Are Ed Whitlock's AG records realistically in reach for anyone you can think of?

Just wow... wrote:

The only person I'd give an outside shot to would be Michael Wardian, given his amazing durability and prolific amount of racing he does. He seems fanatical and committed enough to try to tackle such a project. Maybe also Pete Magill??? Not sure if he's got an interest in going those longer distances, though. I know there may be a few more guys out there who may be in the running, so to speak.

Bernard Lagat

Sure has the tools. I just don't see him running competitively when he's in his 70's & 80's though. Time will tell, I suppose.

Ryan Hall?

Yoshihisa Hosaka

RvaRunner wrote:

Ryan Hall?

Hall might not be able to go sub 3 now.

People think wrote:

Yoshihisa Hosaka

Read a RW interview in 2013 where it looked like he wanted it, but it also looked like his times were dropping off pretty rapidly over the few years prior. Any recent races to indicate he's still competitive?

I run with a friend (who also knew Ed) that is currently in his early 60s, and can still manage a sub-18 on a good day. However, 5-6 years ago he was ducking under 17 once or twice a year, so he's slowing down. He's currently lifting weights quite a bit to counteract the inevitable aging-related muscle loss. We'll see how healthy he stays.

In comparison, Ed was running 17:30 at 69-70, but started slowing a fair amount soon after that.

Just wow... wrote:

People think wrote:

Yoshihisa Hosaka

Read a RW interview in 2013 where it looked like he wanted it, but it also looked like his times were dropping off pretty rapidly over the few years prior. Any recent races to indicate he's still competitive?

Don't know. That's the rub with the oldies. It turns into a game of last man standing. Whitlock was one of the exceptional few talented runners to get serious late in the game.

Eric Jenkins. Duh.

People think wrote:

Just wow... wrote:

Read a RW interview in 2013 where it looked like he wanted it, but it also looked like his times were dropping off pretty rapidly over the few years prior. Any recent races to indicate he's still competitive?

Don't know. That's the rub with the oldies. It turns into a game of last man standing. Whitlock was one of the exceptional few talented runners to get serious late in the game.

It puts into perspective just how unbelievable his legacy is. Look at Bill Rodgers, for example. Very few more talented than him. World class open runner. He seemed to have longevity there too, and desire to keep pushing the envelope as as the years rolled on. At age 50, you'd think he was on his way to becoming the next E.W., but it didn't take to long to see that wasn't going to happen.

Almost by necessity, it would have to be a person you haven't heard of. People who train a lot in their youth or even middle age aren't going to be setting records at 70+.

You think? I'm not so sure about that. Although Ed might not have been competitively, a world beater in his youth, he was still pretty respectable, and it sounds like he trained a lot.

Just wow... wrote:

The only person I'd give an outside shot to would be Michael Wardian, given his amazing durability and prolific amount of racing he does. He seems fanatical and committed enough to try to tackle such a project. Maybe also Pete Magill??? Not sure if he's got an interest in going those longer distances, though. I know there may be a few more guys out there who may be in the running, so to speak.

I think it will take someone who had Olympic/world class talent in their prime. Wardian is currently running 2:30 marathons. There was a scientific study posted on here recently that concluded men slow down 2 minutes/year in the marathon past 35. Do the math and that puts Wardian at 3:30 at 73, nowhere near Ed's 2:54. I'd be more likely to go with someone like Bernard Lagat, but the world class guys never seem to compete in old age. Another consideration, which goes against my initial statement, is Brian Pilcher who ran 2:42 last year at 60.

Martin Rees ran 73 for the half last year .

I believe he was about 63 years old

So by your reasoning, slowing down two minutes per year, to break 3 at 73 you'd have to be breaking 2 at 43. Easy.

In the future his performances will be as normal as no talent guys breaking 2:30.

Just wow... wrote:

You think? I'm not so sure about that. Although Ed might not have been competitively, a world beater in his youth, he was still pretty respectable, and it sounds like he trained a lot.

You're both right. You need to show talent while young, but then you need to step away from competition, regular training for 20+ years, before putting in year after year of 3000 or 5000 miles.

If I remember right EW showed talent, then walked away from track, more or less, without attempting to development the talent, before returning years later.

sloinnorcal wrote:

Just wow... wrote:

You think? I'm not so sure about that. Although Ed might not have been competitively, a world beater in his youth, he was still pretty respectable, and it sounds like he trained a lot.

You're both right. You need to show talent while young, but then you need to step away from competition, regular training for 20+ years, before putting in year after year of 3000 or 5000 miles.

If I remember right EW showed talent, then walked away from track, more or less, without attempting to development the talent, before returning years later.

Yes, right on the money. He said he thought he would have likely been able to be an elite runner had he wanted to pursue that path. He had the talent, and then walked away for quite a while.

Edward Cheserek is aging remarkably well. To still be somewhat competitive in the NCAA at his advanced age is quite unusual.