Why are russian female middle distance runners so fast?

High altitude, genetic advantages, running ten miles to school every day, chasing sheep and cattle on the plain, drinking goat's blood and eating coarse corn meal, that sort of thing.

Same with the Russian 50-year-old female marathoners.

For the same reason Moroccan male middle distance runners are so fast.

You should read Silence of Great Distance. It talks about the Russian/European women mid-distance runners from the 70's putting in 100+ mpw and running 1:53-58. Maybe it was the drugs (which it talks about in the book).... maybe it was the mileage.... or both. But, there is something to be said about developing the aerobic system, even for the 800m, considering the event is ~70% aerobic.

http://ingrid-kristiansen.com/holisticfitness/running.htm

because the WANT IT alot more than US girls.

It took this long....Drugs?

high quality rusky dope

Because at these paces, it's all about the size of your balls.

Drugs. Period. Or no period, as the case may be

I'd add large population compared to a lot of countries (USA excepted) and a lot of tough situations, desperate people (comparatively).

I agree. US girls (boys, too) don't have anything to run FROM. For the most part, they are middle class and doing well with a secure future with or without running. How many coaches have experienced a promising girl lose promise when she gets a boyfriend and starts doing "regular girl things".

The Russians know how to develop speed in the proper progression throughout the year. At end of their races they can switch tempos very smoothly. Most Americans think speed should only be worked on priror to major track races. Speed training should be a constant in all cycles. However the frequency and intensity of speed training should always be reflected by which cycle you are in.

Why aren't the Russian men as competitive as the women?

Mel wrote:

Why aren't the Russian men as competitive as the women?

In part, for the same reason that the East German men (in general) weren't as competitive as the EG women: Drugs make an enormous difference in people whose natural levels of male hormones (and "related compounds") are naturally low (i.e. women); and much less of a difference in people whose natural levels of those hormones are higher (i.e. men).

This is only in part the reason, however. (And, by the way, if you think *American* women weren't/aren't receiving "ergogenic aids," you need to think again.) The other part is that high-income opportunities for Russians (and particularly for Russian women) are as scarce as hens' teeth nowadays. To a degree, then, they're motivated by the same thing as Kenyan or Ethiopian men: Running is a way (one of the very few ways) up and out.

boy jorge wrote:

discuss

They have dicks.

Why are Ethiopian women long distance runners so fast?

present wrote:

This is only in part the reason, however. (And, by the way, if you think *American* women weren't/aren't receiving "ergogenic aids," you need to think again.) The other part is that high-income opportunities for Russians (and particularly for Russian women) are as scarce as hens' teeth nowadays. To a degree, then, they're motivated by the same thing as Kenyan or Ethiopian men: Running is a way (one of the very few ways) up and out.

There is also less 'difference' between many women of different ethnic and racial groups than the men. E. European men tend to be "put together" for strength. They dominate strength events even more than W. African descended men dominate sprints. It's genetics, itz.

not so big mazungo wrote:

Because at these paces, it's all about the size of your balls.

I think we have a winner.

I do remember--maybe 20+ years ago, now?--that a team ran sub-8:00 for the women's 4x800 at the Soviet club championships.

And got third.

Ah, yes, better bodies through chemistry...

Billy Beer wrote:

For the same reason Moroccan male middle distance runners are so fast.

Or the same reason that Alberto is having heart failure at his age with no family history.