does the workout that brenda martinez posted on her twitter seem shady?

Rolling start, also drafting off of a guy, which partly explains the difference to races. Only at champs and some DL, does Brenda get guys to draft off, but they aren't trying.

I find neither workout to be laughable. Both are clearly maximal workout, but may be within the realm.

In 1979, I was a 1:58, 3:54, 15:30 guy (at age 18). Right around Brenda's times (except for the 1500).

I could have run those workout (with enough rest), but they would have been race like efforts.

I once did 5x400 with 5 minute at 55, 55, 55, 57. Followed by 12x200 at 28 (maybe getting more like 30 the last few). I'm pretty sure I could have done 3 all out 400's, followed by a 300. As long as I had 5 minutes.

Repeats are easy for a miler. 4xmile at 5:00 is not that hard if you can run a 4:20is or better mile. Especially with a 3-5 minute rest. Then with a 10-15 minute rest, I could see running a 5k (on the road) close to my race pace. Especially as I was not (nor is Brenda) a 5k runner - meaning our PR may not be representative on what we could do on the right day. I'm pretty sure I could have run about 15:00 on the right day (as I ran 14:30 a few years later when I was a 3:50 guy), and I'm pretty sure Brenda could be close to that as well.

Would those be every week workouts? Heck no, but one the right day and with the intention of be max efforts, they are doable for Brenda (IMO....and as long as she is capable of running around 52 low to mid for 400).

...and this is why we have races. Anyone can claim anything on social media for workouts. The proof is head-to-head competition.

Runners are also some of the biggest liars/embellishers out there. We've all known people who claim epic workout times that can't put it together on race day. We've all know folks that claim to be in world beating shape only to run a lousy race and then use the old, "I was just training through this one." or the time honored "That wasn't my peak effort since I logged 1XX miles this week."

We'll see how BMart does in a race. She'll run up to expectations...or not.

doesn't look that crazy to me wrote:

COACH J.S å ä ö wrote:

It is really a crazy workout with no purpose. I doubt a coach like Joe Vigil set up something like that. ;)

The purpose is actually quite obvious.

Do you even race the 800?

woooooooshhhhhhh

There are workout kings (and queens) and there are racers.

BMart's WC Silver medal should be enough that, even if she is a work out queen, she has earned more bragging rights than pretty much everyone posting on this message board.

Even if she has never achieved anything close to that again (and it's hard running against men).

brenda works too hard wrote:

she has a history of doing big workouts and not coming through in the end (see late winter/early spring tempos...)

ote]

She made the FUKKIING Olympic team!!! I don't know about your history, but this post shows your current status is an idiot.

From left field.... wrote:

brenda works too hard wrote:

she has a history of doing big workouts and not coming through in the end (see late winter/early spring tempos...)

ote]

She made the FUKKIING Olympic team!!! I don't know about your history, but this post shows your current status is an idiot.

You can't just say she made the Olympic team as a defense. She isn't immune to criticism. She was talented enough to make the Rio final

You're missing the point. If she is running these times then she should be faster than 1:58. Maybe (hopefully) she is. We will soon find out.

hmmmmsketch wrote:

First 400 in 52.89, second in 53.95, 3rd in 57.23 plus a 41.23 300

Im dont have a great understanding of whats good in womens workouts, but doesnt this one seem pretty rediculous for someone whos only ran a 1:58.5 this year?? Like for example allyson felix just ran 49.66 for a world lead, and brendas first rep was only 3.23 seconds behind that, the world lead for the men rn is 43.6 , so thats like a dude blasting a 46.8 on the first rep, then coming back with a 47 high then a 50.xx before finishing with a 36 second 300, which is a pretty insane workout. You guys think she really ran it??

I ran a bit quicker for 800m, and would do 4x800m in 57/58 with two laps jog recovery or 4x300 in 39-41 with 300m walk back recovery, but couldn't get near that session.

Looks to me like the idea of the first two was to run the third and fourth in a state nearer the second lap of an 800m - with a fairly high lactate content, but the fourth was going to be too much of a struggle so was cut to a 300m.

I would have thought that someone with that much speed, along with the over distance performances that Brenda Martinez has, could go out in 56+ and close in 59+/- for 1:55 or 1:56.xx

Like wtf wrote:

Seriously, even when I was in 49/1:54 shape I couldn't imagine doing this workout without big-time rest. That rest must have been like 10 minutes between 400's. She might just be really aerobically fit, and if this workout is real, then I'd expect her to be in medal contention.

