Would Steve Ovett be competitive today?

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2 years ago 01/05/2024 2:12am EST

re: jacksprat

Check out Ovett in the 77 world cup race. Also the (86?) Commonwealth games 5k. He literally looked like he was jogging at the end of the 5k. So with better pacemakers (pace lights), better tracks (Monoco over Rieti eg), super shoes (racing and training), better clothing, more competitive opportunities (Diamond League/regular World Champs - Olympic cycle) he would indeed be competitive. But so would Coe/Cram/Moorcroft/Willamson/Elliot etc etc. Don't forget how primative the shoes were back then and how much difference that would have made to training/recovery/injury prevention alone.

2 years ago 01/05/2024 6:26am EST

re: MidDbag

Ovett, Coe & Cram - they'd all be competitive today for any number of reasons:

1. Modern tracks - so much better than the old Tartan tracks of the 70s and 80s. Probably much the same difference between them as there was between cinder and tartan. Add in the wavelight technology and it's a huge difference.

2. Modern spikes - the energy return from these compared to the old Nike Zoom spikes that these guys were all using would make a substantial difference.

3. Mentality - if these guys had grown up knowing the world mile record was 3.43, they would still have broken it. The champions mentality means that all past champions would likely be competitive in their events. Nobody is going to tell me that Ed Moses wouldn't be competitive with Warholm!

All in their finest form (Ovett 1980, Coe 81, Cram 85) would obliterate their PBs in modern shoes and on modern tracks. 100% guaranteed. But so would John Walker, Peter Snell, Said Aouita.......

2 years ago 01/05/2024 7:12am EST

re: Added

Added wrote:
Manbearpig15 wrote:
Put a pair of Dragonflys on him. 1 second per lap at least. Do the math....
No. This is incorrect. Are you telling me that Seb Coe would have run 1:39?

Coe would have been pretty close.

Rudisha would definitely have run sub 1:40. Can't believe his world record is now over eleven years old. Way before super shoes and pace lights.

2 years ago 01/05/2024 7:26am EST

re: 4:20 is not that fast

4:20 is not that fast wrote:
MidDbag wrote:
In his prime with modern training, shoes, nutrition, etc?
I’m thinking that Steve Cram, who ran 3:46, with modern training, shoes and nutrition, could run about 3:45.

Steve Cram could have run 3:45 that day if the third lap had gone faster. It wasn't a record attempt.

2 years ago 01/05/2024 7:32am EST

re: MidDbag

Ovett's best years were 77-80. He ran his 3:30 in 83 and he was never really comfortable chasing records. He was capable of sub 3:30 times in his day with the training, shoes, tracks and nutrition available. He would not have a 3 year win streak today, as the depth is much greater, but he would win more often than he lost.

2 years ago 01/05/2024 7:40am EST

re: ncaa portal pottie

ncaa portal pottie wrote:
MidDbag wrote:
In his prime with modern training, shoes, nutrition, etc?
What the f*ck is "modern nutrition"?

Chemicals.

2 years ago 01/05/2024 7:44am EST

re: Bamse Bear

Bamse Bear wrote:
ncaa portal pottie wrote:
What the f*ck is "modern nutrition"?
Increased protein, nutrition shakes, better things for the body. I suspect Ovett was on a diet of fish and chips with an occasional pint thrown in. Think of all the changes in warmup dynamics, activation, prehab, etc since the early 80’s. At the end of the day, he was a ferocious competitor.

So in the 70's and 80's they didn't know about proteins, carbohydrates and fats? And top athletes trained on beer? They didn't know about stretching and warming up, either. Actually, they didn't even train. You're right - it was the Stone Age.

2 years ago 01/05/2024 8:17am EST

re: Manbearpig15

Manbearpig15 wrote:
Added wrote:
No. This is incorrect. Are you telling me that Seb Coe would have run 1:39?
Coe would have been pretty close.
Rudisha would definitely have run sub 1:40. Can't believe his world record is now over eleven years old. Way before super shoes and pace lights.

Well I don’t think Coe would be below 1:40 and I am not sure pace lights have been used in the 800m. Coe was ahead of his time for sure, but that was due to many factors, maybe including doping and sophisticated training.

2 years ago 01/05/2024 9:05am EST

re: ncaa portal pottie

ncaa portal pottie wrote:
MidDbag wrote:
In his prime with modern training, shoes, nutrition, etc?
What the f*ck is "modern nutrition"?

It's more of a knowledge of nutrition. In the mid 70's we took salt tablets before running to help us stay hydrated (that died out by the late 70's).

People just ate whatever was in front of them to get calories. I once ate 5 Big Macs plus fries and milkshake just to ward off my hunger. There were no legal supplements (except maybe a vitamin pill) no recovery drinks, etc.

There are huge differences which really only the people who ran through them would understand.

2 years ago 01/05/2024 9:07am EST

re: Armstronglivs

Armstronglivs wrote:
Bamse Bear wrote:
Increased protein, nutrition shakes, better things for the body. I suspect Ovett was on a diet of fish and chips with an occasional pint thrown in. Think of all the changes in warmup dynamics, activation, prehab, etc since the early 80’s. At the end of the day, he was a ferocious competitor.
So in the 70's and 80's they didn't know about proteins, carbohydrates and fats? And top athletes trained on beer? They didn't know about stretching and warming up, either. Actually, they didn't even train. You're right - it was the Stone Age.

