Columnist Admits That Track Is Harder Than It Looks

[MJD]

You generally improve your running by doing just that-running. Improving your strength, balance, speed, flexibility and coordination(and I am likely missing some stuff, I know nothing about pv training) requires work on all kinds of skill sets.

[SQUACKEE]

An average distance runner can be made. A truely great runner is born.

Secretariat's heart was over 2 times the average size, enough said.

[tafnut]

A distance runner geek with marginal talent is going to get a lot further with hard work than a hard working pole vaulter with no strength, balance, speed, flexibility, coordination, etc.

If the distance geek DOES have marginal talent, then you are comparing him to a PVer with NO talent (as described above). If they are EQUALLY untalented, they won't beat a talented athlete with just average training no matter how much they work. But I do think that distance running DOES lend itself to hard work more than any other T&F event, just because of the cardiovascular demands. You can be Komen's twin brother, but without some good hard honest work you won't even get 2 laps at 60 sec pace, much less 8. I on the other hand, could not have gone a 2:00 800 (and I was a 'decent' 400H) without Seb Coe's training regimen, which, by the way, would have probably KILLED me (no hyperbole), because his body DID have the talent to endure that much punishment and my body broke down the one time I prudently built up to 40mpw at 8 minute pace!!!

[jazzcyclist]

I think it takes a lot less talent to be the #100 ranked pole vaulter in the world than #100 ranked 5000 runner.

[tandfman]

That's at least partly due to the fact that there far fewer pole vaulters in the world than runners.

[MJD]

That's for sure.

[SQUACKEE]

Why is it that the top people in any endeavor are all super talented except distance runners. Does that make sense on any level. I understand the cliche' of the geeky, untalented sadomascist running 20 miles a day to greatness but its just that, a cliche'.

[MJD]

How the hell else does one rationalize such ridiculous behaviour?

[EPelle]

By running 12km races like you do.

[tafnut]

I think it takes a lot less talent to be the #100 ranked pole vaulter in the world than #100 ranked 5000 runner.

and yet NOT ONE of those top 100 5000 runners could be in the top 100 ranked Pole Vaulters with just as much 'hard training' in the PV as they do for their event and vice versa.

[mojo]

A distance runner geek with marginal talent is going to get a lot further with hard work than a hard working pole vaulter with no strength, balance, speed, flexibility, coordination, etc.

This Canuck agree with that Canuck.

I said MIGHT guys!

Of course you need to talent to be a top distance runner.

I just think the average athlete could make more prgress in a running event than say the HJ through sheer hard work.

Running is running. :P
If I can do it it ain''t that hard. :lol: Not to mention SQUACK.


I rest my case.

[MJD]

I think it takes a lot less talent to be the #100 ranked pole vaulter in the world than #100 ranked 5000 runner.

and yet NOT ONE of those top 100 5000 runners could be in the top 100 ranked Pole Vaulters with just as much 'hard training' in the PV as they do for their event and vice versa.

They certainly might be pretty good at some distance.

[mojo]

Why is it that the top people in any endeavor are all super talented except distance runners. Does that make sense on any level. I understand the cliche' of the geeky, untalented sadomascist running 20 miles a day to greatness but its just that, a cliche'.

I have to admit that is the image i had until I 'met" you SQUACK. :shock: :shock:

or do all distance geeks love hotdogs and beer?

[bad hammy]

I think it takes a lot less talent to be the #100 ranked pole vaulter in the world than #100 ranked 5000 runner.

and yet NOT ONE of those top 100 5000 runners could be in the top 100 ranked Pole Vaulters with just as much 'hard training' in the PV as they do for their event and vice versa.

They certainly might be pretty good at some distance.

Hey, congrats on the 12,000th post. Now on with the business at hand.

You are confusing pretty good with world class. Sure, if your body can handle the load (many bodies can't) you can become ‘pretty good’ at distance running by running distance. ‘Pretty good’ is not national class or world class at any level (HS, college, junior, open). To get there you have to have innate talent and body physiology to go along with the training.

[tafnut]

I think it takes a lot less talent to be the #100 ranked pole vaulter in the world than #100 ranked 5000 runner.

and yet NOT ONE of those top 100 5000 runners could be in the top 100 ranked Pole Vaulters with just as much 'hard training' in the PV as they do for their event and vice versa.

They certainly might be pretty good at some distance.

Bob Seagren ran a mean 400H.