1. Most runners don't get into competion because it pays well. We tend to do it out of compulsion and passion. That's why there are so many older folks out there challenging themselves in ultras; instead of thinking "where's the next paycheck", we think "what's the next barrier I can break through". So you can keep your cash.
2. Paula gets my vote. She's the Animale Supremo!
Ok, refusing money is just stupid.
OK, here's a new thread for you guys: Which is superior, apple pie or pumpkin pie?
While you're all arguing, I'll scarf down a slice of each and be on my merry way! I formed a saying many years ago that has often served me well: "When faced with a difficult choice, do both". There is no need to choose between KK and Lance (or anybody else) any more than you need to choose between apple and pumpkin. The question itself is moot as it presumes a singular, exclusive pinnacle of greatness.
Of course, arguing about such things can be fun in itself at times...
What about Iron-man competitors.
joseba wrote:
Here's what you do, you organize a race called the UTAH ENDURANCE CHALLENGE with prize money of $4 million winner take all. From Moab heading west towards Zion Nat'l Park. Run-Bike-Run-Bike-Run-Bike.
And equal distance for each.
Sure if you have the bike rides 50 times as long the bikers would win it. Why not run half marathons, and ride 5k's in between them.
The ONLY way to do it is to have equal distances.
Joseba, and Lance, et al, have lost more races in a week than Haile has in a year.
Yes cyclists and cross country skiers may have higher VO2 max values than runners. But unfortunately that really becomes less important the more drawn out a race. I'm sure Joseba, that Haile Gebreselassie has a higher lactate threshold than you do. And his body most likely is far effucient at using oxygen than yours. Which is very important in endurance sports too. Mind you that running unlike skiing or riding does not allow when to coast down a hill, thus two hours of running is two hours of pure exertion, you are always working, on a bike you'll have a break. On this topic of VO2 max however Joseba, Bjorn Daehlie had a test of 96, and is a extremely dominant XC skier he should be in this poll too, as should Yionnis Kuorros.
Sounds good but the only way this could be fair would be to have the distances on the legs be equal. Like was said before, and if this up in the mountains and very hilly, I take Haile over Lance. Is this at altitude? If so Lance is in trouble. Joseba to say Geb is a washed up loser is one of the dumbest things I have ever heard. 2:06:35 washed up? world half marathon champion? sub hour half marathon? Just say you think Lance is better don't go slinging mud, especially in such a manner.
Everyone, everyon knows that cyclists have higher lactate thresholds than distance runners. We also have much more upper body strength. Look, talk to Gerald Hartman in Limerick, Ireland if Lance Armstrong could beat Haile at 3000m plus altitude running equal distance to the bike races. Lance would win. He's a sub 29:00 10km runner, there's simply no way that Haile could beat him. The Ironman in Hawaii offers more prize money than any big city marathon or IAAf race, why doesn't he race that? He simply would be demolished. Actually it is a little known fact that Salah Hissou(who has run 26:37 for 10000) ran in a Biathalon against Rumsas in the Pyrennes. The run was 15km the ride was a short 30km. Rumsas crushed him by over 9 minutes. In Spain this made headlines as it really proved what most of the Spanish Athletic physicians had been saying for years, cyclists are superior athletes.
On several occasions I have asked Jos Hermans, Brahim Boutayeb/Abdelkader Kada, and Gabriele Rosa to have the Once riders challenge their runners for a winner take all purse at altitude in Mexico, Chile, Switzerland, they all refuse. They all know what the results will be. I can promise you with my life that a 21km run followed by a 21km ride between me and Haile G at over 3000m would be won by me or Lance. Jos Hermans knows this as well. Telefonica put up $3 million Euros for such a challenge, and no runners were interested. Nearly every cyclist in Europe salivated at the thought. Fiz, Roncero, Pinto, Anton, etc all of the Iberian distance runners know that we'd bury them and KK, Haile, Tergat, etc. Not a chance. If you can find a few corporate sponsers for this event at elelvation, I will attend, and while I do not guarantee that I'll win, I can promisr you that the first 10 across the line will be European or American cyclists. NOW BRING IT ON!!
Driving a car is not cycling.... cycling is not running....
only running is running.
