Is Nordås the least talented runner to break 3:30 in history? That's what he said on our podcast.
We've type dup some highlights in case you missed it.
Narve Nordås said:
"I said to my coach that I'm not fast enough, I'm not talented enough, I have to run long distances because that's the only thing talentless people can really do....
I didn't think I was talented enough (to run the 1500) and I didn't think I was fast enough. I can guarantee you I'm the slowest sub 3:30 guy in history. I think I'm not able to run faster than 1:47 for 800m. I can for sure not run sub-24 in a flying 200m. I've never run a 400m all out but with a block start maybe 51 I think. Only 51, not a single chance going sub-50."
His best chance at a medal in the world championships is the 5k. 3:29 but only 8th in the race. A strategic 5k and should be able to outkick the American guys.
What does the word “talent” mean though? One could argue it is sprinting ability but if that is not it then this kid is really talented to be able to run 3:29 without much sprinting ability. So this becomes an exercise in semantics. He is really talented to be able to run 3:29. That seems clear.
Maybe the slowest sprinter (McSweyn must be in the running), but that doesn’t mean he’s the least talented, just like Kipchoge’s not less talented than some bro who runs 22.00 in high school. It just means he has a different talent.
The fact that he ran 3:29 so quickly after changing his event focus kind of contradicts the “talentless” thing. There are guys who didn’t break 3:30 until they were significantly older than Nordas (Habz is 5+ years older for one) who might be considered less talented. And it’s impossible to know how talented a 1500 runner somebody like Rashid Ramzi really was (though the same logic might apply to Nordas).
this is just for publicity. nordas ran a 1:49 final 800 of his 3:29 pr. there is no reality where he cant run sub 24 for a flying 200.
this is the same bs where people were saying jakob couldnt break 50s for 400 but in reality is doing 400 repeats in 49.
I'm not so sure. Jakob ran 51.03 when he was ~17. He has for sure improved since then, but his body was already quite developed (and had been training for many years, as everyone knows) so I'm not sure by how much. Considering his aerobic power I don't think he can run faster than 49 high for 400m out of the blocks. There is a big difference between a block start and a running start. I don't doubt Jakob could split a 49, or maybe even dip under 49, in a 400m in training with a running start (although I would like to see a source for this), but I highly doubt he can run that out of blocks.
Nick Willis has also stated that he never broke 50 for the 400m, and he was a more 1500m orientated runner, compared to Jakob and Nordås who are more aerobically orientated.
When you have guys who are extraordinarily aerobically powerful, and have very good efficiency at high speeds, they can run approach max velocity in 1500m races. Considering Nordås has trained for longer distances previously to this, it really isn't that surprising that he would struggle to break 51 out of the blocks. I think he can probably still run a flying 200m in 23 high though.
Another example is Cole Hocker. His kick would have you believe that he might have some serious wheels over shorter distances, but there is a video from 2020? on youtube of him losing to an out of shape Nick Symmonds in a ~100m sprint. He just has unique mechanics that enables him to run very close to max velocity in the last 150m of his race.
This post was edited 3 minutes after it was posted.
Maybe the slowest sprinter (McSweyn must be in the running), but that doesn’t mean he’s the least talented, just like Kipchoge’s not less talented than some bro who runs 22.00 in high school. It just means he has a different talent.
The fact that he ran 3:29 so quickly after changing his event focus kind of contradicts the “talentless” thing. There are guys who didn’t break 3:30 until they were significantly older than Nordas (Habz is 5+ years older for one) who might be considered less talented. And it’s impossible to know how talented a 1500 runner somebody like Rashid Ramzi really was (though the same logic might apply to Nordas).
The interview was a great one. Kudos to JG. Nordas had the same straightforward matter of fact tone as Jakob. Maybe it’s a Norwegian thing?
