no really wrote:
The way Panning led. We're talking 15-20 miles of being the tip of the spear, absorbing whatever comes with just that e.g. blocking the wind, "doing the work", etc.
With all of the science, technology, research, data, etc. in the sport (The Norwegian Method, double thresholds, lactate testing, super shoes, carbon plates, stack height, fueling/nutrition, the list goes on), surely there is some way to quantify exactly how much "extra energy" is spent on the type of effort Panning put out at the Trials.
There is no doubt in my mind that Panning is one the of the top 3 fittest marathoners in America right now. In his post race interview, he said he knew he was going to have to do something like that if he wanted to make the team.
But what was the cost? What is the physical cost of leading? What is the mental cost?
Discus.
The question is how much energy does it take to draft relative to the person leading. There is less wind resistance if you're drafting. Simple physics.
You have vectors for wind resistance and friction working against the direction of forward motion, assuming no tailwind. The magnitude of the air resistance is smaller if you're drafting. So the work output is less than the work output required by the leader who has a higher magnitude of air resistance.
