I often times see people on here talking about needing big ole quads to run a quick marathon. That's exactly what i think you don't need. If you pay close attention to Kipchoge's quads in this, they are actually smaller than his calves, i'm certain this has efficiency benefits beyond what we imagine.
https://media.wired.com/photos/59483ae0b3b4bf191e2e8dc3/master/w_1132,c_limit/0717-WI-FFPROJ-03.jpg
Don't think i've ever heard the notion that you need big quads to run a marathon
So theoretically, if my calves are the size of toothpicks, by making my quads smaller than my calves, I might just PR?
EW.
Fast Ass wrote:
So theoretically, if my calves are the size of toothpicks, by making my quads smaller than my calves, I might just PR?
EW.
It worked for Asbel Kiprop.
There is something much more mysterious about Eliud Kipchoge's quadriceps (vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, vastus medialis, and rectus femoris) muscles.
Bad Wigins said:
The hip isn't fully extended anymore, it's already flexing at the top. Ozbilen on the far left is closer to full extension, and near-zero knee flexion coinciding.
Kipchoge's knee is flexed but probably not fully, if his left foot stays above his right knee in the recovery, then the knee will flex further as the hip flexes. I guess I misstated the phase - the hip and knee flex in phase, not in opposite phase. What's opposite is the action of the R. femoris across each joint. When the knee and hip are flexed, it is relaxed on the bottom and contracted on top. When the knee and hip are extended, it is contracted on the bottom and relaxed on top.
Imagine if both ends of a worm grabbed ahold of something immobile, and then alternately tried to pull those things. A sort of peristaltic contraction bouncing back and forth between the two ends.
Read more:
http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=7641811&page=4#ixzz4le60BOdbBuy your shoes from LetsRun and save 20% everday
http://www.letsrun.com/saveKipchoge's "weird quad" is simply just horizontal striations in the superficial fascia of the rectus femoris. It's basically where tense fascia crosses the relaxed extensor and that why it is visible mid stance. No lizard people but just plain old good low bf%.
The posters in that thread you linked were looking in the wrong muscle group of the bodybuilder as he is extending his quadriceps. If you want to see a similar situation to Kipchoge's on a bodybuilder, you have to look at the back for what is called a Christmas tree like here
:
Much like mid stance running, the extensors are relaxed and the tense lat fascia causes the relaxed muscle to bulge. In both Kipchoge and the bodybuilders case, they have to be extremely well conditioned and at a very low body fat to pop like that.
If Kipchoge's quads are the single one factor for his success in the marathon, then why is Bekele able to run with similar/more success than him as a distance runner?
Please stop.
Some genetic gifts, sweetened with some EPO and it's all good.
The most important factor in creating a champion are :
Genetic screening : when East African runners began competing internationally, for example, it became apparent that their light frames make them uniquely economical in their use of energy.
in 1968, a Kenyan runner named Kip Keino emerged as a shining star of the Mexico City summer Olympics, setting a world record in the 1500-meter race. Year after year Keino's success has been followed by equally dazzling feats by his compatriots: Kenyan men now hold world records in the 3000-meter track race, the 15-, 20-, and 25-kilometer road races, the half-marathon, and the marathon. Kenyan men have won 13 of the last 14 Boston marathons. Kenyan women are also rising fast: they hold half of the top 10 marathon times and world records in 20-, 25-, and 30-km track races. What is even more remarkable is that most of these athletes come from a small area in Kenya's Rift Valley, from a group of tribes called the Kalenjin who number little more than 3 million people.
Altitude is not the key to the riddle, because there's no difference between Kenyans and Scandinavians in their capacity to consume oxygen. And the Kenyan diet is on the low side for essential amino acids and some vitamins as well as fat. The running-to-school hypothesis was demolished as well: Kenyan children aren't any more physically active than their Danish peers.
Do Kenyans try harder? The researchers found that the Danes actually pushed themselves harder on a treadmill test, reaching higher maximum heart rates. An important clue is the ability of Kenyans to resist fatigue longer. Lactate, generated by tired, oxygen- deprived muscles, accumulates more slowly in their blood. Comparisons of lactate levels have suggested that Kenyan runners squeeze about 10% more mileage from the same oxygen intake than Europeans can.
Compared with Danes, the thinner calves of Kenyans have, on average, 400 grams less flesh in each lower leg. The farther a weight is from the center of gravity, the more energy it takes to move it. 50 grams added to the ankle will increase oxygen consumption by 1%. For the Kenyans, that translates into an 8% energy savings to run a kilometer.
Kenyan runners also have a higher concentration of an enzyme in skeletal muscle that spurs high lactate turnover and low lactate production. This results in an "extraordinarily high" capacity for fatty acid oxidation, which helps wring more energy out of the muscles' biochemical reactions. Because intense training alters the body's biochemistry, one can't say for sure whether the enzyme levels are due to genes or training, but experts think it's genetic.
Because I'm Bored wrote:
I often times see people on here talking about needing big ole quads to run a quick marathon. That's exactly what i think you don't need. If you pay close attention to Kipchoge's quads in this, they are actually smaller than his calves, i'm certain this has efficiency benefits beyond what we imagine.
https://media.wired.com/photos/59483ae0b3b4bf191e2e8dc3/master/w_1132,c_limit/0717-WI-FFPROJ-03.jpg
I've never heard anyone say that you need big quads to run a quick marathon.
Post examples?
There is no single group of muscles that's the key to running fast.
It's a mixture of his cardio, his fast cadence and his great technique, even if he might have a slight difference between the right and left side.
Might be on to something here. What you're saying is that Kipchoge's success lies in the fact he's extremely lean, which makes sense.
Never heard anybody say big quads are needed to run a fast marathon. Most people say the opposite. Less muscle mass is less weight to be carried over 26.2 miles.
There is no way his calves are literally bigger than his quads. It jut isn't possible on a human being who can stand upright and walk.
The OP is referring to real athletes, not some random hobby jogger.
Elite marathoners are skinny. Have any more brilliant revelations?