That's probably the rest she was taking. This was not a Vo2 max workout. Sharpening. I have no problem with B-mart doing this. Especially for someone with endurance training. Her pr is 51.0. Just a balls to the wall workout.

Can I state you are a male? [If not, you are Ana Quirot or Olga Mineyeva. They are the only two women who have 400/800 PB near 49/1:54.] It's not fair to compare male to female athletes based on a male's workout history. Often, elite women 800m athletes race closer to their 200m PB than (can I assume a solid high school &/or college) male athletes.

A link to the past wrote:

Like wtf wrote:

Seriously, even when I was in 49/1:54 shape I couldn't imagine doing this workout without big-time rest. That rest must have been like 10 minutes between 400's. She might just be really aerobically fit, and if this workout is real, then I'd expect her to be in medal contention.

That's probably the rest she was taking. This was not a Vo2 max workout. Sharpening. I have no problem with B-mart doing this. Especially for someone with endurance training. Her pr is 51.0. Just a balls to the wall workout.

If you don't mind my asking, where did you find out her 400m best is 51.0? I find that astounding. Do you have a source for that besides Brenda's own word?

getaclue wrote:

From left field.... wrote:

She made the FUKKIING Olympic team!!! I don't know about your history, but this post shows your current status is an idiot.

You can't just say she made the Olympic team as a defense. She isn't immune to criticism. She was talented enough to make the Rio final

Some dubmass said she doesn't come through in the end. I said making an Olympic team IS coming through in the end. I'll stand by my opinion.

No way Brenda can break 52.5 for an open 400. Alysia Montano hasn't broken 52 and she is much faster over 400.

curioussss wrote:

A link to the past wrote:

That's probably the rest she was taking. This was not a Vo2 max workout. Sharpening. I have no problem with B-mart doing this. Especially for someone with endurance training. Her pr is 51.0. Just a balls to the wall workout.

If you don't mind my asking, where did you find out her 400m best is 51.0? I find that astounding. Do you have a source for that besides Brenda's own word?

The late Pat Porter was also coached by Joe Vigil. Pat was profiled in at least one publication in which he talked about doing mile repeats in a park in Alamosa, elevation 8,000+ ft, at least one of which was under 4:00. "I saw God," he said in the interview. Pat's mile PR was not that fast, if I remember correctly. Similar circumstances to this situation

True or not, Pat believed it, and the confidence it gave him certainly made him a better competitor.

So, if B-Mart believes it and it makes her better, more power to her. And more power to Coach Vigil for engendering such faith in him by his runners

I have done this workout many times as a sub 2 masters runner. For a runner at her level I would want her to run cut downs with 5 to 7 minute rest.

A great workout would be 60, 58, 56, This is a goal pace 800m runners workout. 3 X 400 is great with 3X 200 to finish.

hmmmmsketch wrote:

First 400 in 52.89, second in 53.95, 3rd in 57.23 plus a 41.23 300

Im dont have a great understanding of whats good in womens workouts, but doesnt this one seem pretty rediculous for someone whos only ran a 1:58.5 this year?? Like for example allyson felix just ran 49.66 for a world lead, and brendas first rep was only 3.23 seconds behind that, the world lead for the men rn is 43.6 , so thats like a dude blasting a 46.8 on the first rep, then coming back with a 47 high then a 50.xx before finishing with a 36 second 300, which is a pretty insane workout. You guys think she really ran it??

No this is fake. Brenda is now fake news, unfortunately (because she is gorgeous).

800 is a positive split race. Practicing negative splits may be good for the mile but giving away time in the 800.

Run Around wrote:

I have done this workout many times as a sub 2 masters runner. For a runner at her level I would want her to run cut downs with 5 to 7 minute rest.

A great workout would be 60, 58, 56, This is a goal pace 800m runners workout. 3 X 400 is great with 3X 200 to finish.

ironside wrote:

If you raced 1:52 800m, then you are a male. Elite women 800m runners in 1:56 to 1:59 800m range can race closer to their 200m speed than can a high school or NCAA D3 male 1:56 to 1:59 800m athlete. Your comparison is largely irrelevant.

Where did you pull this gem from? Lol