Lance Armstrong and the Marathon

People keep talking like Lance has never run before. The guy was a world class triathlete and to get there he had to lace up a pair of shoes occasionally. Lance did a Duathlon last year that had a mountain bike section in it and he was actually beat on the bike but smoked they guy on the last running leg.

The guy knows how to train and has people around him to put together a program that would allow him to attain his goals.

He genetic build is phenomenal for endurance sports and 2:15 is not so out of reach for someone like Lance who trains harder than anyone in cycling so I can assure you he would train just as hard in a pair of shoes.

Granted he hasn't run fulltime for years but who are people kidding if they think this guy couldn't adapt to running. He has a VO2 Max and hasa body that is more efficent than most elite runners out there. That is the key, Lance recovers quickly and has a mindset that allows him to suffer for long periods of time. We all know that that is a crucial aspect of running. Mental toughness and i don't think there are many athletes in ANY sport with his mental toughness. Time trialing for 1:20 or climbing for an hour all out is grueling and painful and is not for the weak minded.

Believe me he will prove many wrong when he decides he wants to go for it in the marathon.

Don't do it, Lance wrote:

I think there would be disappointment from the US (non-athletic) general public if Lance took part in the US Olympic Trails Marathon and came (like) 20th in 2.24 or some such.

He has attained a status as some kind of sporting God, and the fact that he did not win would be a huge surprise and disappointment to his adoring public.

He should not (seriously) compete again. And make it very clear that he is not doing so.

I think it would be a disappointment if anyone came in 20th with a 2:24. 21 years ago the US had ~200 qualifiers when the standard was 2:19:06.

In average conditions 20th place should be 2:15.

What is with all this running bravado? Lance was a semi-talented runner in HS. He even qualified for a regional CC meet in Texas the same year I ran it. I wish I still had the finishing results because if I recall, he finished a few places back from me. I was a 15:30 5K runner back then which I believe correlates to roughly a 2:35 marathon.

With that in mind, it doesn't stretch the imagination that with dedicated training and further development that he could take 10-20 minutes off that time.

Unlike other athletes from other sports, Lance is not a bulky athlete (or a lanky one like Michael Phelps who could never run fast because of it). He is good in the mountains because he is lean and slim.

I'm not saying he WILL run 2:15, but it is within a realm of possibility. Sub 2:30 - I bet you he does it on his first try (if he's training for it).

Sweet.

At least then we could count on a true US man (not some dude who was basically completely molded in another society, then moved here--ie KK) to regularly run faster than the fastest WOMAN in the world. As it stands right now, we can not count on that.

Dude's got the physiologic tools. Question is: is his body suited to RUNNING at remotely the same level as it is for CYCLING.

Go Lance!!

Don't do it, Lance wrote:

I think there would be disappointment from the US (non-athletic) general public if Lance took part in the US Olympic Trails Marathon and came (like) 20th in 2.24 or some such.

He has attained a status as some kind of sporting God, and the fact that he did not win would be a huge surprise and disappointment to his adoring public.

He should not (seriously) compete again. And make it very clear that he is not doing so.

That's silly. He shouldn't try to put down good times in the marathon because of his legacy? He's a bike rider! And if anything, say he qualified and took part in a time trial and lost in a "dissapointing 2:24", it would bring light to the Gallowalking public how freaking impressive sub 2:10 times are: here's this endurance god that, for all his natural talent and training, can't make up for god-given distance running talent.

You guys are fooling yourselves if you think the guy is going to put in the time it takes to become a 2:15 Marathoner. He is retiring. There is a reason he is retiring. He isn't going to jump from a life long of training for cycling full time to training for running full time. He might screw around and run a few races here and there, but he isn't going to go for it.

time wise, training for running is a lot easier than biking.

Training in cycling doesn't even compare to training in run timewise. 2-3 hours a day of training for running a 2:15 is nothing compared to 8 hour rides. He is retiring but a couple hours a day to run isnt going to be hard to fit into his schedule considering he is used to a way heavier workload. To him a couple hours a day working out will be retiring.

Hmmm I wonder what running shoes he will be wearing. Nike would have a marketing hayday over this. I can already see the marketing blitz.

Another huge payday for Nike.

This is just too good to pass up!!

I used to race bikes and now I run marathons. I'm way better marathoner than I was a bike rider. I was just to small for the bike in the flats, 5'3". Lance is the perfect height for either. The biggest differences are:

Running= height to weight ratio and having a huge VO2

Cycling= power to weight ratio and having a huge vo2

Those two statements are not equal. Lance would need to loose a bunch of weight, mostly off the legs, to get down under 2:20. He'd need to get down under 136 lbs minimum.

I'm sure 2:30 with training would be cake for him if his leges could take the pounding and he didn't develop any knee problems,etc.. with the training since running pounds the body vs. cycling.

If he lost the weight, was biomechanically efficient running which it sounds like he was in his youth, 2:15 isn't out of the question either.

I said he would never win the tour...then he got Cancer...changed his body profile and look....

