I'm sorry, but you are incorrect. If you knew running history, you would know there's been several greats who could just barely crack 60. Lindrun could run only 56 but ran a 4 flat mile indoors. David Bedford couldn't crack 60 but still ran 13:20 something.
4:20 and 14:30 are not especially fast. A 4:20 mile is only 65 seconds per quarter. That's nothing for an aerobic monster, even one with slow sprint speed.
A couple more examples. Shorter never came close to a 4 minute mile. I don't even think he broke 4:10 but he ran 13:23 for 5k. Brent Vaughn at CU could barely run a 56 400, but he ran 13:15 out kicking Lagat! And Vaughn's PR at 1500 was only 3:45 from that same year!
Strength>speed my son.
Good post and I agree. However, I’m pretty sure Shorter ran closer to a 4:01 mile. Don’t quote me on that, but I think it was around there. You might be thinking of Bill Rodgers, who, if he broke 4:10 ever, it was just barely.
Thank you for agreeing with me. There's a lot misunderstandings on this board about the connection between speed and endurance. It seems several are not too acquaited with running history. So many make assumptions and place limits on themselves due to bad information. With better information a lot more people would believe they could run those kind of times. Not that it's easy by any means, but still.
I didn't know Shorter ran 4:01 but that's not too surprising since his PR for two miles is listed at 8:26. He doesn't have a mile PR listed anywhere, so he may have run 4:01 in a time trial. And I did know that about Rogers. He ran 13:40 for 5k yet still was just over 28 minutes for 10k. An aerobic beast if there ever was one.
Shorter is living proof that high volume works. In one of the AAU two mile meets, the announcer says that Shorter had just last season only run like 9:40 for two miles! He started to train seriously, and just one season later and he's almost breaking 9. That was fast back then, even for a collegiate. Shorter was still at Florida. My memory is a little hazy but I think Pre, Lindrun, and maybe Liquori were in that same race. Pre and Lindrun broke away. I'll have to rewatch the video. Haven't seen it in ages.
Good post and I agree. However, I’m pretty sure Shorter ran closer to a 4:01 mile. Don’t quote me on that, but I think it was around there. You might be thinking of Bill Rodgers, who, if he broke 4:10 ever, it was just barely.
Thank you for agreeing with me. There's a lot misunderstandings on this board about the connection between speed and endurance. It seems several are not too acquaited with running history. So many make assumptions and place limits on themselves due to bad information. With better information a lot more people would believe they could run those kind of times. Not that it's easy by any means, but still.
I didn't know Shorter ran 4:01 but that's not too surprising since his PR for two miles is listed at 8:26. He doesn't have a mile PR listed anywhere, so he may have run 4:01 in a time trial. And I did know that about Rogers. He ran 13:40 for 5k yet still was just over 28 minutes for 10k. An aerobic beast if there ever was one.
Shorter is living proof that high volume works. In one of the AAU two mile meets, the announcer says that Shorter had just last season only run like 9:40 for two miles! He started to train seriously, and just one season later and he's almost breaking 9. That was fast back then, even for a collegiate. Shorter was still at Florida. My memory is a little hazy but I think Pre, Lindrun, and maybe Liquori were in that same race. Pre and Lindrun broke away. I'll have to rewatch the video. Haven't seen it in ages.
4:02 according this bio. Rodgers is listed as having a 4:18 mile PR. I’m sure, as a 13:42 guy, he could’ve gone faster, but not under 4:10, reinforcing your point.
However, today’s athlete would also be well advised to work on top end speed too, because it is possible to improve it, even if just a little. But running more miles can really make a runner…
He went from good to crazy good. He’s pushing hard for 1 hour straight and not getting tired. Closing miles 17-22 like he’s just starting a tempo. Nuts.
Disobeyed the coach? What the coach is gonna do about it with his results? Belt him? Spank him?
You my friend, why be jealous? Can you sustain the same level or at least 80-90mpw? You won't know unless you try. Be your own lab rat. Good luck!
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