So the East Africans have an amazing closing speed at the end of 5Ks and 10Ks. A guy like Martin Lel can also unbelievably kick hard at the end of a marathon. Can anyone tell me how fast do these world-class East Africans typically close the final lap in a 5K and 10K? Along with that, can you also tell me their typical 400m PRs (what they would run for 400ms on full rest)?
I don't know about their 400 prs because I doubt that most of them have really run too many of them, but the top 5k guys regularly close under 60, and last laps of 53-56 are very common. Laps faster than 53 in fast-paced races are rare, but do happen.
Can't tell you their PRs but I suspect they are significantly faster than their American counterparts, if for no other reason that that slower atheltes are forced to move up in their more competitive systems
Most of the guys that i know have the following PR's
Marathoners 55-57 seconds
Track Guys ... Everyone i have asked has told me sub 51 seconds.
Kenenisa supposedly has a 48 second PR. But i didn't hear it from him.
Ethio Boy wrote:
Most of the guys that i know have the following PR's
Marathoners 55-57 seconds
Track Guys ... Everyone i have asked has told me sub 51 seconds.
Kenenisa supposedly has a 48 second PR. But i didn't hear it from him.
So he's such an aerobic horse that at the end of a 5K he can throw down 52-53 sec final lap? Only a 5 sec difference between his PR and closing speed?
Geb and Bekele are lucky if they can break 50 in the quarter. Same for Shaheen. We have plenty of guys who are good for 49. The difference is most of the US guys lack the endurance and aerobic power to effectively use that speed at the end of the race.
For runners like Geb, Bekele, Defar, etc, look at their fastest final 200, and that's about open 400m pace for them.
mobile9 wrote:
Geb and Bekele are lucky if they can break 50 in the quarter. Same for Shaheen. We have plenty of guys who are good for 49. The difference is most of the US guys lack the endurance and aerobic power to effectively use that speed at the end of the race.
For runners like Geb, Bekele, Defar, etc, look at their fastest final 200, and that's about open 400m pace for them.
Sorry... but I don't understand what you mean by open 400m pace. Can you please elaborate?
I'd like to say the east africans are all that, they are but...
the usually get beaten by guys like this:
http://members.iinet.net.au/~peterg1/run/hicham.jpg
or even a few bad asses like this guy:
http://www.uta-pippig.com/newspicn392.jpg
this guy even occasionally beats them:
http://rs.runningwarehouse.com/rw/nike/WEBB.jpg
I'm pretty sure anyone of those 3 could close on a fast pace extremely quickly, just like anyone with proper training will.
ethnicity has little to do with it.
In Gothenburg in 1995, Geb closed in 25.1. His best quarter in just under 50 (practice tt). Defar has closed in 27s and is probably good for 54 in an open 400m.
Inferring wrote:
mobile9 wrote:Geb and Bekele are lucky if they can break 50 in the quarter. Same for Shaheen. We have plenty of guys who are good for 49. The difference is most of the US guys lack the endurance and aerobic power to effectively use that speed at the end of the race.
For runners like Geb, Bekele, Defar, etc, look at their fastest final 200, and that's about open 400m pace for them.
Sorry... but I don't understand what you mean by open 400m pace. Can you please elaborate?
Do you mean to say that what they could run for the final 200, is their 400m pace on a full rest? So, if they can a 25 sec final 200 in a 5K, then they can run an all-out 50 sec for a 400m on rest?
Inferring wrote:
Do you mean to say that what they could run for the final 200, is their 400m pace on a full rest? So, if they can a 25 sec final 200 in a 5K, then they can run an all-out 50 sec for a 400m on rest?
That's about right. Bekele would run around 50 for 400m but he would need a very good warm up to do so. Bekele wouldnt' kick with a 25 second 200 off a fast pace, but if the previous lap was slowish (for him 64) then he could run 25 for the last 200
