Gladwell beats Chavez over mile

M1991 wrote:

Results:

Malcoml Gladwell (57yrs) - 5:15.38

Chris Chavez (27yrs) - 5:23.36

Probs to Gladwell but I cannot stop wondering how much untalented a young male must be not to break 5 minute/mile after a couple year of training?

I mean Chavez is doing a good and sometimes great journalism but him presenting and writing about his own running is embarrassing.

Chavez didn't get to warm up properly because he was doing last-minute production stuff. It's not close to his PR. But I still think Malcolm would have won regardless. You underestimate your own talent. A lot of people can't break 5 minutes, even when young. I know middle-aged guys who can't break 8 and they run all the time. I knew Malcolm was going to win even though he's 30 years older cause at one time in his life that pace was no biggie for him.

evergreen wrote:

M1991 wrote:

Results:

Malcoml Gladwell (57yrs) - 5:15.38

Chris Chavez (27yrs) - 5:23.36

Probs to Gladwell but I cannot stop wondering how much untalented a young male must be not to break 5 minute/mile after a couple year of training?

I mean Chavez is doing a good and sometimes great journalism but him presenting and writing about his own running is embarrassing.

Chavez didn't get to warm up properly because he was doing last-minute production stuff. It's not close to his PR. But I still think Malcolm would have won regardless. You underestimate your own talent. A lot of people can't break 5 minutes, even when young. I know middle-aged guys who can't break 8 and they run all the time. I knew Malcolm was going to win even though he's 30 years older cause at one time in his life that pace was no biggie for him.

Warmup or not, it’s a 5:23...

5:23 probably beats Rojo, who's only 47.

If you think lesser talent is embarrassing, then you really don’t understand what running is about.

Agreed on the slow time. I get if you’re running and this is all you have but to make a spectacle of it and bring this to the table is weak. Kids been banging out track workouts and running but is still super soft like he plays video games and drinks Mountain Dew code red all day. It’s probably better for his social media draw if he’s terrible than if he’s good tho since his fans can always wonder if he’s gonna do it. He also had the aid of super spikes.

Chavez is good for the sport. I dont care if he is fast or not.

Only 10% of fully trained high school runners break 5.

BGDSM wrote:

Chavez is good for the sport. I dont care if he is fast or not.

I won't disagree. Maybe the smarmy schtick is an act intended to polarize, but I'm no fan.

He looks like Leonard Lawrence in Full Metal Jacket, appears he's done no specific training. My school had walk-ons who looked way more fit than this guy, I can't believe he did any specific training.

Yeah, I admire the hell outta the guy as a journalist, but he has a contact list full of athletes that could give him a 10-week to sub-5:00 program. Does he post his training log?

blue man wrote:

Only 10% of fully trained high school runners break 5.

5:23 is fast as hell all things considered.

Most of my 4:20/4:30 college buddies can’t break 7 anymore.

Running is tough!

the macdaddy wrote:

blue man wrote:

Only 10% of fully trained high school runners break 5.

5:23 is fast as hell all things considered.

Yes, it's 2:23 marathon pace.

KTHXBAI wrote:

5:23 probably beats Rojo, who's only 47.

Probaby? I hate to admit this but in one of the lowest admissions of my life, the answer has to be certain.

I watched this race live. When I saw it, I was like, "My god Chris looks horrific. There is no way he breaks 5:00."

It looked so slow to me. I was like, "Surely I have to be able to do that. There is no way I look that bad when I run." I was going to even go to the track today and just set on 85 second pace.

Then I went to the JK conversion chart and looked up what a 5:23 mile is . It was one of the worst discoveries in my life. "My God. No way could i touch that right now. "

So congrats to Chris. I proactively forfeit any matcb race he wants to challenge me to. IT's also motivated me to get in shape.

Admittedly, I've only run twice in a month due to a knee problem but even if that hadn't happened, no chance.

So what have I learned? No way is anyone filming me until I get in shape. Actually it should be I'll never let any one film me while running ever again in my life. Or if I get filmed, only let them film them with me racing someone else of my ability.

On a serious note, I think this is the perfect example of how 99% of letsrun has no idea how talented they are. There are TONS of people who can train their whole life and never break 5:00. What percent of theworld's population could ever train and break 5:00?

Also on a serious note, who coaches Chavez? Did Chis think he was in anything close to 5:00 shape as 5:23 is a LONG Way off.? If his coach thought he was in 5::00 shape, then he needs a new coach. Should I coach him remotely?

Somebody help me out, why was there 1) a sponsor and 2) a pacer for this race?? Minus those two inclusions, I could actually respect it but with those two it's unavoidably a clown show.

M1991 wrote:

Facts:

https://runningmagazine.ca/the-scene/gladwell-creams-chavez-in-mile-match-up-of-the-century/

Is this headline low key homophobic?

Not a fan of Chavez.

His announcing is hobby-jogger juvenile and frequently returns to centering around himself. He might have information on specific runners that a general broadcaster doesn't know but if you can't deliver it in a succinct, engaging way (that doesn't revolve back around to yourself), then you're better off writing articles from the stands.

Furthermore, the fact that he hyped a mile race against a 57 yo and then lost is even worse. It was a no win situation. If he had beat Gladwell, what would that have meant? He beat a 57 yo guy and he's in his mid-20s...? That's a loss.

I don't know his training at all but I generally questions his preparation for this kind of race; talented or not, he didn't *look* fit whatsoever. Advice: don't talk-up a race against a guy 30y older than you, that is being widely-televised to true track fans, and then show up looking like the nephew of the pillsbury doughboy.

Merber does a good job. He's been there and doesn't emphasize hobby-jogger factors. The two guest announcer they had last night (Melly, Dana) did good too.

paint drying wrote:

the macdaddy wrote:

5:23 is fast as hell all things considered.

Yes, it's 2:23 marathon pace.

I try not to belittle people who want to participate in and grow our sport. Seems you take a different approach...?

Nice work from Gladwell! 5:15 at 57 is very solid. I do not think that I could do that right now and I am half a decade younger. However, I found a race next month and if I get my achilles all the way better I'll get some trackwork in and try to get down closer to 5. I actually think that Gladwell could have run that faster. He closed in about 35 and so it's likely that he was saving some for the match race. The winner closed a 4:54 in 67 and claimed no trackwork. I would think that she could be under 4:40 in a month or two with trackwork.

the macdaddy wrote:

paint drying wrote:

Yes, it's 2:23 marathon pace.

I try not to belittle people who want to participate in and grow our sport. Seems you take a different approach...?

It ain't about the person, pal, it's about the noteworthiness of the data point. 2:23 is a damn fine marathon time.

At the end of every outdoor season for JV, my HS coach would put in a couple of the varsity guys who run in the 4:20/4:30 mile range to help pace the people who are on the brink of a sub 5 mile. It might not seem like it's that fast but watching how hard they trained for multiple years to get under 5, you can tell it takes a certain amount of talent.