Alan I'm not an athlete whining, nor do I coach athletes likely qualify. I'm 43, and I was part of the incredibly talented running glut in the early 1980s. I got my ass kicked by innumerable athletes who we hardly noticed then but would be national class today! My point is that the situation is now much different than in 1980 or 1984, and we now need to manage the situation much more carefully than when we had an abundance of runners. As a sport, for the moment, we can't afford to cater to your (and my true) preference for a guts and blood battle for glory. Heck, nothing can be more thrilling than watching someone puke WHILE they win the Trials! But those days are gone until we have a better talent pool (which may be in the not so distant future).
BTW, they do NOT have 4 years to get the standard. The IAAF sets a window for a qualifying time, which is usually much less than 2 years. With the Trials counting as one race, that leaves maybe 2 other chances. Of course, the reality is that my statements are almost certainly too late. I had hoped that the USATF had come to it senses, but I can see that it had not. I doubt seriously that they could withdraw the awards and solicit applications from appropriate locations. Richard McCann At 11:30 AM 12/4/2001 -0800, t-and-f-digest wrote.. >Date: Tue, 04 Dec 2001 19:19:28 +0000 >From: "alan tobin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: RE: t-and-f: Hosting 2004 Olympic Marathon Trials > >Speaky of Buddy Holly, er I mean Buddy Edelen...He ran 2:14ish how many >years ago? 40 yrs? We have how many guys under that now? 2? 3? 4? This whine >and moan attitude isn't part of the problem it IS the problem. If you make >it to the trials, whether you are a 2:22 or 2:12 runner your goal is two >fold: 1. win the damned thing, 2. keep your arse in the top three. If that >means running the first half as a PR then so be it. Between the 2000 trials >and the 2004 trials you have 4 years in order to go under 2:14. If you can't >do it in that time then why think you're going to do it on a pancake course >with the wind at your back. I'd much rather see guys who piss blood and shit >fire survive a hilly, hot and humid course and make it out, than whiney >babies who will bomb in the heat, humidity, and spectacle of the 2004 Games >in Athens. For those of us who care: we have 26 months to train like gods, >sell our souls, and pay the reaper for one chance at glory. > >Alan
