Just a point of clarification - running is not the number one sport in East Africa. That would be soccer. It does compliment running a lot better than most American sports, however.
Just a point of clarification - running is not the number one sport in East Africa. That would be soccer. It does compliment running a lot better than most American sports, however.
I knew it was big, thanks for the clarification. But yes, much better at complimenting. We all know the Andy Wheating story lol.
Improve the economy in East Africa, it's the only way we'll ever match them.
believe me, if they ate the same stuff we ate their times would drop
ding, ding, ding. We have a winner, minus the multiple wives thing as not many guys in this generation do that or aspire to. Otherwise, totally spot on. The adversity the typical East African inherits at birth is actually an advantage when it comes to running.
Whilst you guys are issuing the same old clichés, I would like to point out something that never gets mentioned even though it is very important.
Kenenisa Bekele keeps the same 2 meter stride length at all paces. That's why he is so dominant over 5000 and 10000.
Collegiate marathon/road racing programs. One NCAA championship marathon in spring with a fall series of road races (10k-half). And let athletes compete in a fall marathon outside of the NCAA and keep any prize money (just think about how hard people would train to get an extra $1,500 in their pocket in college). Give athletes scholarships to run the marathon.
The Kenyans are skipping the track and going right to the marathon. This has resulted in a surge of sub 2:10 guys who are leaving the track/XC bound US collegians in their wake.
The NCAA cross country/track system is holding US runners back by forcing them to focus on events (XC, 5k/10k track) that are impossible to have a pro career outside of the very top two or three NCAA grads each year. The marathon is the future and the US is stuck in the past.
The US has plenty of good runners. There are piles of guys who run 30 min 10ks in the NCAAs. Have them train for marathons instead.
You are fantasizing.
cabana wrote:
You are fantasizing.
Not much more than the idea of Americans competing with E. Africans in the marathon. There were 147 sub 2:10 marathons run this year, only two by Americans. Americans have been completely left behind in the marathon by the E. Africans. It is not even close.
The majority of the superfast E. Africans (sub 2:08 guys) are under thirty. They are getting into the marathon early and it is paying off. By the time a US runner graduates from college and turns pro, he has missed two to three years of marathon preparation compared to E. Africans.
Snakedoctor09 wrote:
Also true. Crappy mainstream athletes due to a variety of reasons who could be stellar runners. Athletes who lack skill, but are athletic enough to make it far enough to fail professionally.
East Africans are better because that is their number 1 sport so their best athletes go there, and more people try to run. They still have 2:10-2:20 marathoners, but the super athletes we have playing on the fields or on the court are the guys they have on the roads and tracks. The training difference isn't that big, it's the talent comparison of those that take up running between 13-16 and start getting serious. It's the amount of people who take up running during those years. Here in America, it would be like a 1,000 person school with a 100+ person XC team on the guys side alone.
Disagree. Tell me what sports in the US are dominated by 5'4", 125 lb men? Look at Geb, Wanjiru, Kebede, etc. These guys would be creamed in football, baseball, and basketball.
Precious Roy wrote:
cabana wrote:You are fantasizing.
Not much more than the idea of Americans competing with E. Africans in the marathon. There were 147 sub 2:10 marathons run this year, only two by Americans. Americans have been completely left behind in the marathon by the E. Africans. It is not even close.
The majority of the superfast E. Africans (sub 2:08 guys) are under thirty. They are getting into the marathon early and it is paying off. By the time a US runner graduates from college and turns pro, he has missed two to three years of marathon preparation compared to E. Africans.
You haven't identified a specific problem, but a general one. East Africans are faster at all distances at a younger age. Address that issue, not just the marathon.
Do this and watch how many schools emulate U/Alabama.The KipCoscos would go to 36th place.
Precious Roy wrote:
Collegiate marathon/road racing programs. One NCAA championship marathon in spring with a fall series of road races (10k-half). And let athletes compete in a fall marathon outside of the NCAA and keep any prize money (just think about how hard people would train to get an extra $1,500 in their pocket in college). Give athletes scholarships to run the marathon.
The Kenyans are skipping the track and going right to the marathon. This has resulted in a surge of sub 2:10 guys who are leaving the track/XC bound US collegians in their wake.
The NCAA cross country/track system is holding US runners back by forcing them to focus on events (XC, 5k/10k track) that are impossible to have a pro career outside of the very top two or three NCAA grads each year. The marathon is the future and the US is stuck in the past.
The US has plenty of good runners. There are piles of guys who run 30 min 10ks in the NCAAs. Have them train for marathons instead.
None, but I will give you some athletes who could fit your profile: Trindon Holliday 5'5", Earl Boykin 5'5", Muggsy Bogues 5'3", Spud Webb 5'6", Doug Flutie 5'7", Darren Sproles 5'6", Brandon Banks 5'7".
And Gebre Gebremariam is 5'10", Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot is 6'3", etc.
Runners can be taller, and there are American athletes who are shorter. There are also many good athletes who attempt to but can't play those 3 major sports at the collegiate or pro level due to the height and weight disadvantage.
Yes height weight, another cliché.
I would like to again point out something that never gets mentioned even though it is very important.
Kenenisa Bekele keeps the same 2 meter stride length at all paces. That's why he is so dominant over 5000 and 10000.
cabana wrote:
Kenenisa Bekele keeps the same 2 meter stride length at all paces. That's why he is so dominant over 5000 and 10000.
source??
Give them US citizenship.
cabana wrote:
You haven't identified a specific problem, but a general one. East Africans are faster at all distances at a younger age. Address that issue, not just the marathon.
Chicken and the egg. E. Africans are faster at all distances at a younger age because they are looking forward to a career in the marathon starting at age 20-21, not to running track/XC for four years and then turning to the marathon in their mid to late twenties. Ritz, Wheating, Webb (once upon a time), and Solinsky have shown the US runners can compete with E. Africans on the track. No one has been able to touch the E. Africans on the roads and in the marathon. Not even close.
Video. You have to learn how to count strides though. Some people have problems with that.
Precious Roy, you are fantasizing that you have a solution, when you don't understand the basic problem.
I actually agree with this. I have two close friends whose sons showed serious talent in junior high cc. Did races on whims and kicked nearly everyone's arse with no training. But they chose to do football and basketball instead, where with enormous effort they have made the varsity squad in high school but are not stars because of lack of size. I imagine you can multiply that by thousands nationwide.