NYT: "How a Former Boxer and Opioid Addict Became the World’s Best Marathoner Over 50"

It's not the fast times that amaze me. It's the fast recoveries. At that age, two weeks after a marathon, I can barely walk, let alone run an even faster marathon. Especially after blowing up in the second half. I hate to be one of those guys, but there are a few known ways to speed up recovery.

Thought this immediately. The thread title is very wrong… Tommy would blitz him in the half, the marathon, and/or the 50k.
Had the pleasure of running in an event where Tommy was racing - run form when tiring (he lapped me on a 2-3km loop) looks like he’s hurrying through a narrow doorway to get out of the rain, but he is rapid, and a down to earth guy. And he was an Olympian when young, also channeled a brief tendency for alcohol into returning to running, and has benefited from the ZoomX era - so his speed at that age is anomalous but also more understandable than Ken…

I’ll need to see his performances over the next few years to determine how skeptical I should be.

Where is testing happening at larger marathons including WMM races?

What do you mean? He has like 10 yrs of Strava history and he has set a new half or full marathon PR each year since he was 35 according to recent podcasts. I'm not saying if he is or isn't doping but you have accessto all the history you could ever need. So... what is your evaluation?

Opioid addiction leads to low testosterone levels in almost all addicts. this leads to testerone prescription aka TRT by doctors to former addicts…’better than prescribing them oxycodone’. There begins the druggie’s story of renewal and hope, this time with use of a different enhancing substance. Hate to be skeptical but I’ve seen this way too many times

Wtf. “I’m the biggest alpha male on the starting line,” he says. “I am ready to die to win. For me, every race is a fight.” Someone ready to die might possibly Use any method possible to get every advantage possible.

I don't know if he is clean, but I definitely don't think he should be getting media and trumpeted as a success or a healthy character that other people should model in terms of diet or training or outlook.

More publicity for this individual in WSj last week:

wsj.com

How One of the World’s Top Over-50 Runners Got Faster Every Year

By Jen Murphy | Photographs by Jason Myers for The Wall Street Journal

Ken Rideout is a father of four about to race in his sixth major world marathon.

Open link

The fact that this guy can show up and race with impunity at all the major road races shows just how flawed the system is.

To the gills!

Anyone in middle age who is still getting after it at a high level will tell you this guy is full of sh*t. And PEDs.

I would pay money to for Rideout to piss in a cup.

40 years ago Jack Foster ran a 2.20 marathon at age 50 in a pair of minimalist shoes. Jack missed 6 weeks training with a hammy then averaged 100 kms per week over the next 3 months prior to the 2.20.

Jack had run 2.11 for CG silver 9 years earlier.

Jack had set the 20 mile World track best (1.39) just prior to becoming a masters runner.

How has USADA not busted this guy yet?

I am far too lazy to look but over the last 10 years has there been a steady increase in training? I could sort of see someone who starts running at 40 doing 20mpw and who adds 10-15/year setting PRs for 6 or 7 years. More with a slow ramp and the shoes. But we are getting to the edges of believability...

Do they do even the most basic doping protocols at these age group "world championships," or is it a doping free-for-all for masters runners?

Someone fact check me on this, but I'll assume for a moment, they do not test the age-group winners. For the AbbottWMM Wanda race organizers to call their event an age group "World Championship" and not require basic drug testing for age-group "world champions," is asinine and makes such events farcical and a joke (if that is the case).

It's unnecessary and cost prohibitive to drug test every local 5K runner. But if someone is competing at an elite level on the international stage, masters or otherwise, it should be expected that they're held to the same standard. And don't tell me they "can't afford the drug testing." Bullcrap. If you can afford to put on an international world championship with 30,000 runners, you can afford a few extra urine tests.

Otherwise, call it what it is, "The Doping-Test Optional, Age-Group Championships."

I agree with what you are saying. I think some (not here necessarily, but in general) may also be envious that he has a huge social following and tons of kudos on Strava. Fast AND popular is an intoxicating combo...

Many runners would kill to have one or the other, let alone both.

They should just ask him. The worlds best jui jitsu goat admitted his PED use because he wants to have a healthy life.

Someone has to be the best but a 50 year old guy running 80 miles a week with a 22 BMI and Superman's jaw screams TRT.

Take a look at pictures and videos of Steve Spence maintaining his sub 5 mile streak into his 50s. Steve is in shape but you can tell age is wearing his muscle definition and speed down. This is a guy who won a WC medal and ran 2:12 for the marathon in his prime. Still, once SS hit his 50s he had to reduce his training to avoid injuries but eventually father time caught up with him.

runnersworld.com

Steve Spence’s 43-Year Streak of a Sub-5 Minute Mile Comes to End

The Olympic marathoner isn’t done just yet, though.

Open link

In comparison, KR and all these other late stage endurance warriors just don't make sense. Running 5:40 pace for 26 miles is hard. The training is hard, the racing is hard. It's almost impossible to maintain muscle definition and mass running 80 mile weeks at sub 7 mile pace. Yet these 50 year old guys with no running background, run times you'd expect from a recent DIII grad with a 26 min 8k pr. They don't get hurt and they get better year after year. That's just not how things work.

I could care less if masters unners use drugs to achieve their times. Good for them. Just spare me the fake inspirational drivel and own up to your juice if asked about it.

I asked what his secret to recovery was on his strava feed.

I ended with, I sure hope it isn't TRT. The post was deleted...