I shouldn't bother even replying to the most clueless poster on this message board, but the knowledge was vastly different than it is now.

It goes way beyond the simplistic level someone like you would understand.

2 years ago 01/05/2024 9:24am EST

re: ncaa portal pottie

ncaa portal pottie wrote:
MidDbag wrote:
In his prime with modern training, shoes, nutrition, etc?
What the f*ck is "modern nutrition"?

Burritos!

2 years ago 01/05/2024 9:50am EST

re: MidDbag

MidDbag wrote:
In his prime with modern training, shoes, nutrition, etc?

He won 45 consecutive mile / 1500m races against top-tier competition. Best racer of his generation, possibly ever.

2 years ago 01/05/2024 10:42am EST

re: runn

runn wrote:
ncaa portal pottie wrote:
What the f*ck is "modern nutrition"?
It's more of a knowledge of nutrition. In the mid 70's we took salt tablets before running to help us stay hydrated (that died out by the late 70's).
People just ate whatever was in front of them to get calories. I once ate 5 Big Macs plus fries and milkshake just to ward off my hunger. There were no legal supplements (except maybe a vitamin pill) no recovery drinks, etc.
There are huge differences which really only the people who ran through them would understand.

5 Big Macs is 130 grams of protein so you did good.

2 years ago 01/05/2024 10:54am EST

re: Manbearpig15

Manbearpig15 wrote:
Added wrote:
No. This is incorrect. Are you telling me that Seb Coe would have run 1:39?
Coe would have been pretty close.
Rudisha would definitely have run sub 1:40. Can't believe his world record is now over eleven years old. Way before super shoes and pace lights.

Pacing lights make no difference at all. In both his 5K and 10K WRs, Berkeley ran the 2nd half all by his lonesome and still kept cranking out even splits. There were no lights to assist Komon for his 7:20. They’re nothing more than a gimmick.

2 years ago 01/05/2024 11:15am EST

re: runn

runn wrote:
Armstronglivs wrote:
So in the 70's and 80's they didn't know about proteins, carbohydrates and fats? And top athletes trained on beer? They didn't know about stretching and warming up, either. Actually, they didn't even train. You're right - it was the Stone Age.
I shouldn't bother even replying to the most clueless poster on this message board, but the knowledge was vastly different than it is now.
It goes way beyond the simplistic level someone like you would understand.

The simplistic level here is the naive and ill-informed belief that athletes in the 70's and 80s knew next to nothing about diet and training. Knowledge of these hasn't "vastly improved" - it isn't rocket science. If it was, most semi-literate Kenyan athletes would have no idea what they are doing. But they are still mostly better than so many "experts" in the US and on these boards with their "vastly improved" knowledge.

2 years ago 01/05/2024 11:23am EST

re: runn

runn wrote:
ncaa portal pottie wrote:
What the f*ck is "modern nutrition"?
It's more of a knowledge of nutrition. In the mid 70's we took salt tablets before running to help us stay hydrated (that died out by the late 70's).
People just ate whatever was in front of them to get calories. I once ate 5 Big Macs plus fries and milkshake just to ward off my hunger. There were no legal supplements (except maybe a vitamin pill) no recovery drinks, etc.
There are huge differences which really only the people who ran through them would understand.

In the 60's as a schoolboy I knew about proteins, carbs and fats, how they were obtained and what they did. We got those in the usual way, through a diet of meat/fish, vegetables, bread/grains and fruit etc. So what does "modern nutrition" require that doesn't have those as the basis of an athlete's diet? Nandrolone?

This post was edited 1 minute after it was posted.

2 years ago 01/05/2024 11:26am EST

re: 4:20 is not that fast

4:20 is not that fast wrote:
Manbearpig15 wrote:
Coe would have been pretty close.
Rudisha would definitely have run sub 1:40. Can't believe his world record is now over eleven years old. Way before super shoes and pace lights.
Pacing lights make no difference at all. In both his 5K and 10K WRs, Berkeley ran the 2nd half all by his lonesome and still kept cranking out even splits. There were no lights to assist Komon for his 7:20. They’re nothing more than a gimmick.

Pacing lights were employed in the 70's.

2 years ago 01/05/2024 11:31am EST

re: Armstronglivs

Armstronglivs wrote:
4:20 is not that fast wrote:
Pacing lights make no difference at all. In both his 5K and 10K WRs, Berkeley ran the 2nd half all by his lonesome and still kept cranking out even splits. There were no lights to assist Komon for his 7:20. They’re nothing more than a gimmick.
Pacing lights were employed in the 70's.

Only in the International Track Association professional league.

2 years ago 01/05/2024 11:53am EST

re: ncaa portal pottie

ncaa portal pottie wrote:
MidDbag wrote:
In his prime with modern training, shoes, nutrition, etc?
What the f*ck is "modern nutrition"?

Old nutrition: smoking cigarettes, carbo loading, beer after workouts, and plain water preferably from a garden hose.

Running magazines were full of faddish drinks and diets.

2 years ago 01/05/2024 12:01pm EST

re: 4:20 is not that fast

4:20 is not that fast wrote:
Armstronglivs wrote:
Pacing lights were employed in the 70's.
Only in the International Track Association professional league.

So they didn't really make any difference?

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