I was so struck by the description of the training regimens of the last two LRC interviews, Sumner v Nordas. I guess when Nordas thinks of talent, he means a guy like Will, running 1:44 on 10 miles per week, with a 3-4 mile long run. Poor Nordas has to grind 100-120 miles a week at altitude just to be world class in a race that’s 700 m longer. It’s mind blowing when you think of it this way, even if it’s no revelation to those in the know. Life is not fair. Of course, saying you lack talent and that you are a 3:29 runner is an oxymoron.
this is just for publicity. nordas ran a 1:49 final 800 of his 3:29 pr. there is no reality where he cant run sub 24 for a flying 200.
this is the same bs where people were saying jakob couldnt break 50s for 400 but in reality is doing 400 repeats in 49.
I'm not so sure. Jakob ran 51.03 when he was ~17. He has for sure improved since then, but his body was already quite developed (and had been training for many years, as everyone knows) so I'm not sure by how much. Considering his aerobic power I don't think he can run faster than 49 high for 400m out of the blocks. There is a big difference between a block start and a running start. I don't doubt Jakob could split a 49, or maybe even dip under 49, in a 400m in training with a running start (although I would like to see a source for this), but I highly doubt he can run that out of blocks.
Nick Willis has also stated that he never broke 50 for the 400m, and he was a more 1500m orientated runner, compared to Jakob and Nordås who are more aerobically orientated.
When you have guys who are extraordinarily aerobically powerful, and have very good efficiency at high speeds, they can run approach max velocity in 1500m races. Considering Nordås has trained for longer distances previously to this, it really isn't that surprising that he would struggle to break 51 out of the blocks. I think he can probably still run a flying 200m in 23 high though.
Another example is Cole Hocker. His kick would have you believe that he might have some serious wheels over shorter distances, but there is a video from 2020? on youtube of him losing to an out of shape Nick Symmonds in a ~100m sprint. He just has unique mechanics that enables him to run very close to max velocity in the last 150m of his race.
Jakob ran his 51.03 very close to his 3000m pb (8. flat) the same day -on tired legs two weeks before his 17 birthday… -No way he doesn’t do 49 flat nowadays…!
What does the word “talent” mean though? One could argue it is sprinting ability but if that is not it then this kid is really talented to be able to run 3:29 without much sprinting ability. So this becomes an exercise in semantics. He is really talented to be able to run 3:29. That seems clear.
I’d also like to add that he claims to have NEVER been injured despite many years of high mileage and double thresholds. This is is truly special talent and there are so many mid distance/distance elites “faster” than Nordas at 200 m or 400m that would trade that away in a second to have the “talent” to avoid injury. Of Kipchoge’s many talents, his ability to grind away for decades without getting hurt may be his greatest super power, and maybe something he shares with Nordas.
This post was edited 35 seconds after it was posted.
What does the word “talent” mean though? One could argue it is sprinting ability but if that is not it then this kid is really talented to be able to run 3:29 without much sprinting ability. So this becomes an exercise in semantics. He is really talented to be able to run 3:29. That seems clear.
I’d also like to add that he claims to have NEVER been injured despite many years of high mileage and double thresholds. This is is truly special talent and there are so many mid distance/distance elites “faster” than Nordas at 200 m or 400m that would trade that away in a second to have the “talent” to avoid injury. Of Kipchoge’s many talents, his ability to grind away for decades without getting hurt may be his greatest super power, and maybe something he shares with Nordas.
If you look at his progression, and you were placing a wager only on what you see on paper, you would probably guess his lifetime personal bests would be maybe 3:34, 13:05 and 27:30, or something along those lines.
A man that has run 3:29 for 1500m lacks neither speed nor talent. The guy put in the work regardless if he deems himself as not talented. 3:29 is world-class, NOT average.
If you look at his progression, and you were placing a wager only on what you see on paper, you would probably guess his lifetime personal bests would be maybe 3:34, 13:05 and 27:30, or something along those lines.
very good interview by JG. JG is not a skilled interviewed, per se, but he did a great job of asking question after question about the training regimen, which would basically be the same one Jakob has done for years. anybody interested in INgebrigtsen training should listen to this podcast.
It was 50 minutes of lawn mowing that went by very fast for this listener.
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