Why does the US SUCK at marathon Running

politically Incorrect wrote:

We have dozens of four flat high schoolers but still celebrate a 2:14 in super shoes as a good performance. Why?

Who's been celebrating 2:14 marathons? Rupp just ran 2:06 and everyone here still finds a way to complain.

The US breads weaklings and the superficial vainglorious -- belief that the ends justify the means types. Coddled and weaknesses excused rather than celebrated.

The best athletes in the US do other sports. Athletics here is a distant 8609665 among sports. In Africa, it is either athletics or futbol (soccer).

Asking why the US doesn't have dozens of sub 2:05 marathoners like Kenya is like asking why Japan can't match Norway in strongman competitions.

The US does just fine compared to Europe as a whole. The US has produced 3 sub 2:08 marathoners in the last 15 years. Hall, Ritz, and Rupp. If they can do the same or slightly better over the next 15 years that would be great.

The US could and should do a better job of having at least 3 runners go 2:09-2:12 in every big domestic marathon but that won't have any impact on the Olympic or WMM picture.

Iron Bars wrote:

The best athletes in the US do other sports. Athletics here is a distant 8609665 among sports. In Africa, it is either athletics or futbol (soccer).

If you think so poorly about distance running, why do you even follow the sport?

SDSU Aztec wrote:

Iron Bars wrote:

The best athletes in the US do other sports. Athletics here is a distant 8609665 among sports. In Africa, it is either athletics or futbol (soccer).

If you think so poorly about distance running, why do you even follow the sport?

No. Why doesn't he show us how its done?

Yes, the US is awful at the marathon and we've been getting worse.

The first way we change that is eliminate the Olympic trials qualifying time, just open the race.

A 2:14 is promising at the national level and should be celebrated because commitment is inspiring, especially commitment by an underdog. And fewer guys can afford the expense and sacrifice required these days, the barrier to success is far higher than when Rodgers won Boston in 1975, stopping to tie his shoes.

Like CJ Albertson, Rodgers had nothing to lose. Basically, an underdog going after it at Boston will always mean something powerful, but nobody compares a CJ Albertson to a 58:30 / 2:03 guy. Listen to Albertson's interview after, he was just putting it out there, whatever the result.

The reason Rupp isn't celebrated has to do with his former coaching choices, the shadow of endless Nike scandal and the fact that he has had great success and unlimited opportunity since day one.

His 2:06 was the by far best and probably cleanest race he's run since he was 15, but at this point he isn't getting graded on a curve, instead we're remembering his many advantages and adventures in rule bending. And if we're looking, comparing him to the very best marathoners, the Ethiopians and Kenyans each have 15-30 guys faster. And they have all come from disadvantage to reach dominance.

In the US, if you have any athletic ability whatsoever you do every sport but distance running. For good reason also. Just look at the guys that do distance running lol not exactly the cream of the crop as far as athletics go

nate archibald wrote:

In the US, if you have any athletic ability whatsoever you do every sport but distance running. For good reason also. Just look at the guys that do distance running lol not exactly the cream of the crop as far as athletics go

You sucking at tennis and golf and then choosing fun running, has nothing to do with school sports.

nate archibald wrote:

In the US, if you have any athletic ability whatsoever you do every sport but distance running. For good reason also. Just look at the guys that do distance running lol not exactly the cream of the crop as far as athletics go

Lol, truth. Though i do enjoy ballet/dance. Some male distance runners elicit similar grace in form w their fast kick. It really is beautiful to behold.

The thread directly above this one was "4.20 mile at 15mpw". Kinda feel like that's got something to do with it.

30,000 runners at OT would help U.S. marathon running?

Didn't Rupp start running at age 15? What evidence do you have that he has been cheating all this time?

Wuss alert wrote:

The US breads weaklings and the superficial vainglorious -- belief that the ends justify the means types. Coddled and weaknesses excused rather than celebrated.

What kind of bread? Wheat or white? Wonder or great value?

politically Incorrect wrote:

We have dozens of four flat high schoolers but still celebrate a 2:14 in super shoes as a good performance. Why?

We have dozens of HS 4:00 milers? Are you one of them?

Not enough mileage.

Not long enough long runs.

Speed workouts too fast.

Not enough specificity.

Not big enough goals.

Not training consistently enough over many years.

Not attempting the marathon until after track racing.

2:09 on a fast course is now a decent performance in reality. Were people getting pumped about Reed Fischer? Certainly not me. In general I think guys wait too long to move up. Hoping Mantz, Nico Young, even Methner and that profile of guy goes to the roads earlier. Mile times are pretty irrelevant for promise in the marathon. High school guys running sub 8:50/14:30 XC or 5k are where to look and they’re becoming more and more prevalent.

dsrunner wrote:

Yes, the US is awful at the marathon and we've been getting worse.

Worse? I think you have that backwards

1984 - 1 Gold

1988 - nothing

1992 - nothing

1996 - nothing

2000 - nothing

2004 - 1 silver, 1 bronze

2008 - nothing

2012 - nothing

2016 - 1 bronze

2020 - 1 bronze

From 1984 to 2000 (5 Games) = 1 medal

From 2004 to 2020 (5 Games) = 4 medals

We also had a 4th in men's in 2012 and had 3 of the top-9 women in 2016. By comparison, Kenya's women placed 1st, 86th, and DNF in Rio.

nate archibald wrote:

In the US, if you have any athletic ability whatsoever you do every sport but distance running. For good reason also. Just look at the guys that do distance running lol not exactly the cream of the crop as far as athletics go

Ya this is a poor reason. The body for an elite marathoner isn’t conducive to other sports. Seriously, what other sports are this skinny short distance runners doing?

The exception would be soccer to a degree (even that though, you want to be fast twitch not slow twitch), but soccer is also very popular in Kenya and other African countries, so it’s a pretty poor explanation.

An easier way to get your answer would be to ask;

“Why would someone want to be a marathoner?”

The reasons list is probably VERY short.

So that’s your answer.