DaveLS10 wrote:
I am a 40s middle distance runner, I have trained for middle distance events for 4 years, I just improved my 1500m from 4:46 to 4:32 in one year last season.
I am very poor at short distance running, with a 100m time of 13''5 and a 27'' 200m.
Is this fact limit my 800/1500m protentials? Is it a barrier for me to continue to attempt faster time for 800/1500?
I ask this because I am 40s, so it seems that it is impossible to enhance my 100m speed anymore.
Does anyone have ideas that what are my limit 800/1500 times with such a poor sprint speed?
It's more precise to say your poor sprint speed and average mid-distances potential have a common cause: a relatively small pool of fast twitch muscle tisssue to tap into. You are never called upon to sprint at maximum in a middle distance race, but you have to have the capacity to sprint much faster than average to excel at mid-distance. Some coaches refer to this concept as "speed reserve" and it is very important to understand. Running at mid-distance speeds, your fast twitch fibers are firing on a rotating basis, some firing while others rest, working together but ultimately fighting a losing battle to avoid exhaustion of the muscle. The more fast twitch fibers you have, the more cellular workers you have to participate in the effort, and hence the less tired each one gets individually. Yes you still need aerobic conditioning but all other things being equal, more fast fibers = better distance runner.