Purely speculation, but I've noticed a couple times now Drew Bosley mentioning doing a workout with Woody Kincaid (Luis Grijalva and Abdihamid Nur both being mentioned as well) on his strava. It seems apparent he has left bowerman, so it would not be a shock considering the success Mike Smith has had with his pros.
Would like this. It was weird to me listening to a Woody interview when he admitted that Grant/Mo would routinely kick his ass in workouts and he would have to cut them short of the prescribed length. Of course, there was also him overruling Jerry into pacing the very fast 10,000 instead of just running it and setting a huge PB. I feel like he was too often a “team player” in Bowerman and had maybe a lower opinion of himself than he should’ve had.
Not very bold prediction: BTC won't exist by the end of the year. Schumacher might continue to coach a few pros, probably just Fisher, Teare, and maybe Ahmed. The rest will move on.
So BTC pros are unhappy that their coach took a college job and will be splitting time with them so they… start training with a college coach who will be splitting time with them?
So BTC pros are unhappy that their coach took a college job and will be splitting time with them so they… start training with a college coach who will be splitting time with them?
Keep up with things bud. Him taking a college job was only part of it. If they were going to move, they wanted to move to a place they actually wanted to live. Not 90mins away to a city they had no desire moving to… you’d be crazy to want to live in Eugene over flagstaff
Also, fair or unfair, every single runner part of BTC had their reputation hurt because of Shelby and how Jerry dealt with that. These are people. Anyone with self worth wouldn’t be too thrilled with that situation (and Jerry) if they themselves were completely clean.
Would like this. It was weird to me listening to a Woody interview when he admitted that Grant/Mo would routinely kick his ass in workouts and he would have to cut them short of the prescribed length. Of course, there was also him overruling Jerry into pacing the very fast 10,000 instead of just running it and setting a huge PB. I feel like he was too often a “team player” in Bowerman and had maybe a lower opinion of himself than he should’ve had.
Fantastic analysis. Put this into word far better than I could have. I have always had a lot of time for Woody.
So BTC pros are unhappy that their coach took a college job and will be splitting time with them so they… start training with a college coach who will be splitting time with them?
Keep up with things bud. Him taking a college job was only part of it. If they were going to move, they wanted to move to a place they actually wanted to live. Not 90mins away to a city they had no desire moving to… you’d be crazy to want to live in Eugene over flagstaff
Mike Smith has a proven track record of successfully coaching his college team and his post collegiates. I would argue that the NAU coaching job is less demanding than Oregon, to a degree. Fewer media appearances at NAU. Smith is already at altitude. His athletes don’t have to travel for an altitude camp multiple times a year, like BTC. Smith can supervise every workout. Jerry can’t travel to altitude. Smith’s pros will be at the same big meets as Bosley, Young and his other top college guys (except obviously NCAA stuff). The Oregon team often has a different racing schedule, including a few big home meets. There is more pressure for Jerry to interact with the UO fans.
So BTC pros are unhappy that their coach took a college job and will be splitting time with them so they… start training with a college coach who will be splitting time with them?
I really don’t think everyone leaving has to do with him moving to Oregon. Remember when Alberto went under investigation and the NOP athletes silently starting training elsewhere? This looks a lot like that ever since Shelby tested positive.
Anyone know what a standard college training week looks like at NAU? Is Smith a volume guy or intensity guy?
Drew Bosley during XC season (based on his strava):
~90 miles per week
Monday: Easy double
Tuesday: Double threshold (50-60 minutes of total volume at threshold spread between a morning and afternoon workout, usually in intervals of 5-10 mintues)
Wednesday: 90+ minute medium-long run
Thursday: easy run, with less volume, but with lots of drills, strides, mobility, etc.
Friday: early in the season, friday is a longer tempo run, like 10 miles @ marathon pace or faster, but later in the season, it turns into some crazy type of workout, like 1 mile + 4x1k + 2x400m + 4x1k + 2x400m (obviously no workout if they're racing saturday)
Saturday: this is either a race, but if not, it's their shortest/easiest day, usually just 1 run, often less than 1 hour
I really don’t think everyone leaving has to do with him moving to Oregon. Remember when Alberto went under investigation and the NOP athletes silently starting training elsewhere? This looks a lot like that ever since Shelby tested positive.
