Why are elites never tired at the end of a race?

Some elites, when finishing, are running hard but not all out to cross the finish line.

In contrast, when some of these guys are in an all out sprint to finish they do keel over. I think back to the last couple Boston Marathons - Moses Mosop last year keeled over and was puking just after he finished in 2nd. A couple years ago when the women started off and ran 20 miles at a pedestrian pace, the last 10K turned into an all out sprint. One of the Ethiopian women was so tired she collapsed and spent the night in the hospital.

High schoolers are often undertrained or lack the complete fitness. The professionals have the fitness, it's just a question of how hard they're kicking at the end and whether they didn't over-exert themselves early.

When I'm in great 5k/10k shape (~5-5:15 pace), I've finished with PRs and felt pretty solid as soon as it was over. Then the next race if I wanted to shatter the new PR and I overdo it early, I'd barely be able to finish.

On a related note, I've always wondered, and found amusing, why when sprinters are interviewed after running for all of 9-10 secs for the 100m, or 19-10 secs for the 200m are so out of breath for running such a short period of time, when the guy that's won the 5000m, kicking home in 52-53 secs seems to be able to talk just fine.

how can you be THAT out of breath for only running for <= 10 seconds?!?

It's also worth mentioning Yuki Kawauchi, who seemingly needs to be wheeled into the medical tent after every marathon. However, he's an 'amateur' insofar as he works a full-time job and trains himself, so he might be the exception who proves the rule.

I'd be interested in hearing from Ross or Jonathan from the Science of Sport site on this.

I would imagine they (or Noakes) have debated this in relation to their Central Governor research. I would anticipate that elites have a very finely tuned regulation of their central nervous, respiratory, cardiovascular, and energy systems that enables them to push efficiently at the "red line" pace for the given distance on that given day, under the particular conditions, etc. In this way, they maximize their oxygen uptake, energy metabolism, bi-product removal, heat regulation, etc., and performance over the entire distance of the given event, and can return to relative normality upon cessation of the work output. Non- and or sub-elite have not achieved this specific level of mastery of work ouput via training and racing, don't get the timing right, and suffer the consequences.

Now I know many of you don't watch the Cambridge vs Oxford boat race in London every spring but its a big event and broadcast live on TV in the UK.

Every year you see the same reaction at the finish. The winning crew is waving their arms around excitedly and pumping their fist in the air, while the losing crew is slumped over their oars, exhausted.

And how many of you have felt exhausted after a hard tempo run but then felt comfortable running a 10-15 seconds a mile faster in a race?

It has to be something to do with chemicals in the brain.

Wanna see a tired elite? Watch Usain Bolt after trying to beat the 300m WR by Michael Johnson^^

I find this also a bit odd with the sprinters, they are breathing heavy minutes after there 100m, but then again, they are not jogging to much in training...Like in football some need an oxygen mask after a touchdown.

Have you not seen Dathan at the end of a race?

Ritz? No, you must mean someone else, he looks fine in these pictures:

http://www.dyestat.com/rivals/7938778.html

http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Dathan+Ritzenhein/T+USA+Outdoor+Track+Field+Championships+Day/jkCcIA3Ex4O

I'm sure there are quite a few examples of top finishers that collapse or simply can't stand at the end of the race.

Chicago 2007 - Berhane Adere is standing for about 10 seconds after the marathon finish, but can't stay on her feet much longer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ulua1gT_WMc

Dire Tune collapsed at the end of Boston 2009 and was taken to hospital.

On the men's side, I'm still trying to think of some good examples that haven't been mentioned - Rod Dixon had plenty of energy left at the end of NYC 1983, but Geoff Smith collapsed - perhaps more due to his hamstrings, rather than exhaustion.

Think about the aerobic development on the other end of the spectrum. As a runner, you could probably sprint up 4+ flights of stairs and with a couple of good breaths after be good as new. Average Joe Fatty would be panting in a sweaty heap by the second flight. Conditioning!

imarunr wrote:

On a related note, I've always wondered, and found amusing, why when sprinters are interviewed after running for all of 9-10 secs for the 100m, or 19-10 secs for the 200m are so out of breath for running such a short period of time, when the guy that's won the 5000m, kicking home in 52-53 secs seems to be able to talk just fine.

how can you be THAT out of breath for only running for <= 10 seconds?!?

Have you ever raced a 100? I ran it a time or two in high school, just for sh*ts and giggles, and I was stunned to find that I couldn't catch my breath for several minutes afterward. It was very strange - it didn't hurt or anything, I just could not take in enough air. I don't know the physiological explanation for this though, sorry :)

Indeed, it has to do with a part of the brain called the insula. Very important in the integration of autonomic efferents, perception of pain, and subjective expererience in general.

imarunr wrote:

how can you be THAT out of breath for only running for <= 10 seconds?!?

Can you imagine running 100m in 9.XX seconds? Do you know how much energy output that takes?

Elite levels are all about gauging efforts. When to kick, when to sit. They are constantly in touch with how the feel and what it'll take to achieve their goals. I think an inexperienced runner just doesn't have that same composure.

Back when the running boom was new, it was a common comment that Joe Sixpack staggered across the marathon line, collapsed, asked for Medic/the Last rights etc. etc. BUT a couple of days later was just fine. In contrast, the winner breezed across the finish line running easily but got up the next day and could barely walk for a week. Training allows you to go faster, but also push yourself harder in the race without seeming to.

Yes, there's exceptions (e.g. Hi school/college girls and AlSal love collapsing in a heap) but those are mostly drama.

it seems like you aren't looking at every angle with this. (didn't read the whole thread just the op) watch different races when individuals finish in different places. If you watch different races you'll see bekele (both brothers), rupp, solinski, farah, eliud kipchoge these runners are undoubtedly in the elite class and when they win they have this "not fatigued" look about them, but watch other races where they did not win or even crack top 5.... you'll see them in the camera background hands on knees sucking air.

In X-country skiing they often drop like flies after crossing the finish line.

It has a lot more tempo changes and hills than running though, so the athletes are going more into the red zone.

I'm guessing they stay aerobic most of the time in distance running.

Yuki Kawauchi.

I believe it comes down to being in great shape which gives you the confidence and ability to run fast in a relaxed fashion.

I was never an elite runner but in high school I had an 800 meter personal best of 1:56.3 and I remember that the race where I pr'd felt so comfortable and easy.

At the end of the race I was not tired at all and kicked myself for not either running my first lap faster or kicking earlier.

I also remember that in the previous week of practice I was hitting my interval times with great ease. Practice that week was a mix of 300's and short distance runs (3-5 miles). The 300's were anywhere from 41-43 seconds and the distance runs were whatever pace was comfortable. I was not a cross country/track guy and I bet my pace on the runs was about 7-7:30 minutes per mile.

We were also on spring break and all of my practices were run alone with no coach. I guess everything just lined up for me to pr on that day.