-z

im guessing he knows something we don't about his running ability if he's even mentioning 2:15.

There are two threasds on this so I'm posting the other posts here as one post and closing it out. No way on the 2:15 although lance used to beat me in high school running but everyone used to beat me and somehow I got pretty good.

--Dang

Lance Armstrong's Marathon 7/28/2005 6:45AM Reply | Return to Index | Report Post

Asked whether he preferred golf to a marathon now, he said, " No doubt: marathon. I would like to train to run under two hours and 30 minutes, and perhaps I will shoot for two hours and 15.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/?id=2005/jul05/jul28news2

If he could actually pull this off he woulod be one hell of a ironman distance triathlete.

XC99TF00

RE: Lance Armstrong's Marathon 7/28/2005 6:56AM - in reply to --Dang Reply | Return to Index | Report Post

He was a sery successful triathlete at a younger age anyhow. I think he won junior US championships if I am not mistaken. And obviously he has the endurance to do something as long as the ironman. He also swam competitively when he was much younger, but its not like he forgot how, so I am sure he would be great at that as well. Just a all-around athlete...

Go Lance

RE: Lance Armstrong's Marathon 7/28/2005 8:30AM - in reply to --Dang Reply | Return to Index | Report Post

Lance certainly has the heart and lungs for a 2:15 marathon. He has the build, too. He's, what, 5'8" and 150? He doesn't have quite the upper body he had pre-cancer so that works in his favor. As a friend of mine said, "his legs look like they're blocks of granite."

I hope he goes for it. If, for nothing else, just to see if he can do it. Who knows, maybe he'll end up being one of USA's premire marathoners. Look out Alan and Meb...

wejo

RE: Lance Armstrong's Marathon 7/28/2005 9:14AM - in reply to Go Lance Reply | Return to Index | Report Post

I'm not a phsyio guy but I say no way he runs 2:15. There's a huge difference between 2:30 and 2:15. There in a different stratosphere of running.

Maybe I'm wrong, as women are now running 2:15;) (we were talking on our run yesterday how unbelievably good Paula Radcliffe is at the marathon)

Absolutely no way he becomes one of America's top marathoners.

Flome

RE: Lance Armstrong's Marathon 7/28/2005 9:19AM - in reply to wejo Reply | Return to Index | Report Post

wejo wrote:

I'm not a phsyio guy but I say no way he runs 2:15. There's a huge difference between 2:30 and 2:15. They're in a different stratosphere of running.

Maybe I'm wrong, as women are now running 2:15;) (we were talking on our run yesterday how unbelievably good Paula Radcliffe is at the marathon)

Absolutely no way he becomes one of America's top marathoners.

Gonna have to agree with this. I'd be impressed with a 2:30 from him, and perhaps he could get a bit faster even, but 2:15? No way.

SBD

RE: Lance Armstrong's Marathon 7/28/2005 9:20AM - in reply to wejo Reply | Return to Index | Report Post

It's much easier to transition from run to bike, then bike to run. I don't think he breaks 2:30...or it will take him several years of base miles to accomplish it. However, I do think he would destroy in an ironman. Go for the ironman Lance!

New poll on the homepage. Vote on lance's final time.

I too would love to see Lance do an Ironman. The top guys run the marathon portion in about 2:40. I'm sure Lance could do that during an Ironman, which means he ought to easily be able to run 2:30. 2:15 though? I agree with Wejo - that's WAY different than 2:30. I can see Lance MAYBE qualifiying for the Olympic Trials, but that's only if he really wanted to and trained for it seriously. Under 2:20 though? I don't see it.

You don't need to be a biomechanics expert or anything to determine whether or not Lance can ran a 2:30. You just need to be able to see his eyes. He is a rare human. When he bikes he bikes....he's TOTALLY focused at the task at hand and he is able to make his body a slave.

If he started running, I think he'd have a hard time stopping. He's the kind of person who wants to be the best.

I would love to see him give it a shot.

this is the stupidest thread ever. not only will he not run 2:15, he won't run 2:30. 2:40 is more like it IF he doesn't get hurt trying to do the training. and i am talking straight marathon, not an ironman.

actually, after seeing that commercial where he is out jogging, his mechanics look so awkward that i wouldn't be surprised if he didn't break 3hrs.

id love to see him give this a shot.

2:15...what an asshole he is for saying this shit

This same quote appeared in my local paper two days ago, however, it didn't come off the same way this one does. According to the reporter of that article (which I believe took place right after the tour in front of an audience) he had said he would maybe like to run a marathon under 2:30 or 3 hours. Then, according to the reporter, the crowd laughed, and he said "ok, 2:15." This is how I had read it...it's apparent here, that he was just joking about 2:15. Then again, the interview that has been posted makes it clear that 2:15 is a serious goal of his.

I'm with the Jeezuz H., I'll give Lance a 2:42 tops. I don't care if his VO2 Max is off the charts....he ain't no sub 2:30 guy..one reason: running efficiency. The End.