The first study to examine the effects of exercise on fiber type plasticity in human skeletal muscle was done by Gollnick et al. (18) using myosin ATPase staining. Six untrained participants exercised 1 hour per day, 4 days per week, for 5 months, at 85-90% of VO2max.
Results found no significant difference in pre to post test measurements (32% slow twitch, to 36% slow twitch post).
Kabayo wrote:
Lickety Split wrote:- I accept your premise; however, realize that you most likely don't have access to Jeremy Wariner's muscle fiber results? Furthermore, is your opinion too binary ... obviously as reflected in this post, many others have succeeded in the transition.
- That said, I posit that a Jeremy Wariner 1:53 800m with minimal training at the beginning of the track season indicates that HE COULD significantly improve in either the 800m or 400 IH. Perhaps he's at the age where enough fast twitch fibers have transitioned .... he's certainly not getting any faster at either the 200m or 400m.
- Thoughts?
A 43s 400m runner should be able to jog a 1.49 anytime of the week. Simple as that. I take it a step further and say that even 45s guys should be able to do that, Funny thing is: the 43s 400 guy won't outrun a 45s 400 guy in an 800 just like that. They both run out of gas after 500-550m and the 43s guy will struggle more in the latter 300-250, simply because of the presence of more fast twitch fibers and the faster depletion of oxygen/ATP in the musce and production of lactic acid.
Your argument of 'minimal training' doesn't hold up, since athletes who train for a 400 are best conditioned to run a fast 800 at the beginning of the season, right after they finish their winter training. Muscles are more used to overdistance at that point, which gets lesser and lesser after the speed component comes into play.
However: to go from 1.49 to be a contendor on the world stage is something different.
Wariner is a perfect example of a guy with a very fast working neuro system: his body is perfectly suited for a 400. Fast twitch, not a lot of muscle mass to haul around and a relative high V02max FOR A SPRINTER.
Was never ever going to be world class in the 800. Club/college/regional level, at best. 1.53 is an indication of Wariner being at the end of his carreer, something that reflects in his 45.88 quilifying time when running eyeballs out. Body just can't do what it used to do. Going of that 1.53 we can say he outperformed himself in the 400 this year: something that is an extra argument to prove that the man is a 400 guy.
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- Makes sense, thanks
- 1:49 does seem like a stretch for a normal 45-second guy