Get out there without any machines wrapped all around you and then you will find out who is best.
For that matter take your shoes off too.
I am sure Haile would have no problems with that.
you seem to be saying that runners specialize too much and that runners are notoriously poor cyclists(they obviously don't care about cycling) with poor overall body strength agree with. So, how bad would you crush them on the hypothetical 21k run and ride?
What would your bike time be and what would your run time be?
I, timidly, tend to agree with your poins being made. However, stop putting yourself on the same level as Lance.
Ian thorpe can make 7-8 WR less than a week.
He got the best world-breaking endurance in mankind history.
Lance is the greatest endurance athlete ever. He can win the Tour at his pleasure, however, overall, at least according to UCI points, I am not only on Lance's level, but a bit higher. I really don't see lance dominating the Spring Classics, or the 1 week multi-stages like we spaniards do. Anyway, we are at similar levels, that's why we compete. I do love running, and in my youth I wanted to win rotterdam marathon, Golden League 5000s-10000s, world cross, stramilano, and NYC marathon more than I wanted to be a cyclist. I do respect all runners, especially the two Moroccan geniuses el guerrouj and "khannouch"/king khalid. They're wonderful people and are our brothers from across the straits of gibralter. I do think the ENDURANCE CHALLENGE is marketable, and it would be very, very fun. I've ridden bikes with Mohammed Mouhit, KK(in NY), Hissou, skah and many others, they're great riders, and the Moroccans would pose the biggest threat to the Euro-American cyclists. They're tough but charming folks those Maghrebians. They've the best seafood dishes in the world. Go to Morocco; it's a state of mind, as much as it is country.
I can't believe how ignorant you are! Of course elite cyclists would thrash elite runners at cycling, it refers to something called the specificity of exercise! Lactate Threshold and VO2 Max are specific to the event (e.g you have a different VO2 on a bike than you do in running, and you hit your LT at a different percentage of HR on a bike than you do running). This is because the specific movements of the muscles are VERY important to training markers. I would be willing to bet that if Geb, Tergat and the rest trained as for as long and hard for biking as they do for running, their VO2s and LTs would be very, very close. The only difference is that Western athletes have more money and technology that make bike racing as it is today possible. Africa doesn't.
both disciplines would be featured, see above posts before casting stones of ignorance my yankee amigo.
I know rowers are not on the same level in a pure aerobic (i.e. VO2 max) sense because they are generally larger, but in an all around athletic cross between elite endurance, overall body strength, and athletic grace rowers like Steven Redgrave might also be considered. Actually a more direct comparison might be made with lightweight rowers (<160lbs). These athletes combine great andurance with a very high power/stregth to weight ratio. Just something to think about. I've been a runner and a rower and I idolize Lance, yet I think Geb is prolly the top. No one has been so dominating.
Evan
Someone can only be compared to the medium in which they compete. Armstrong in cycling, Gebrsellassie, Khannouchi and the like in running. You can't be the best at everything.
all i have to say is Lance has the best fan support ever. KK, Haile, EL G has nothing like that. if i had a crazy group of supporters like those Cutters from Philly running along side me for minutes at a time....i would win the Le Tour. Sadly, i only have the spanish cheering for me. Sure, in the Pyrenees the Basque are famous for gong crazy, but ever since the arrival of the Cutters in 2001, the americans have owned the atmosphere of the tour. they are such good cycling fans they even go nuts for me....but it isn't the same.
Runners can hold his saddle...or the chamois from his shorts.
adios, oscar
Running ability/performance depends more on body type than riding.To run fast you have to be extremely light.Stride economy also plays a very large role.Especially when comparing how much impact energy is recycled into pushoff energy.Look at how many great runners have relatively low vo2 max values when compared with great biker riders.
If the great bike rider is not blessed with a gazelle like economy he will only be an average runner,otoh,a great runner who has the high vo2max and is willing to put in the saddle hours can become a great bike rider...probably not a sprinter but rather a king of the mountains.
When and where did Lance Armstrong ever run sub 29:00 minute 10k? Was this on the track, on the road, on his bike? Never heard this one before, everytime he is brought up his 10k gets faster last time I think somebody said it was sub 30:00?