This is awful. Carbon plates have ruined everything. All we had was historical significance. That was the beauty of our sport, the racing has honestly never been super exciting…. Comparing times and athletes across generations, we had that. It was stolen from us.
How good was grants 12:44? What is it really? We don’t know. The 7:22? It’s a shame. He’s not Bekele, he’s not Komen.
How good is he? How fast could Solinsky, Rupp, Webb, Ritz… have run with the shoes?
We lost our benchmarks. That’s what we had in this sport, it’s gone now. It’s sad.
Oh yes- the world is falling apart now!
Use your brain to think, not your heart.
The question of how fast anyone from the past may be with “today’s technology” will always exist. The tracks and shoes in each generation are better than the ones before them. This trend will continue into the future. Consider it the ‘constant’.
But the reason trying to compare great runners from the past to a particular runner today (in the context of technological improvements) is the WRONG approach, is because there’s a much better method to determine who was “better”…
How close were those past individuals to the best in the world at the time? How close were Ritz, Webb, Solinski, and Rupp’s PRs to the WRs AT THE TIME? Answer: not very close. (Finishing positions at major global events should also be included in the assessment, of course.)
All the distance WRs have been improved upon over the years. And yet today, Fisher is ALSO closer to those respective WRs than any of those US runners before him.
I know it’s hard to fathom, but advancements in training and ‘real fitness’ levels are by far the largest component to the current performances.
You shouldn't be saying absolutely not, he's in the best shape we've ever seen him in. He can definitely challenge Jakob without a doubt.
Rewatch the Paris 5k final and see how easily Jakob passes a 12:36 guy in Gebrhiwet on the bell lap. Rewatch the Eugene 2022 race and see how easily Jakob takes down the strongest 5k field ever assembled, consisting of multiple World and Olympic medalists and the world record holder, a 12:35 guy and two-time Olympic champion. It is not practically possible, for Grant or anyone else, to beat a guy with 3:26 speed and 7:17 strength in a championship 5k. He’s like peak Farah, if Farah was also in world record shape at every distance he contested.
You write like Jakob always goes out and runs 3:26. He doesn't. He's like everyone else - he has good races and bad races, but his good races are great. If Jakob and Fisher both have their best day when they race, yes, Jakob will win. But don't pretend that Jakob always runs 3:26, especially when the race is not paced.
This is awful. Carbon plates have ruined everything. All we had was historical significance. That was the beauty of our sport, the racing has honestly never been super exciting…. Comparing times and athletes across generations, we had that. It was stolen from us.
How good was grants 12:44? What is it really? We don’t know. The 7:22? It’s a shame. He’s not Bekele, he’s not Komen.
How good is he? How fast could Solinsky, Rupp, Webb, Ritz… have run with the shoes?
We lost our benchmarks. That’s what we had in this sport, it’s gone now. It’s sad.
Oh yes- the world is falling apart now!
Use your brain to think, not your heart.
The question of how fast anyone from the past may be with “today’s technology” will always exist. The tracks and shoes in each generation are better than the ones before them. This trend will continue into the future. Consider it the ‘constant’.
But the reason trying to compare great runners from the past to a particular runner today (in the context of technological improvements) is the WRONG approach, is because there’s a much better method to determine who was “better”…
How close were those past individuals to the best in the world at the time? How close were Ritz, Webb, Solinski, and Rupp’s PRs to the WRs AT THE TIME? Answer: not very close. (Finishing positions at major global events should also be included in the assessment, of course.)
All the distance WRs have been improved upon over the years. And yet today, Fisher is ALSO closer to those respective WRs than any of those US runners before him.
I know it’s hard to fathom, but advancements in training and ‘real fitness’ levels are by far the largest component to the current performances.
No, they aren't. There is something else you don't want to acknowledge.
This is awful. Carbon plates have ruined everything. All we had was historical significance. That was the beauty of our sport, the racing has honestly never been super exciting…. Comparing times and athletes across generations, we had that. It was stolen from us.
How good was grants 12:44? What is it really? We don’t know. The 7:22? It’s a shame. He’s not Bekele, he’s not Komen.
How good is he? How fast could Solinsky, Rupp, Webb, Ritz… have run with the shoes?
We lost our benchmarks. That’s what we had in this sport, it’s gone now. It’s sad.
Oh yes- the world is falling apart now!
Use your brain to think, not your heart.
The question of how fast anyone from the past may be with “today’s technology” will always exist. The tracks and shoes in each generation are better than the ones before them. This trend will continue into the future. Consider it the ‘constant’.
But the reason trying to compare great runners from the past to a particular runner today (in the context of technological improvements) is the WRONG approach, is because there’s a much better method to determine who was “better”…
How close were those past individuals to the best in the world at the time? How close were Ritz, Webb, Solinski, and Rupp’s PRs to the WRs AT THE TIME? Answer: not very close. (Finishing positions at major global events should also be included in the assessment, of course.)
All the distance WRs have been improved upon over the years. And yet today, Fisher is ALSO closer to those respective WRs than any of those US runners before him.
