Obviously there will be variation by person but what would the ideal weight look like for a 6 foot tall runner? Is there a physiological right answer and what is the distribution among the pros?
You need to prove to us that you are a biological male and/or identify as a male before we can consider talking about specific numbers for your ideal weight.
If you are a biological female and/or identify as a female we cannot consider talking about specific numbers for your ideal weight unless you sign some waiver/release forms first. Even then it's probably best for us to not talk about your weight.
I’ve seen CJ, highly unlikely those stats are correct. I saw Mantz at the NYC Half. I’d put him at 130.
Hall has said he did his best at 136-139 ibs and getting down to 130 ibs was not the best decision in hindsight. People automatically think lighter is better. But if you don't have sufficient muscle mass and strength, good luck being durable through hard training weeks. I'm 5'8 and 140 ibs, people on here forget how skinny that is in actuality. Sure there's going be genetic outliers that are 120 ibs at 6'0. But if you're a male, you shouldn't aim to get a BMI below 19.
in peak competition you can go down to close to zero body fat,
Even Mr. Olympia bodybuilders on various pharmaceuticals to get as lean as possible only get down to 3% body fat. Pro bodybuilder Andreas Munzer being one of the most infamous examples had an early death many contribute to his strict year round conditioning. Most males that are natural can't sustain body fat percentages below 10% for long and will start messing up their endocrine system with super low body fat.
Paul Tergat was six foot tall and 135 pounds. That seems about right for a thin boned distance runner. Now Solinsky was 6 foot and like 150s. He was big boned. But Tergat is one of the legends of the sport. Solinsky wax just a very good American runner.
So, there's your range. But, I have to admit, I find it difficult to believe Coe was that light. Thought he kinda look like Herb, who was 5' 10" 148-50.
Depends where you are with your training. If you're at the ideal weight on low mileage, you'll break down before you can get to high mileage. Need a bit of a buffer to allow more training. However much you eat, you'll settle at some kind of equilibrium near the ideal if you run enough.
The ideal weight for a runner is the ideal weight for that person.
If you run and train, eat to fuel your workouts, your body will reach its ideal weight for running.
As to whether there is a physiological "ideal weight" generally, no. There is no such thing.
Anyone who tells you differently is selling you some snake oil or trying to impose their weight insecurities onto you.
This is mostly true, except that long distance runners fall within a fairly narrow range of BMIs. The issue is that you cannot force your body to fall within that range without negative consequences if you have a different skeletal structure, etc.
This means that the ideal weight range for elite runners of a given height is probably different than the ideal running weight for a specific individual.
So, as you wrote, people should focus on maximizing training and eating a pretty good/healthy diet. This will naturally get you to your ideal running weight.
The ideal weight for a runner is the ideal weight for that person.
If you run and train, eat to fuel your workouts, your body will reach its ideal weight for running.
As to whether there is a physiological "ideal weight" generally, no. There is no such thing.
Anyone who tells you differently is selling you some snake oil or trying to impose their weight insecurities onto you.
yeah, I'm gonna piggyback off of what this guy said; the technology doesn't exist yet for someone to tell you, "You should weigh 135 - 137 for your ideal marathon weight," for example.
I just say this b/c I've listened to talks from an expert (he's devoted his career to research in performance & also related to weight loss), a PhD/MD, and he says - "we can't give you a number as far as weight." although he acknowledges everybody wants a number. He describes "ideal weight" (which is maybe different from performance weight, idk) as "It's whatever weight you can get down to without too, too much trouble and still have a life!"
You don't want to be food obsessed/diet & eating obsessed because that's not going to be good for your performance either. You need BALANCE. I've seen guys get a little gaunt, and then their performance tanks.
that being said, I predict that EVENTUALLY the technology will get there - through DNA testing, they will say, "someone with your genetic build should weigh XXX-XXX." IDK, maybe not.
Obviously there will be variation by person but what would the ideal weight look like for a 6 foot tall runner? Is there a physiological right answer and what is the distribution among the pros?
There is none. Try to manipulate your weight while training at a high level is recipe for disaster. You need to be fueled for the training. It's impossible to be "overweight" when running 80-110 mpw. Focus on the training, and eat a ton when you're hungry.
A male teammate of mine in high school died from an eating disorder. It's the worst hell I've seen anybody go through. You don't want to go down that road.
So, there's your range. But, I have to admit, I find it difficult to believe Coe was that light. Thought he kinda look like Herb, who was 5' 10" 148-50.
Yes, what a book, video, or the internet says is not always a fact! Coe could not have been 5'9" 119' at his peak!
Obviously there will be variation by person but what would the ideal weight look like for a 6 foot tall runner? Is there a physiological right answer and what is the distribution among the pros?
What a dumb post. Completely depends on the event and physiology of the person. Probably anywhere from 130-190
There is no dumb post. Perhaps there are dumb replies. Think, dude, someone might get depressed because of your comment and get into a car crash or worse!
Obviously there will be variation by person but what would the ideal weight look like for a 6 foot tall runner? Is there a physiological right answer and what is the distribution among the pros?
Hasn’t this been asked (and answered dozens of times already)?
No single value nor is any formula ideal. It’s a combination of percentage of body fat, bone density, muscle and tendon density, organ size, limb length, the athletic event, nutrition, and fundamental bone size. Probably half a dozen other variables I’m leaving out.
If you pick just two values, height and weight, without considering all the other variables then you are less likely to succeed.