How in the hell did Paula Radcliffe run 2:15:25 for the marathon?

By any statistical or mathematical analysis, Paula's 2:15:25 is off-the-charts crazy. That includes internal analysis, that is, comparing her marathon to her other performances.

There are only two possible conclusions:

1) She is, by a wide margin, the greatest marathoner of all time.

2) She was using some sort of performance enhancer.

Not everyone here doesn't remember you. I am an old timer who shifted my training to a your more relaxed approach outlined by Runners World back in the early 1970's. I ran most of my PR's that way. I ran miles but learned that I could race myself in to shape and not beat myself up with speed work. I think your training group was the Palos Verdes Breakfast group but apologies if I am wrong.

2:15 or Busted wrote:

By any statistical or mathematical analysis, Paula's 2:15:25 is off-the-charts crazy. That includes internal analysis, that is, comparing her marathon to her other performances.

This is exactly what is so mind-boggling about this record. There are a few folks who've "approached" every other world record on the books, including those who have tested positive for PED's. The most amazing element about this record is that no other woman has ever even threatened her time. The closest is nearly 4 minutes slower. There has been countless threads on which record is most impressive and/or will last the longest (Komen's 7:20 3k, El G's 3:26). Without a doubt (and according to some calculations provided on this thread) Paula's is strongest and will last the longest.

But how many other women got the chance to have male pacers? Her women only time is like 2:17.45. I think that womens marathon is just not very mature sport and some more developments can reach that level. (Think how fast men have come.) There are like a dozen women within a minute of that time. When a hundred break 2:19 there will be more Paula times.

piedmontcat wrote:

Without a doubt (and according to some calculations provided on this thread) Paula's is strongest and will last the longest.

Paula will long be forgotten when Marita Kochs 400 is still the WR.

statico wrote:

But how many other women got the chance to have male pacers?

Well for starters, how about every other woman who was in the race with her, including N'Dereba, Drossin, Chepkemei, Petrova, etc.

Those pacers are no use if they cant keep up with them.

How many of the top 10 womens times had male pacers for them.

I was wrong about the times though they are like 1:30-2:00 minutes away from Paula's women only time.

There is not much depth there, though, I think.

How in the hell did Paula Radcliffe run 2:15:25 for the marathon?

Easy Answer: ALTITUDE TENT, ie, rAIR, ie, synthetic air.

She's been doing this for many, many years. For SOME people, it is indeed like taking EPO (not everyone gets the same benefits).

Look at Ritz for crissakes?? Several months of sucking in the fake air, and he is pumping out a 12:56 ! 12:56 for ritz?!? c'mon.

The tent was her secret weapon. Without, she would have never broke 2:19.

Rush OBeckity wrote:

How in the hell did Paula Radcliffe run 2:15:25 for the marathon?

Easy Answer: ALTITUDE TENT, ie, rAIR, ie, synthetic air.

She's been doing this for many, many years. For SOME people, it is indeed like taking EPO (not everyone gets the same benefits).

Look at Ritz for crissakes?? Several months of sucking in the fake air, and he is pumping out a 12:56 ! 12:56 for ritz?!? c'mon.

The tent was her secret weapon. Without, she would have never broke 2:19.

So why don't we see sub-elites living in flagstaff or boulder dropping 13:20s all the time?

If you seriously think that altitude tents are the only reason that Ritz ran 12:56, you're out of your damn mind.

Ritz had several years of base and high end aerobic training under his belt. Alberto got him on the track and sharpened him up and he made use of it. Ritz also had the wheels to run 8:11 for 2 miles a couple of years back, so its not like the 12:56 was completely out of nowhere.

Bruce Fordyce wrote:

So why don't we see sub-elites living in flagstaff or boulder dropping 13:20s all the time?

You may have a misperception about so-called "altitutde tents." They do not replicate conditions at moderate or high altitude. Rather, they permit an athlete to breathe a nitrogen-rich and oxygen-reduced gas at sea-level atmospheric pressure, with a very substantially reduced partial pressure of oxygen, to stimulate the production of EPO. As a matter of both chemistry and physiology, it's very different from living in Flagstaff, Boulder, or anywhere else on the planet.

Do your long runs and you´ll be fine lika Paula was

statico wrote:

Those pacers are no use if they cant keep up with them.

My point exactly. They can't keep up with them.

statico wrote:

Those pacers are no use if they cant keep up with them.

LOL! Touche!