Why Kenyans keep winning marathons and long distance races

"In addition, whilst Kenyan and Ethiopian endurance runners are highly successful (Wilber and Pitsiladis, 2012), the frequency of the XX genotype within this group is very low at 8% (Ethiopian) and 1% (Kenyan) (Yang et al., 2007). As such, the general consensus is that ACTN3 X allele likely does not modify elite endurance athlete status "

Please read the articles you cite.

Ferdinand Ominyala is an example of a Kenyan who most likely has ACTN3.

Most of the population of Kenya including all elite track athletes 800m and up do not.

Were Wilber and Pitsiladis aware that Ethiopia and Kenya have had a rampant unchecked doping culture since the late 80's, and that at the time of their study, a cheap endurance drug was on sale over the counter in every Kenyan and Ethiopian pharmacy that improves elite 5K times between 20 - 30 seconds?

Remember when it was about increased cadence? When it was not about the bike? What we know:

Genetics could play a part. As may desire. As may diet.

2 countries pretty much dominate long distance running.

There have been a lot of drug busts of the athletes of one of those countries - not all lower tier runners either.

In those countries where busts are regular, there is usually a European coach or manager involved - and usually they are surprised/dismayed that the athlete, when caught chose to do the 'wrong thing'.

Lots of athletes are running incredible times at an older age.

Lots of athletes appear to 'come from nowhere'.

Doped Kenyans > doped Americans

The best explanation is that they are not. Bikila's fastest marathon is 2:12:11.2.

Further explanation is that even by 1960's world standards, Bikila's best marathon times are slow:

2:15:16.2 Abebe Bikila Ethiopia September 10, 1960 Rome, Italy
2:15:15.8 Toru Terasawa Japan February 17, 1963 Beppu-Ōita Marathon
2:14:28 Leonard Edelen United States June 15, 1963 Polytechnic Marathon
2:14:43 Brian Kilby United Kingdom July 6, 1963 Port Talbot, Wales
2:13:55 Basil Heatley United Kingdom June 13, 1964 Polytechnic Marathon
2:12:11.2 Abebe Bikila Ethiopia October 21, 1964 Tokyo, Japan
2:12:00 Morio Shigematsu Japan June 12, 1965 Polytechnic Marathon
2:09:36.4 Derek Clayton Australia December 3, 1967 Fukuoka Marathon
2:08:33.6 Derek Clayton Australia May 30, 1969 Antwerp, Belgium

All Bikila really proves is how antiquated and out of touch with reality your understanding of marathon performance is, for thinking that performances from 60 years ago would even be relevant in any discussion about performance today.

I think Wilber and Pitsiladis were not aware of something you just made up.

1) They train at altitude from the age of 1

2) They train on roads that prevent injuries

3) They aren’t afraid to run a 25 mile run the week before a major marathon. They also train at race pace and hit hard workouts a lot more. 10 miles at marathon pace is laughable for them.

4) every single Kenyan runs. The chance of picking out good talent is much easier. The amount of wasted American talent because people are focused on video games or social media is ridiculous.

5) Their calf dimensions and body structure is literally made for running as a result of thousands of years of running. Americans are designed obese.

6) Their diet is nothing but natural foods.

7) They don’t put certain mileages on their welds. They run how they feel and don’t obsess over mileage or heart rate or Jack Daniel’s pace. They don’t do 20 minute tempo runs. How could you not do well?

8) They double nearly everyday. Americans somehow think singles are better than doubles… delusional

9) it’s their only focus. Career doesn’t come first.

10) They’re mentally tough. They don’t just run the last few miles of a long run hard. Their whole long run is hard.

11) They build their ‘mileage’ over years and years (while listening to their body) slowly squeezing the adaptations out of every single increment.

12) They don’t run big warmups and cooldowns for the sake of it. They focus on the workout at hand.

13) They run tough workouts almost year round. They don’t ever just run easy mileage unless they’re in a 2 or 3 week buildup.

14) They’re used to running hard without fuel. Their body has adapted and doesn’t become useless the second they’re missing a gel.

15) They don’t worry about percentages. 80/20 rules, 25% of weekly mileage is a long run, 10% mileage increases. In fact they’d probably laugh at that.

16) They race much more.

17) They run real long runs (25-28 miles) because they know an 18-22 miler isn’t sufficient.

18) They run fartleks which let them know listen to their body and understand pace. Americans in a race forget that the race isn’t 10x a mile and end up confused when they actually have to run 26.2 miles straight. Running for time instead of km also helps them listen to their body.

19) They work as a team. They help their brothers instead of competing against them.

20) They don’t just run the bare minimum to get them through. They properly prepare for a race.

21) They don’t have coaches who make up workouts on the spot just so sound like they understand what they’re doing and don’t lose their jobs.

22) I could go on all day …you get the point ….

Ah, the famous Abedi Bikklia.

One of the all-time greats. Like Juan Torena and some more.

But I agree Bikklia's performances are not worth what they look, because he trained hard.

I didn't say genetics play no part in sports. What I am saying is that they cannot be properly estimated when doping is present. What may be attributed to "superior genetics" may also be the result of doping.

Bikila's competitors all wore shoes. Today's women are faster. He also wore shoes in '64 and women are closing in on that time. So it is just modern shoes that enable women today to run as fast as one of the great marathon champions? What was he wearing - gumboots?

He ran till his late 20's, he hydrated in races, ate the same food available to athletes today and trained intensively in the Ethiopian hills outside Addis Ababa. He was a monstrous talent. No one suggests he hadn't peaked. At Tokyo he finished 3 minutes ahead of the second place getter. His competitors were also 100-150mpw trained athletes. The best men in the world. Women today are almost as fast. There is only one way they can do that.

I don't believe Bikila doped. Blood doping hadn't entered the sport in the early 60's. His performances were comparable to the very best Lydiard-trained athletes. If he had doped he would have likely been a 2.05 runner.

Women are running faster than Bikila did in Rome. They are approaching his best time at Tokyo - they are only 2 minutes away. He was an endurance-trained athlete of exceptional talent. So how is it they are approaching his best? There is a limit on the weekly mileage that works for top runners - they won't be putting in more distance than he did. There is only one thing that would enable them to draw level.

Since you don't say "we" it is apparent you aren't talking from personal experience but from a mythology that has been created about these athletes.

Wrong. But we know that, according to you, training methods reached their peak with Lydiard and from your next post, Lydiard athletes' times are enough evidence Bikila didn't dope because he wasn't much superior.

Anyone much faster than the athletes coached by the ubercoach has to be a doper, according to you.

The only thing that emerges from these threads is the resolute refusal by running fans to accept the obvious, that doping is an inextricable factor in modern elite sports performance - and in some sports and countries it is the norm.

No, I don't say that, but I guess you aren't intellectually equipped to actually follow the arguments.

I’m not American….

Just as much in Americans as Kenyans. Kenyans are still on top.