I don't think His Sebness has ever stated this, but I think he ADORED the 800m. In interviews he always beamed with pride about being an 800m guy. He was still so effing good at 800m, even in 88-89.
Can you imagine moving away from that? ie Something that you really love.
Coe and his Dad talk about injury aborting the Big Attempt to move to 5000m. But I think it really goes to where Coe's heart really was.
The thing about it is that Coe was so skinny... you instinctively thought he would be a natural for longer distances.
The dude was built like a marathon runner.
All I can say in response to this is...
NO!!!
No is correct.
Look at pictures of him. Especially in the weight room. He was built like a mid distance runner. Not at all like a marathoner. He looked like a guy who could run 46 point. Imagine that.
The thing about it is that Coe was so skinny... you instinctively thought he would be a natural for longer distances.
The dude was built like a marathon runner.
beef on the brain.
no
google Coe legs depth jumps stride under images
in phases when he was doing gym work the upper body had a bit going on.
certainly there was no extra flesh, but the fine muscle development was incredible, where the word slow isn't on the tip of anyone's tongue, except for beef brains
also
tall 141 Joaquim Cruz said when he was running beside Coe, his knees were coming up around his chin. i think even noob casuals would go WTF, and think faster than a speeding bullet, and not slow and steady wins the race.
when 6 foot jeremy warriner won 400m OG, he was all of 145 lbs he has a butt and legs, and skinnier is nearly impossible.
Andre De Grasse is listed at 154 now and was probably 145 in college.
once people beef up, they are usually close to the end of the line, or their peak is over rover.
there are a few dudes and gals that are buff in the 800 1500, but few are natural.
there are notable exceptions, you can do it all without PEDs, it's just that the athlete is rare as hen's teeth to keep it all together.
Coe never did sustained high mileage at any time of the year, read his Dad’s book or watch some You tube shows on him. 50 was usually max for him and he did a lot of 30-50 mile weeks. He emphasized quality over quantity which helped him excel in the 800/1500 but going above that at a world class level requires volume. He also never focused on those higher distances seriously.
Coe never did sustained high mileage at any time of the year, read his Dad’s book or watch some You tube shows on him. 50 was usually max for him and he did a lot of 30-50 mile weeks. He emphasized quality over quantity which helped him excel in the 800/1500 but going above that at a world class level requires volume. He also never focused on those higher distances seriously.
Didn't Coe run something like 45 mins for 10 miles in a training run? I remember reading it some bigraphy.
We disagree then. He was a 1000m type runner. His ideal distance. He moved up and down from there. If you believe he was a 3000m runner, we will simply disagree.
I know all about his bio. Was a huge fan. My favorite runner of all-time.
It’s nothing to disagree with. You said he didn’t run those events. He did, in fact, run those events.
What event you think he was best at is irrelevant.
I was talking about the events he ran as a world class runner, not the events he ran up until age 18. I'm sure he ran events other than 800/1000/1500/mile while growing up in Sheffield.
Hmm.. Just missed out on Montreal Olympics at age 20, gave Walker and Moorcroft a fright a couple of weeks after.
Won European indoor gold and narrowly missed the WR in March 77 at age 20 1/2. Beat Filbert Bayi over a mile that year, and also broke the UK 800m record.
1978 age 21 - injured early in season but still broke UK 800m record again twice and European bronze to Beyer and Straub.
1979 age 22 - Four world records in 42 days, first and still only man in history to hold 800, 1500, mile WRs simultaneously.
1980 age 23 - 1500m Olympic Champion, 800m silver.
Josh Hoey was going backwards and running 1:48 on a good day at age 23, when Coe was already an Olympic Champion and had broken 5 world records at four different distances.
So..nah.
This post was edited 1 minute after it was posted.
Hmm.. Just missed out on Montreal Olympics at age 20, gave Walker and Moorcroft a fright a couple of weeks after.
Won European indoor gold and narrowly missed the WR in March 77 at age 20 1/2. Beat Filbert Bayi over a mile that year, and also broke the UK 800m record.
1978 age 21 - injured early in season but still broke UK 800m record again twice and European bronze to Beyer and Straub.
1979 age 22 - Four world records in 42 days, first and still only man in history to hold 800, 1500, mile WRs simultaneously.
