into by so many viewers who for some reason can't stand us to see us criticize the actual running of any runner who is faster than us (as if this matters), we won't even go there. Instead, we'll rip them to shreds for their outrageous post-race comments. We honestly thought we'd seen it all but they came up with two of the most outrageous post-competition quotes in the history of professional sports - let alone track and field. Sandra Khannouchi on husband Khalid's DNF in the marathon: He doesn't know how to run slow. When he runs slow, he gets tired. Your problem is that a distance race's pace is too easy? Give us a break. The last time we checked no one was stopping Khalid from going faster. If it's so easy, just run away with it. We should have tried that one in college. Mr. Professor, I'm sorry I failed your class but the final was so easy that I couldn't perform. Thank God, Khalid actually was a little more honest in his post-race comments and took some blame. He said, To win races like that, you have to be a tough man, and I just didn't do it today. Of course, he also said, My legs just got to heavy because of the slow pace. Because of that, I got blisters on my toes. Originally, we thought Sandra's post-race comments were the most ludicrous we'd ever heard after a race, but they were made to appear almost quite sane the next day when Suzy Favor Hamilton commented on her second straight DNF on the world or Olympic stage. Suzy on being bumped with more than a lap to go in her 1500 semifinal and her decision to step of the track at the bell: Once you break your rhythm like I did, it's hard to get back. So with a lap to go, I thought, 'There's no way I'll catch them. I've lost too much distance.' So instead of wearing myself out on another lap, I decided that I shouldn't finish this one and save myself for Zurich. Everyone done throwing up yet? We can't actually believe anyone would say something like this - let alone someone with a college degree. Guess that shows why everyone feels like they have to go to graduate school these days. Give us a break!!! Again, give us a break. Now, Suzy, listen up as we are going to list a ton of reasons why your comments make absolutely no sense whatsoever. A) YOU DON'T SAVE YOURSELF FOR ZURICH. These are the world championships - the biggest event in track and field save the Olympics. B) Even if you were going to save yourself for Zurich, you're a 1500 meter runner and it's not too hard to recover from a 1500. It's not a freaking marathon. You only had 400 left. Don't you ever do 400s in practice? Hell, we guess you'll run away with the title in Zurich since everyone else in your race in Zurich will be running in the 1500 meter final in Edmonton and will thus be too tired to compete in Zurich. You will have run one whole race and one whole lap less than them. C) Who cares if you lost a little ground? It's just the semifinals of the 1500 - you don't have to win the race - just finish in the top 4 (or 8 or whatever) - and you move on and advance. D) Again, who cares if you lost a little ground. As we said in c) it's a 1500. You have 400 meters left. Last time we checked that's more than 25% of the entire race. It's not like you're getting bumped on the final turn of an 800. Go ahead and wear yourself out at least trying to see if you can get up there. Sorry to rant but these Suzy's comments just defy all logic. We know it's tough for her to admit that she panicked and choked again, but if she can't say that, then just don't say anything at all. Hopefully, she gets a new sports psychologist. Rest of article at: http://www.letsrun.com/tutd080701.html -Weldon
t-and-f: USATF Prediction Contest
We're having another of our contests at LetsRun.com Go to: http://www.lesrun.com/usatfpickcontest.html to enter. Pick the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd placers in each running event and select field events. We've even got prizes again. Entries close 3pm pacific time on Thursday. -Weldon Johnson LetsRun.com
t-and-f: USATF Prediction Contest (Corrected Link)
It looks like I left out a "t" in letsrun. If you want to participate in the USATF picks contest it is at: http://www.letsrun.com/usatfpickcontest.html Entries close midday tomorrow (around 3pm pacific coast time) -Weldon Johnson- the recipient of a $100 late fee from USATF (sounds like they do enforce some rules) for declaring 3 hours late for the meet
t-and-f: NCAA Track Prediction Contest
We're having an NCAA prediction contest at: http://www.letsrun.com/ncaapickcontest.html You get points for picking the top 3 in each of the running events as well as the overall team titles. Enjoy! Entries due at 5pm eastern Wednesday. -Weldon Johnson
t-and-f: Contact Infor For Craig Virgin?