+1
Next: creating of a "new" team (or rather: renaming BTC) and getting a new coach, see Nike's playbook.
Keep up with things bud. Him taking a college job was only part of it. If they were going to move, they wanted to move to a place they actually wanted to live. Not 90mins away to a city they had no desire moving to… you’d be crazy to want to live in Eugene over flagstaff
Mike Smith has a proven track record of successfully coaching his college team and his post collegiates. I would argue that the NAU coaching job is less demanding than Oregon, to a degree. Fewer media appearances at NAU. Smith is already at altitude. His athletes don’t have to travel for an altitude camp multiple times a year, like BTC. Smith can supervise every workout. Jerry can’t travel to altitude. Smith’s pros will be at the same big meets as Bosley, Young and his other top college guys (except obviously NCAA stuff). The Oregon team often has a different racing schedule, including a few big home meets. There is more pressure for Jerry to interact with the UO fans.
I agree.
There's a couple issues for the BTC crew that they need to sort out. One is the move to Eugene or to stay in Portland and commute a couple times a week. Do they really need to have Jerry hold their hands 7 days a week to workout, probably not? The second is the accessibility to Jerry for various coaching stuff that each athlete needs. Jerry is clearly going to be much busier with his UO job, those quick meet ups for coffee and or a custom workout won't be as easy to do. Most elite athletes are "creatures of habit", and don't like to change things up if possible. Keeping a routine that has proven to be successful is a priority, and if altered and or disrupted could be risky. Mike Smith's group at NAU seems way less complicated and accommodating. No travel to altitude needed, a relaxed and simple training environment in Flagstaff, and a coach that will be more accessible. Not a simple solution, but one that needs careful consideration and thought.
Keep up with things bud. Him taking a college job was only part of it. If they were going to move, they wanted to move to a place they actually wanted to live. Not 90mins away to a city they had no desire moving to… you’d be crazy to want to live in Eugene over flagstaff
Mike Smith has a proven track record of successfully coaching his college team and his post collegiates. I would argue that the NAU coaching job is less demanding than Oregon, to a degree. Fewer media appearances at NAU. Smith is already at altitude. His athletes don’t have to travel for an altitude camp multiple times a year, like BTC. Smith can supervise every workout. Jerry can’t travel to altitude. Smith’s pros will be at the same big meets as Bosley, Young and his other top college guys (except obviously NCAA stuff). The Oregon team often has a different racing schedule, including a few big home meets. There is more pressure for Jerry to interact with the UO fans.
Keep up with things bud. Him taking a college job was only part of it. If they were going to move, they wanted to move to a place they actually wanted to live. Not 90mins away to a city they had no desire moving to… you’d be crazy to want to live in Eugene over flagstaff
Mike Smith has a proven track record of successfully coaching his college team and his post collegiates. I would argue that the NAU coaching job is less demanding than Oregon, to a degree. Fewer media appearances at NAU. Smith is already at altitude. His athletes don’t have to travel for an altitude camp multiple times a year, like BTC. Smith can supervise every workout. Jerry can’t travel to altitude. Smith’s pros will be at the same big meets as Bosley, Young and his other top college guys (except obviously NCAA stuff). The Oregon team often has a different racing schedule, including a few big home meets. There is more pressure for Jerry to interact with the UO fans.
Teg got 4th at Worlds and ran 3:34/8:07 while Jerry was still coaching Wisconsin with a lot less resources and support staff than he has now, but I take your point that the UO job is different than anywhere else
Jerry already hadn't been going to altitude camps with the team, so they're used to training without him there day-to-day. Sollnsky and Flanagan can hold down the fort in Eugene if Jerry wants to go to Park City for some big workouts
Also fwiw Schweitzer, Infeld, and Cranny all seem to be together in Flag right now, so maybe Kincaid is just there and looking for guys to go for runs with