1980 age 23 - 1500m Olympic Champion, 800m silver.
Josh Hoey was going backwards and running 1:48 on a good day at age 23, when Coe was already an Olympic Champion and had broken 5 world records at four different distances.
So..nah.
Lost to Straub?
Set four WRs in 79?
You better check this, Coevy.
Ryun's converted 880y time was worth a WR over 800m. He then also would have had those 3 WRs you mentioned.
Coe is unique to have had all 4 middle distance WRs.
He also ran a 1500m or mile against John Walker and David Moorcroft just after the Montreal Olympics, and gave both a really good fright. He was way out in front but just didn't have the strength to hang on. John Walker said that after that race he knew Coe would be special if he worked on his strength. The 1976 Olympics came a few months too soon for him.
Coe intended to move up to the 5000m after LA and trained for it over the 84/85 winter. His father said he was in incredible shape and expected him to smash WRs, but then he started having problems with his back and abandonded the idea of moving up.
“His father said he was in incredible shape and expected him to smash WRs…”
I can’t think of a more worthless source than what someone’s dad said.
Except when the dad is who coached him to multiple world records
Coe never did sustained high mileage at any time of the year, read his Dad’s book or watch some You tube shows on him. 50 was usually max for him and he did a lot of 30-50 mile weeks. He emphasized quality over quantity which helped him excel in the 800/1500 but going above that at a world class level requires volume. He also never focused on those higher distances seriously.
Didn't Coe run something like 45 mins for 10 miles in a training run? I remember reading it some bigraphy.
Even if Seb and his dad said he ran 10 miles in 45 minutes, he didn’t.
This post was edited 1 minute after it was posted.
Didn't Coe run something like 45 mins for 10 miles in a training run? I remember reading it some bigraphy.
Even if Seb and his dad said he ran 10 miles in 45 minutes, he didn’t.
That didn't happen. The world best at the time was 45:13 set by Ian Stewart in 1977, That was received with considerable disbelief at the time, but re-measuring the course confirmed its accuracy.
Coe didn't run a world best time for 10 miles in training.
You are correct thought, that he refers an very fast 10 miles in his book.
Coe ran an indoor 3000 at the Meadowlands in the late eighties. A friend of mine was in the race and said Coe wasn't sure if it was a 3000 or 5000 or how many laps .
Even if Seb and his dad said he ran 10 miles in 45 minutes, he didn’t.
That didn't happen. The world best at the time was 45:13 set by Ian Stewart in 1977, That was received with considerable disbelief at the time, but re-measuring the course confirmed its accuracy.
Coe didn't run a world best time for 10 miles in training.
You are correct thought, that he refers a very fast 10 miles in his book.
If he trained for, and raced 10 miles, 50 minutes would have been a realistic and impressive time for him.
Cause he could run 46? He was a 400-800 guy who had a good range. The 3k was likely just a step too far and he did not have the strength for a great one(especially compared to his 800).
He also ran a 1500m or mile against John Walker and David Moorcroft just after the Montreal Olympics, and gave both a really good fright. He was way out in front but just didn't have the strength to hang on. John Walker said that after that race he knew Coe would be special if he worked on his strength. The 1976 Olympics came a few months too soon for him.
Coe intended to move up to the 5000m after LA and trained for it over the 84/85 winter. His father said he was in incredible shape and expected him to smash WRs, but then he started having problems with his back and abandonded the idea of moving up.
“His father said he was in incredible shape and expected him to smash WRs…”
I can’t think of a more worthless source than what someone’s dad said.
Not when his father is also his coach, moran. Cant you read who the thread is about?
I think there's also 2 modern advantages that would have helped Coe at longer distances.
1. Supershoes, which I think especially help bigger runners and more speed based athletes complete more volume in training without getting injured.
2. The popularity of threshold training. Again, another way to get higher aerobic volume done in workouts without breaking down your body.
But as other posters have said, I think the main X factor is he absolutely loved the 800, liked the 1500, and wasn't very excited about anything longer. Couldn't summon the same passion for those events and sometimes that's just the way it is. Centro didn't like the 5k either and chose to retire once he couldn't hack it at the 1500 anymore, despite running 13:01.
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