Why don't more African Americans run distance?

Skeptic162 wrote:

. But on the Global scene the Africans dominate in distance and middle distance. It doesn't make sense why we see none of it here.

Middle distance? They do? You should go and talk to Centro and Willis and tell them they should give their medals back...

Murphy should give his back too!

For the youngsters who weren't around, here is the infamous interview that got Jimmy the Greek fired. Actually, what he said was correct.

https://youtu.be/WzB7IsmOegE

ZeitgeistRunner wrote:

African Ancestry almost took Kipchoge to a sub 2 hour marathon. Great logic. LMAO! 😂

He's not African American dipshit

He didn't say African American he said African decent...... dipshit! Hahaa

Exactly. I guarantee that there is plenty of OLYMPIC African American distance talent here. These simplified "read the book on the science" explanations are typical and shallow.

Ok I'll give it a shot here. Genetics may play a role. BUT I think the biggest advantage for Eastern Africans is the open training environment and altitude. We all know that when we go to running camps with ideal environments we are all inspired to go out and run for hours. So living in cities is not exactly ideal for distance running. Also the sports culture of Eastern Africans is soccer and to run long distance. The culture of American African Americans is Football, Basketball and Sprints on Athletics. That plays a role too. There is probably Olympic talent undiscovered for distance running in the USA. But the over simplification that some have present here is astonishing. It's amazing how some people use the term science to shortcut thought and avoid looking at the whole problem. BTW Jimmy the Greek was an Ahole. Everyone hated him on set.

AA convention wrote:

RunnerGBox wrote:

I have always wondered: Why is it that most African Americans run sprints and most Africans (Kenya/Ethiopia) run distance? Is it anatomical differences or cultural emphasis? I have a hard time believing that we can't produce more African American distance runners.

They don't because they are not very fast in anything 1500 meters and above. Same reason they don't go for shot put or javelin. They're not very strong, or have a strong/athletic combo.

Idiots like "AA convention" abound!! It's largely cultural, but as movements like Black Girls Run and Black Men Run continue you will see a proliferation of more A-A high school students giving distance running and chance and start to succeed. They just have to accept the notion that distance running is not just for white kids.

OCheeSah wrote:

I think the post probably referred to elite levels. It is interesting how Kenyans and Ethiopians dominate but in America distance running is primarily "White". When people talk about "American Born" distance runners they are usually referring to "white" runners. But there must be a serious pool of "American Born" African American Elite distance running talents that we rarely see.

BS!!! Stop projecting racism into this. Steve Holman was a black American born miler in the late 80's early 90's, and had tons of support. When people say American born, they mean just that. Someone born here, went through American schools, no accent etc.. They weren't an East African that changed citizenship after college etc.

I've always said if Mebrahtom Keflezighi's name had been changed to Mike Kelly, he'd have double the amount of sponsors. The US certainly has racial problems, but we do have a pretty good record of embracing black athletes.

Seneca Lassiter was pretty good. Two-time USA 1500 champ.

http://www.usatf.org/athletes/bios/TrackAndFieldArchive/2003/Lassiter_Seneca.asp

Generally, American blacks decend from West Africa where it has already been scientifically shown that they have a very high percentage of fast twitch fibers. FT fibers are not conducive to aerobic events.

Africa is know to have vast genetic variation. Which means you have very different subgroups which have developed seperately and have different charachteristics. ie East vs West African people

Steve Holman, Centro, Regina Jacobs, Lynch sisters are of mixed race

There are very few good distance runners from West African nations and America, relatively speaking

Culture

Kids identify with people who look like them and pursue areas where people who look like them have succeeded.

Not many Sudanese or Tanzanian role models so those east African countries do not have a great number of successful distance runners.

Not many African American distance role models.

The black American population is 12 percent. We shouldn't see a ratio higher than that in distance running.

What motivation is there to be a distance runner?

Financial reward, recognition, scholarship?!

What about coming to the Let's Run Forum and trying to learn how to become a better runner and having to wade through some pretty ridiculous comments?!

Phife wrote:

Generally, American blacks decend from West Africa where it has already been scientifically shown that they have a very high percentage of fast twitch fibers. FT fibers are not conducive to aerobic events.

Africa is know to have vast genetic variation. Which means you have very different subgroups which have developed seperately and have different charachteristics. ie East vs West African people

Steve Holman, Centro, Regina Jacobs, Lynch sisters are of mixed race

There are very few good distance runners from West African nations and America, relatively speaking

Lol this is really really stupid. Sorry buddy, I hope you're not expecting to win the Nobel Prize anytime soon. Why are there so many good West African soccer players if West Africans have so much trouble with aerobic activity?

In order for there to be elite African American distance runners, there needs to be a decent amount in the funnel. Yes, people eventually quit sports if they suck at them, but how many African American kids do you see at cross country meets?

Let's face it guys, Americans aren't really thaaat good at any sports except the ones we made up ourselves like football. Before we talk about genetics, let's talk about the fact that there are too many sports opportunities and it's hard to keep kids focused on getting good at one.

There is no money in distance running or the glamour compared to the NBA, MLB or the NFL. Plus, there is no American distance runner black or white doing TV commercials for ESPN or auto manufacturer or insurance company or McDonalds. Simple.

Just like there are hardly if any American professional black downhill skiers or snowboarders.

I think it's mostly about culture and incentive. Austria dominates in downhill skiing. Always has. Their skiers are household names. Why is India and Pakistan good at cricket? Because their countries love it. New Zealand and rugby? Brasil, Germany, Italy, Spain, France and Argentina in soccer. China in gymnastics and diving. etc.

Let's call it what it is. When the slave traders went to capture slaves they didn't go after the skinny small guy. They went after the guy who looked like he could bench press a Buick. Now increase that through essentially breeding while slaves in the US. And you now have super athlete for anything that requires raw strength.

Fast forward to the recent past and you combine this with predominately low socio economic status and you don't exactly have someone who can and/or have the luxury to dedicate 7-8 hours of training a week to something as abstract as distance running.

I guess "too lazy" is inappropriate but what the OP wants. So don't listen to him.

Sounds like your trolling, but anyhow. Are you equating track distances races to soccer as the same physiological event? If you are, there's no point in discussing any further until you gain some very basic knowledge.

I can't imagine where you live.

hmmmmmm wrote:

In California, you do see more Hispanic and Asian-American kids doing xc.

This is true. But, we also have an enormous number of hispanics and asians and like 3 black people in the whole state, so that kind of affects the number of people who you see running...