Does anyone have contact info for Craig Virgin? The Seattle Marathon wants him to speak at their expo and they emailed me asking if I had his info. Please reply to me personally. Thanks, Weldon Johnson http://www.letsrun.com
t-and-f: Stanford Webcast
In case you can't make it to the meet, there will bea live webchat detailing what is going on in the men's 10k at www.letsrun.com/stanford10k/ That is of course barring technical difficulties. If the URL is different go to letsrun.com to find out the real one. The meet is in 2 hours (9:15 pacific time) -Weldon
t-and-f: Preview of Stanford 10k
t the 1996 Olympics. The fastest time by an American on American soil is 27:30.00 by Alberto Salazar when he was beaten by .1 by the Kenyan great Henry Rono in a classic duel in 1982 in the rain of Eugene. From accounts of the race, Rono was 10 pounds over weight and kept thinking too himself that he would hang on for one more lap before dropping out. Well, he hung on for the 25th and final lap and the narrow win as Salazar just missed Craig Virgin's American record of 27:29.16 set 2 years earlier.Also, in the field will be a number of athletes chasing the World Championship A standard of 28:00 minutes. Expect some of these athletes including 5k Olympian Brad Hauser (10k best of 28:08), Satoshi Irifune of Japan (28:02 in 1999), Toshiuiro Iwasa of Japan (28:06 in 2000 for the win), Yoji Yamaguchi of Japan (28:12 best), division II star from New Zealand Michale Aish (28:08 in 2000), Shawn Found (4th at US Olympic Trials), Matt Downin, and LetsRun.com's own Weldon Johnson to form their own back behind the guys up front. Click Here for All Entrants in All Events Field for championships section below:Men's 10,000 Meter Run (Championship Section) at 9:15pm1. Albert Chepkurui, Kim MacDonald International Management2. Martin Keino, Kim MacDonald International Management3. James Getanda, Kim MacDonald International Management4. Luke Kipkosgei, Kim MacDonald International Management5. Abraham Chebii, Kim MacDonald International Management6. Bob Kennedy, Nike International7. Alan Culpepper, Adidas8. Toshinari Takaoka, Japan9. Abdi Abdirahman, Nike International10. Mark Carroll, Ireland11. Mebrahtom Keflezighi, Nike12. Jeff Schiebler, Nike/Canada13. Nick Rogers, Nike14. Satoshi Irifune, Japan15. Jason Rexing, Nike Farm Team16. Toshiuiro Iwasa, Japan17. Brad Hauser, Nike International18. Michael Aish, Western State19. Ben Noad, Boston AA20. Phil Price, Team USA21. Yoji Yamaguchi, Japan22. Greg Jimmerson, Nike Farm Team23. Matt Downin, Nike24. Weldon Johnson, LetsRun.com25. Shawn Found, US Army26. Clint Wells, NYAC27. Andrew Letherby, Fila28. Alan Bunce, New Zealand29. Brent Hauser, Nike Farm Team From: http://www.letsrun.com/stanford10k050401prev.html
t-and-f: Preview of Stanford 10k
I realized I sent you all the first unedited version of the preview. The corrected version is up at: http://www.letsrun.com/stanford10k050401prev.html -Weldon
t-and-f: Mt. Sac
I don't read most of these messages anymore as I get the digest mode. I usually scroll at the subject headings and read a few messages. I saw some messages on Mt. Sac that caught my attention and only read a few of them. Only problem is these t-and-f messages go into a bulkmail folder I have that gets deleted whenever it fills up, so now the messages are all gone, and I only read a few of the posts. So my apologies if I'm commenting on something that has already been covered. The threads I saw seemed to be criticizing 1) USATF for not promoting distance athletes 2) Mt. Sac for it's management of the meet. As for 1), Mt. Sac was a Golden Spike Satellite meet whatever that means. But I don't think USATF does much at all in promoting the meet. Sending out a press release to people who already know about the meet isn't really promotion if you ask me. If USATF did much more in terms of promotion I would be surprised. Nonetheless, USATF shouldn't leave out all of the Olympians in the distance events in its press releases, but the Golden Spike concept seems totally featured on the events from the mile down. I had never been to Mt. Sac on Sunday and I was surprised at the crowd turnout. (I stopped by