Discussion: JWOC and WOC discussions

This is all my non-expert opinion. In a sport that requires intense concentration, competitors are not going to have their best performances if they are distracted by something negative that they read on Attackpoint (like the JWOC 2002 comments). If the criticisms could come *after* the competitions are over, then at least the risk of affecting the races is lessened. Unfortunately, some individuals are overflowing with passion and just have to say something immediately.

I'll take the blame for the US Team lack of community criticisms. It was how I perceived it in 2004. It looks a lot better to me now (again as an outsider looking in).

Yes, but what I am wondering is, is it actually better? (To me, it seems that way, but I was somewhat of an outsider in 2000-2001 as well, so I'm curious if there has been actual change and improvement.)

P.S. I am guilty of being one of those "overflowing with passion" who said something immediately during WOC 2004 and will never live it down. I learned my lesson and was very grateful for the awesome unwavering support we saw on attackpoint during WOC 2005 and again during the World Cup races in Italy in October.

I would say there has been substantial improvment, and there is still a long ways to go. And that goes for all the areas Boris mentioned (ability, training, sense of community). I could point to a number of things that have had a positive impact.

But I'm more concerned with where we're going than where we've been. And so I'm concerned about the level of preparation of team members (when Hammer gets the power point presentations from Holger and Sandy posted, I'll have more to say, but it's easier to wait for that....). And I'm concerned about the number of juniors in the pipeline and their skill levels. And I'm concerned (though not nearly as much as I used to be) with the sense of community, both within the team and between the team and the clubs and USOF.

As I said, I know there has been progress, and we're better in all regards than we were. It's just a question of doing what needs to be done to get to the next level.

And, as I told Boris at the time, there is nothing wrong with passion. It justs needs to be focused in the right direction. And that's something that Boris has clearly been doing the past few months. It's going to be fun to see how much better he can be in 2006.

My impression is that the US team has made some progress. Several team members are training in Europe, we got a bunch of motivated juniors on the verge of advancing to the team.

When I see how Boris and Sandra move on to "continental" levels, I am impressed. My only concern is, when I see Sandra's notes on her web site, that it is too much too fast. We shouldn't have any illusions: To build the physical and technical ability takes several years of consistent training.

I know, this remark will get me in trouble: I think the biggest problem is the "grand canyon" between the elite and advanced runners (a.k.a. as Attackpointers) versus USOF, which is more or less governed (I can't say run, forgive me the pun) like a hiking club with not much interest or capacity in creating, supporting and maintaining a competitive team.

I guess if I said it, I should understand, but what is too much too fast?