I know it’s hard to fathom, but advancements in training and ‘real fitness’ levels are by far the largest component to the current performances.
Technical advancements in shoe design, track construction, nutrition and training have always been a part of sports. Even before the introduction of super shoes, I would wonder what guys like Jim Ryun and Kip Keino could run if they ran with today's training, nutrition and technology.
The question of how fast anyone from the past may be with “today’s technology” will always exist. The tracks and shoes in each generation are better than the ones before them. This trend will continue into the future. Consider it the ‘constant’.
But the reason trying to compare great runners from the past to a particular runner today (in the context of technological improvements) is the WRONG approach, is because there’s a much better method to determine who was “better”…
How close were those past individuals to the best in the world at the time? How close were Ritz, Webb, Solinski, and Rupp’s PRs to the WRs AT THE TIME? Answer: not very close. (Finishing positions at major global events should also be included in the assessment, of course.)
All the distance WRs have been improved upon over the years. And yet today, Fisher is ALSO closer to those respective WRs than any of those US runners before him.
I know it’s hard to fathom, but advancements in training and ‘real fitness’ levels are by far the largest component to the current performances.
Technical advancements in shoe design, track construction, nutrition and training have always been a part of sports. Even before the introduction of super shoes, I would wonder what guys like Jim Ryun and Kip Keino could run if they ran with today's training, nutrition and technology.
Yes. And it’s like this is EVERY sport / athletic event.
Did you all see the stat during the Super Bowl about the average size of the Philly (Go Birds) offensive line compared to that of the Packers line in SB1?
3”+ taller and nearly 100 lbs heavier!! Everyone is far faster and stronger nowadays. An average team in the NFL today would utterly DESTROY those SB Champion teams from the 60s/70s.
You have a great take but I would say that he is not the GOAT yet, though he is getting really close. As of today (for distance runners 5K to the marathon - including cross country), I have him fourth on my list. Number one is still Frank Shorter (Olympic gold and silver and I believe four Fukuoka wins), number 2 is (this will be controversial) Craig Virgen (two time World Cross Country Champion), number three is Billy Mills (All I have to say is "Look at Mills!"), and Grant Fisher is number 4 above Rupp. If Fisher wins another major medal (especially silver or gold) on the track or, hopefully, world cross country, then he is number 1 with a bullet.
Not true. Grant "does" have a kick. Jakob is amazing, no doubt, but Grant can stay with him and run him down the straight away. Sorry, I'd put my money on Grant all day long in the 5000.
This is why I wish Letsrun had a betting feature.
Your post is why I wish they had a betting feature.
Grant is NOT the same Grant from a year ago. Get with the program sir.
Technical advancements in shoe design, track construction, nutrition and training have always been a part of sports. Even before the introduction of super shoes, I would wonder what guys like Jim Ryun and Kip Keino could run if they ran with today's training, nutrition and technology.
Yes. And it’s like this is EVERY sport / athletic event.
Did you all see the stat during the Super Bowl about the average size of the Philly (Go Birds) offensive line compared to that of the Packers line in SB1?
3”+ taller and nearly 100 lbs heavier!! Everyone is far faster and stronger nowadays. An average team in the NFL today would utterly DESTROY those SB Champion teams from the 60s/70s.
All the other coaches get the spot light but you just keep on quietly writing up workouts that produce America's best ever 3k-10k runner.
Please DO NOT move up the marathon yet. Wait until after 2028.
Athlete and coach taking care of business.
Training, eating, sleeping, recovering, discussing what works and what doesn’t, testing to know how the body is reacting and what needs to be adjusted, listening to each other, planning, blocking out the negative, embracing the positive, steady progression, having fun in the process, being humble in light of greatness, reaching new heights, inspiring others, giving track fans something to cheer about, leading by example.
Keep up the great work. It’s hard hard non glamorous work very few can dedicate the time and energy to long term coupled with the talent and mindset that it takes to be amount the very best in the world.
There are others out there doing their thing to be the best they can be. We all need to rejoice in their success, support their efforts and dreams, pick them up when they are down and encourage running at the grass roots level.
Grant, his coach, and there are many others, who embody this - they are great people.
This is awful. Carbon plates have ruined everything. All we had was historical significance. That was the beauty of our sport, the racing has honestly never been super exciting…. Comparing times and athletes across generations, we had that. It was stolen from us.
How good was grants 12:44? What is it really? We don’t know. The 7:22? It’s a shame. He’s not Bekele, he’s not Komen.
How good is he? How fast could Solinsky, Rupp, Webb, Ritz… have run with the shoes?
We lost our benchmarks. That’s what we had in this sport, it’s gone now. It’s sad.
Which benchmark do you mean? The ones where guys sauntered around the track in dress shoes and long shorts, or something else?
Indoor WRs are soft. Always have been. No need to get carried away.
This could be GF wintering brilliantly ahead of a season where he crushes all before him. Or it could be a splash in the pan on a fast indoor track with the gap back to "previous" WRs as much down to tech advances as it is down to his talent.
The summer track season will show all. My gut says we'll see a 12:2x this year, and GF won't dip under 12:4x.