on my way out of town to see the men's mile.) It definitely wasn't packed. But this wasn't as surprising once I thought about it because the high school events are on Saturday (was Saturday packed?, I bet more so), and I'm still convinced at meets even like the Penn Relays that a large chunk of the fans are family members of high school athletes participating in the meet. Mt. Sac's first goal in my mind is on putting on a great meet for the athletes. Arguably, they could change their focus and have a more fan friendly "three hour mini meet" on Sunday (only having 1 heat of every event), but I don't think this is their focus. As for people criticizing the meet management, you all must have lost your mind. I only saw one post on this topic, but it talked about the meet results not being up on the web. Well, they were up at finishlynx.com starting Friday night. I saw results and put some of them up on my own website that night. They may not have been at mtsacedu/relays, but I don't think that is the proper way to judge a meet. As an athlete, the meet is superbly run. Everything is on time, and the athletes are not treated like they are cattle. There is proper time for the athletes to warm-up, and it is perfect weather in a perfect atmosphere. That is why the athletes come back year after year. You may not get a watch if you win an event, but your going to get good competition. -Weldon Johnson PS Come to think of it I demand that they retroactively give watches to this year's event winners.
t-and-f: Blood Work
Well, a while back I asked people about going to blood labs without seeing a doctor. People were interested in learning what I learned. Generally, it is not possible. Almost, all commercial labs want a doctor's order. Having said that, here in Flagstaff, there is a way around that. If you go to the High Altitude Center, tell them you want your blood done, you can have it done. Probably somewhere along the way, there is some doctors technically supervising things, but I never saw him. And it's a lot cheaper than going to a standard lab. Hope this helps, Weldon
t-and-f: Blood Work
A while back there were posts about how athletes should get there blood work done every few months. Well, I've gotten mine done twice in my life and that was only because I was at altitude. But I figured it was a good idea, so I want to get mine done now. However, it seems like the labs want a doctor's prescription. Is this standard practice? Does it vary state to state? Does anyone know any labs that don't want a doctor's prescription? I'm home for the holidays and don't want to have to waste the time, but more importantly the money of going to a doctor. In Flagstaff, I'm pretty sure the altitude center would do blood work without seeing a doctor. I'm in Austin, TX now. -Weldon Johnson http://www.letsrun.com
t-and-f: Hematocrit and EPO
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2000 13:58:38 -0500From: "Mcewen, Brian T" [EMAIL PROTECTED]Subject: t-and-f: Use a simpler test to wipe out EPOThey are different than the steroids and the amphetamines, they should betested for in a different manner. There is no natural way to boost yourhematocrit up to much above 51%. Not altitude training, not 200-mile weeks,not diet.However, the natural hematocrit is 42-44 of an average healthy man (slightlylower for women) ... and it DOES raise slightly with altitude training. ItDOES NOT raise above 50% without drugs Can someone elaborate on this? I lived at altitude and my hematocrit was 48 something (I'll have to look it up). I never had it tested at sea level. That seems real close to 50 to me so I would be surprised that I am the genetic freak out there and no one could be a couple points higher and above 50. My brother was 49 point something I think. And also if I remember correctly, the test said the natural range was 42-52. So if that are the guidelines on the test reports, people obviously can be above 50 naturally. We need to implement guidelines like you say, but I don't think 50% is the level. Maybe I had a different type of test done. -Weldon
t-and-f: NCAA Super 10 Polls
