Distance runners with sub-50 400m speed?

1) I'm not saying that they did, but it's largely speculative unless a coach or El Guerrouj says in a publication, "I/he ran 1:42.70 in practice, FAT."

2) And yet Lagat has never broken 1:46. We're all sure he could, but he hasn't yet.

3) But Webb isn't running 12:50 for 5000m, either. El Guerrouj could be a 1:43.5 guy on his best day ever, but because he's a 12:50 guy (and surely sub12:50 guy) that would yield a much better 1500m than Webb's.

4) I saw it

6) Don't doubt it

7) I've seen it

8) Lagat also averaged inside 55sec a lap and yet he's never broken 1:46.

Again, I'm not saying he didn't do it or couldn't have done it, just that I'll be more inclined to believe it when I see a result or a statement from his coach or the man himself that says as much.

XY wrote:

Running is accepted in Kenya?ethiopia because they are so good at it and they are relatively poor.

There are many other places in the world at altitude, and if inhabitants of those other places were successful as the Rift Valley, you can be sure it would be an acceptable career there also. But there not

By the way, health care, nutrition, life expectancy are not great in the Rift valley, so your mythical Sangri La of running does apply.

It's strange France must have the same "nurturing" environment as the Rift Valley, ....oh wait those world class Frenchmen are all of African decent.

Why does the rest of the world only nuture sprinters of West African decnt, ..sounds unfair to me.

Stupid comparison, French people don't live at altitude and distance running is a minority sport there.

Athens, 2004 Olympic 1500m- last 800m just under 1:46, last 400m 51H

In fact, the difference between a relay leg in the 4x400 and the open 400 is probably a second at the most, probably more like .6 to .8.

SFTrackFan wrote:

In fact, the difference between a relay leg in the 4x400 and the open 400 is probably a second at the most, probably more like .6 to .8.

Who is Joe M? Did you respond to someone from 11 years ago? Joe M could be dead or institutionalized now.

For 200m & 400m athletes, the difference between 4 x 400m split and F.A.T. 400m, starting from blocks may be one second or less. For 800m & 1500m athletes who never or rarely sprint from blocks and who never or rarely train as a sprinter, will race a 400m split, 2nd, 3rd or 4th leg, one to two seconds faster than a 800m &/or 1500m athlete will race 400m from blocks. Gals/guys who never work on their start, will be awful starting from blocks and 1st 30m of 400m dash.

Runningart2004 wrote:

If a runner has sub 50 400m speed in high school they will run the 400m...maybe the 800m

I don't care if you are a Kenyan or a Russian...if you are sub 50 in high school you are running no longer than 800m

You can't turn a sprinter into a distance runner and vice versa.

Alan

That isn't even close to being true. Even in my own coaching experience I had a kid win the state championship in XC and run sub-50. He couldn't place in the 100 or 200 in any decent invitational, so I wouldn't classify him as a sprinter. He pretty much focused on the 800 in college.

Another Option wrote:

Runningart2004 wrote:

If a runner has sub 50 400m speed in high school they will run the 400m...maybe the 800m

I don't care if you are a Kenyan or a Russian...if you are sub 50 in high school you are running no longer than 800m

You can't turn a sprinter into a distance runner and vice versa.

Alan

That isn't even close to being true. Even in my own coaching experience I had a kid win the state championship in XC and run sub-50. He couldn't place in the 100 or 200 in any decent invitational, so I wouldn't classify him as a sprinter. He pretty much focused on the 800 in college.

This Alan guy never knew what he was talking about.

Speth

Bolt Should move to the Marathon, he should easily be under 2 hours with his top speed....

Thinking high top speed is an advantage for long distances is a non sense.

Diagana : 47.37 400h guy. 2h55 best marathon with serious training and at least 7 attempts.

not reading through entire thread but sean mcgorty had sub 50 400 speed in a 4x4