Interviews such as Mottram's imply that the winner is more willing to hurt or wants it more. I assume that each runner wants to win and is trying his absolute hardest. In fact, the runner trying to keep up with a pace that's beyond him winds up hurting much more than someone running at his optimal pace. Is it who has the most guts? is a foolish question.
I think it comes down to the size of your balls, really.
yes, it IS who is willing to endure more pain
isn't that why there are so many necrophiliac Pre fans here?
I'd say it only comes down to guts in a race between two runners with very simlilar ability levels. I could race Alan Webb in the mile and bust my ass to run 4:20 while he cruises effortlessly to a 4:15. He didn't have more guts than me, he's just better. While this is obviously an extreme example (comparing an elite runner to a local runner) the same idea exsists on a smaller scale in any race. If Webb and Bekele both run a 5k at the same effort, they won't end up with the same time.
Surely the winner is the one who hurts badly when training to win at all costs. Winners are the most dedicated, committed, hard working runners who live for their sport and have little time for anything else, they also believe in themselves and are not afraid to put in 101% at all times! Winners reap the benefits of mental and physical preparation.
So I guess you've never in your life been beaten by someone who doesn't work as hard as you? You've also never beat anyone who works harder than you? I doubt it.
its not just about tolerating pain, in fact id say thats a small part of it...and actually its fairly rude and insulting to imply that your fellow runners somehow wanted the victory less or weren't trying as hard..
'guts' can also mean having the confidence to take a 2 mile race out in 4:01, being willing to lead most of the race, and having the confidence to kick at the right time and take control...
guts is mainly being aggressive/bold enough to make moves when they need to be made, and not second guessing your efforts
that being said, its not ALL about guts...Alan Webb had alot of guts a few years ago when he dropped that 12 second 100 in the WC 1500m finals, with 700 meters to go, while it was gutsy it was also dumb..
To paraphrase George Sheehan: Some people think guts is sprinting at the end of a race. Really, guts is everything you do that makes sprinting at the end of a race meaningful.
old fan wrote:
Interviews such as Mottram's imply that the winner is more willing to hurt or wants it more. I assume that each runner wants to win and is trying his absolute hardest. In fact, the runner trying to keep up with a pace that's beyond him winds up hurting much more than someone running at his optimal pace. Is it who has the most guts? is a foolish question.
maybe webb didn't have it yesterday, but he certainly should of at least put his nose in it for as long as he could, instead of never even being a factor in the race
guts is making the move or putting yourself in contention, not necessarily being able to finish it out
Usually, the winner is hurting the LEAST in a big race.
The fastest races don't hurt very much at all.
INTESTINAL FORTITUDE! Most runners FEAR getting hurt or hurting. 75% out! Some runners have a low-milage training method that never truely gets them ready for racing. 22.5% out. Once in a while there comes along someone who will paytheprice AND wants to make a statement in running. 1% in!
connection wrote:
Usually, the winner is hurting the LEAST in a big race.
The fastest races don't hurt very much at all.
I disagree. I have had races where I know I was hurting more than anyone else yet won...and I have had races where I didn't hurt at all and beat a suffering second. It really depends and the guy that talked about runners of different ability levels was right on. I could train for years and run as hard as I could and still get beaten by someone like Abdi Abdiraham (hope I spelled it right) because he started running 5k at right around my PR.
connection wrote:
Usually, the winner is hurting the LEAST in a big race.
The fastest races don't hurt very much at all.
I agree. I believe that in many cases that statement is true.
Bekele was probably hurting more than Mottram. Mottram was running on euphoria, knowing that he was the best in the race.
That feeling is a wonderful painkiller.
Bekele will probably improve in the next few weeks, that was not a 100% fit Bekele, and Mottram is smart enough to know that.
connection wrote:
Usually, the winner is hurting the LEAST in a big race.
The fastest races don't hurt very much at all.
As Juma Ikangaa said "the will to win means nothing without the will to prepare." The pain, the guts, the BALLS, are on display from the training. The training is the hard part.
it takes mental energy to dig deep and i believe some people have the ability to do it more often than others. it it affected by things other than running our lives--family, relationships, personality, etc.
also, with matched abilities, a great day will beat a good day. we all have days we feel better than others, and the slightest off feeling at this level, could be the difference.
Its all about guts. If you just try your best and give it your all you can achieve almost anything. My best races were the ones that I tried real hard in.
Mottram just had one of those days were he woke up in the am and had the fortitude to push himself harder than the rest of the field. Thats whats wrong with the rest of the US, we have become lazy and cant push ourselves hard anymore.
I think I'll go outside now and push myself so hard "ill set a new world 1ok record. I believe!!
It's not guts, it's training. If you trained a guy on 15 miles per week and another guy on 70 miles per week for a year and they raced an 8K race who would win? I don't care how much the undertrained guy wants it or how strong his will is or how much guts he has. He will get crushed.
if the 15 mile per week guy was Geb and the 70 mile per week were you, I would put my money on Geb.
It was his brother.
You are an idiot.
If you run 70 and any National Class muchless World Class runner trained only 15 miles per week they'd still kill you.
Do not underestimate how important natural talent is to the sport of running.