How is Lagat still dropping fast times @ age 39?

he's using performance enhancing drugs.

/ of thread

Lalang?

Anyway, Lagat is amongst the best talents of all time. His patient approach to training and his observed time off has allow him to stay in the game for a long time.

Lowish mileage, good coaching from Li, and great mechanics have kept him pretty much injury free for most of his career. IMO a lot of guys slow down prematurely because they accumulate injuries from their training approach -- see Webb, Solinsky, Goucher. 39 isn't all that old, really, it's just that most guys run themselves into the ground.

Oh you know how.

Defense wins championships wrote:

That must be an age group record.

What are the chances of the 39 age group being quicker than the all ages American Record?

He's Kenyan.

Take all the "expert" advice on letsrun....and do exactly the opposite:

1. A coach that fits the program to the athlete, rather than the other way around, just like Clyde Hart with Michael Johnson.

2. Doubles only one day a week.

3. 50-60 mpw (and Dr. Li understands that Lagat CANNOT handle much mileage).

4. Move up in distance by increasing...the intervals.

5. Everything fast.

Defense wins championships wrote:

Let's not talk drugs.

4:54 ain't half bad for a 39yr old. That must be an age group record.

Whatever training he's doing it's also helping Lawang!

did you see lawi's wang out there today? whoa, not very impressive

Dey say it's de altitude

Dey say it's ma special Kenyan type

Dey don't know why, I am just fast, very very fast

HardLoper wrote:

Dey say it's de altitude

Dey say it's ma special Kenyan type

Dey don't know why, I am just fast, very very fast

hahahaha

Drugs.

Drugs.

Defense wins championships wrote:

Let's not talk drugs.

Drugs.

hGH

Elit PE genetics and high quality, low mileage training

coach d wrote:

5. Everything fast.

It is a shame that there is not more out there detailing James Li's training. From the very little I have read, Lagat does do a lot of "fast" steady runs and intervals but he also seems to not be really killing himself for a guy of his level. To me it seemed like he was doing a lot of "fast but relaxed" stuff. Lagat also does not look too stressed out by races, in fact he seems to genuinely enjoy competing and this must also be contributing to his longevity.

coach d wrote:

Take all the "expert" advice on letsrun....and do exactly the opposite:

1. A coach that fits the program to the athlete, rather than the other way around, just like Clyde Hart with Michael Johnson.

2. Doubles only one day a week.

3. 50-60 mpw (and Dr. Li understands that Lagat CANNOT handle much mileage).

4. Move up in distance by increasing...the intervals.

5. Everything fast.

Then how do you explain Geb's longevity? He basically does the opposite (doubles, high mileage, etc.)

I can explain.

Lagat does (per his website):

- low mileage (100% agreed on in the CrossFit community)

- incorporates FULL OUT sprints with little rest (Tabata/Crossfit style, if you will)

- heavy weights once per week

- clean diet (paleo like), however, he doesn't eat enough

In other words, if Lagat were to reduce his mileage even more, up his calorie intake and strength train a 2nd time per week, he could be one STRONG MF.

mako wrote:

coach d wrote:

Take all the "expert" advice on letsrun....and do exactly the opposite:

1. A coach that fits the program to the athlete, rather than the other way around, just like Clyde Hart with Michael Johnson.

2. Doubles only one day a week.

3. 50-60 mpw (and Dr. Li understands that Lagat CANNOT handle much mileage).

4. Move up in distance by increasing...the intervals.

5. Everything fast.

Then how do you explain Geb's longevity? He basically does the opposite (doubles, high mileage, etc.)

Both are so fall out of the range of "normal" that it gets silly trying to dissect their training and applying it to us commoners. Lagat was the 2nd fastest 1500m man in history. Geb was the best distance runner on the track for like 10 years and broke something like 20-25 world records, depending on who's counting.

Sorry for the cop out, I would like to know more about their methods as well but if one was to base one's training off of theirs it would be foolish to expect similar results.

Blessed to be coached by the Best coach in the world. And have amazing talent.