Is Geb Overtraining?

He pulled out because he wasn't fit 'enough' so I don't think he's overdoing it. Its hard to imagine him overtraining. That would have to be like 300 miles a week and 10 quality sessions and he still probably wouldn't be overtraining.

He pulled out?

I agree with you Skuj. Even Geb can overdo it. He HAS overraced I think.

And you left out 10 mile WR AND 25k WR !

He was attempting WR's left and right. I definitely think he was racing too many hard long efforts.

And right away the hour run? I am glad he backed out of that.

I didn't know he backed out of the 1hr event. GOOD news, if he's not injured of course. He can be the greatest marathoner ever, but I think he is spraying bullets instead of taking dead aim.

He had to recover from London longer than expected> He's back in training now, but not yet ready for a World Record performance.

Overtraining might've been the reason. Did anyone see that Runner's World article a while back? He was doing something like three 20 milers or longer plus other training each week.

Quick, someone e-mail Geb and let him know that LetsRun posters have figured out what's "wrong" with him!

It couldn't be that he just isn't perfectly suited to the marathon they same way he is suited to everything else between 3000 and 21.1 KM.

Let's see...

You: a run of the mill ordinary 5k'er.

Him: a world class runner at every level.

Question with no scientific proof, analysis, info from the subject, no idea what he's doing, via the internet: Is he overtraining?

Crap, I'll be back in 5 minutes with a definite answer.. I'll also have the cure for cancer.

Stay tuned !

in The Greatest, it does make it very clear that Geb does A LOT of top quality races without adequate recovery between them both.

Athletes on drugs don't burnout

I did expect such responses, and that's OK really.

But what kind of training / sharpening would you have been doing if you are racing a WR 21k or 1hr or 10miles? And if you are doing that kind of training in the shadow of a marathon just past - is this the Geb that ruled the world for 10 years in the 10000m? Has he changed his ideas / outlook since he hit the roads? I think he has.

I admit I have no scientific proof, insight into his exact training, etc. But WR attempts 1-3 months after a Marathon just doesn't seem like "the old Geb" to me. The careful planning has given way to a scattershot approach.

Could someone list his races over the last 2 years?

Or better yet - over his career?

Congratulations on winning the "Um, I think Geb knows how to train..." award.

Thanks.

I'd like to thank my mom, your mom, and everybody's mom for this award.. and I'd like to thank LetsRun posters who endlessly debate things which they have no inside information, no level at that experience, no definite answers, and no clue of what elite athletes do to achieve high levels.

Now lets get back to the real question:

Ritz vs. Webb vs. Ditka, each with no carbo-load, no taper.. who negative splits a half marathon using the pose method?

Discuss.

Dick Trickle wrote:

.. and I'd like to thank LetsRun posters who endlessly debate things which they have no inside information, no level at that experience, no definite answers, and no clue of what elite athletes do to achieve high levels.

Discuss.

But of course you must have the inside scoop, the level at this experience(???-your wording), the definite answers, and all the clus as to what these runers do?

Discuss.

i am sure geb reads letsrun.com every day, looking for ideas from the posters on ways he can learn how to become a better runner.

Dick,

That is an easy one, Alan wins! He as the best Pose form of the 3 men!

doug225550 wrote:

i am sure geb reads letsrun.com every day, looking for ideas from the posters on ways he can learn how to become a better runner.

Of course he does! :)

Look - the top runners - have any of them ever admitted to bad training / mistakes? Did El G admit overtraining in 2000? What did Jos Hermans say about Geb strategy in the Marathon, anyone?

I was actually reading of the lore of running the other day, and I read a point Noakes made on how runners only have so many good races in them, and Geb was my first thought. The fact that he has been dominating the running scene at one distance or another for almost a decade seems like a long time, I think that Geb has just run too many races hard in his life, and his prime has run out. The only problem I have with this is that is he is still setting world records.

But of course you must have the inside scoop, the level at this experience(???-your wording), the definite answers, and all the clus as to what these runers do?

Discuss.[/quote]

_____

Huh, huh... and you said "clus" huh, huh...

Wow, way to respond.. I was zinged!!!!!!

Oh yeah, and throw in "runers".

Did you study under Steinbeck, or was it Hemingway?