The final LetsRun.com Super 10 Fans Poll it out, and things are very, very tight especially on the men's side. This could be one of the most exciting battles on both sides in years. The fans don't agree with the coaches as they have different #1s in both the men's and women's polls. Rank School (First Place Votes) Points The women's poll: (1) BYU (11) 215 (2) Colorado (6) 203 (3) Stanford (5) 192 (4) Wisconsin (0) 154 (5) Boston College (1) 112 (6) Arizona St. (0) 105 (7) Kansas State (0) 72 (8) Yale (0) 51 (9) Georgetown (0) 41 (10) Arizona (0) 36 Next 5:Arkansas 17, Michigan 15, North Carolina St. 8, Oregon 8, Colorado State 3 The men's: Rank School (First Place Votes) Points (1) Stanford (23) 486 (2) Colorado (21) 481 (3) Arkansas (6) 410 (4) Providence (2) 369 (5) Georgetown (0) 237 (5) Wisconsin (0) 237 (7) Iona College (1) 151 (8) Arizona (0) 141 (9) Northern Arizona (0) 129 (10) BYU (0) 101 Next 5:Oregon 37, William Mary 33, Oklahoma State 15, Duke 9, Michigan 7 Individual Winner poll results at: http://www.letsrun.com -Weldon
t-and-f: NBC Coverage Down
I read today in the WSJ that a large reason the coverage is down is that it's down 50% with male viewers age 18-34. Well to speak for this esteemed demographic that I am in, we don't like being insulted and watching taped coverage when it could be live. I sympathize with NBC and the time difference, but they could still show a lot of stuff live ( ie the triathlons, could have been shown live.) Admittedly, that would cause some problems because live stuff here would be during prime time, but they could mix some of it in. And as for the sob stories aimed at the female audience I think they went overboard this year. The human interest stories didn't all used to be human tragedies, but this year a lot more seem to be. Today on the radio, two commentators discussed how the tragedies were just too much. And then my mom herself is "sick of the Olympic coverage" and wants more action. I asked her what was wrong, and she said the human interest stories were too sad.
t-and-f: Olympic Prediction Contest up
Our Olympic Track and Field Prediction Contest is up at http://www.letsrun.com/contest.html Everything is fully automated, and the contest is for all of the running events and the 2 field events (4 counting men and women) of your choice. Scoring is based upon 4 points for gold, 3 for silver, 2 for bronze, with 1 point for each person in the top 3 not picked in the right order, and 1 bonus point for picking the gold, silver, bronze, sweep. Thus, 10 points for each event. We have a description of approximately 10 athletes in every event to chose from, tomake it easier. And you can create your own groups so you can see how you stack up versus your friends. I've created a group for this list named T-and-F. Have fun. The contest closes at midnight Thursday night in the US. -Weldon Johnson
t-and-f: Sydney Final Entries?
Does anyone know when final entries are going to be due? Most of the puzzles have been filled in, but looking at the women's 100, I see 5 athletes from the Bahamas. Thanks, Weldon Johnson http://www.letsrun.com
t-and-f: Andrew Begley and Arkansas XC
I talked to coach McDonnell yesterday and he confirmed that Andrew Begley does NOT have XC eligibility left this year. -Weldon
t-and-f: Sydney Final Entries?
Does anyone know when final entries are going to be due? Most of the puzzles have been filled in, but looking at the women's 100, I see 5 athletes from the Bahamas. Thanks, Weldon Johnson http://www.letsrun.com
t-and-f: Rotich/Chirchir
Did I read somewhere that Laban Rotich is out of the 1500m Kenyan team and Chirchir is in? This wouldn't surprise me, but what was the reasoning given? I thought the Kenyan team was set. Thanks, Weldon Johnson
t-and-f: Rod DeHaven Interview
There's a lengthy interview with Rod DeHaven at our website: http://www.letsrun.com/dehaven.html It seems like Rod has had a changeof plans about his strategy for Sydney: "I mean I could run tactical and get 15th, but I'm kind of like, 'Who cares?... I might as well as hard as I can for as long as I can and whatever happens, happens.'" He also discusses the state of American Marathoning, and Bob Kennedy's and Todd Williams entry into the marathon. -Weldon
