What physical attributes make up running talent?

You don't need special physical attributes to be a fast runner. A normal healthy body will respond to the stimuli you give it in a predictable way.

So if you want to be fast, get a good coach, who understands where you are now fitness wise, where you want to be in the future, and what you need to do to get there.

wellnow wrote:

"You don't need special physical attributes to be a fast runner."

Well if "fast" is defined by being able to run a eight minute mile, then I agree with you. However, if "fast" is defined by being able to run a sub-29 minute 10K, then you better have a have some very special physical attributes. No matter how hard you work and how good your coach, you won't get "fast" unless you have these attributes.

lean muscle mass developed from a young age through either running itself or (what seems to be even more advantageous) participation in other sports (that utilize running) at a highly competitive level.

I disagree, if he trains hard and trains well for many years etc.

Most runners have got the physical attributes, they just don't train in a structured way. They train hard, race hard, but they really don't care about running super fast times, that requires a certain mindset that is quite rare.

wellnow wrote:

You don't need special physical attributes to be a fast runner. A normal healthy body will respond to the stimuli you give it in a predictable way.

So if you want to be fast, get a good coach, who understands where you are now fitness wise, where you want to be in the future, and what you need to do to get there.

I guess I mean fast as in the ability to run faster then others on far less mileage and training time, such as the guy who shows up to track practice and beats everyone on the team despite the fact that everyone he has beaten has put in much more training time.

That type of person must have some kind of natural advantage, no?

wellnow wrote:

You don't need special physical attributes to be a fast runner. A normal healthy body will respond to the stimuli you give it in a predictable way.

So if you want to be fast, get a good coach, who understands where you are now fitness wise, where you want to be in the future, and what you need to do to get there.

You've watched "Without Limits" one too many times.

In order to be fast (defining fast as a national or world class runner), you must pocess certain genetic attributes. Without the God-given talent, all the training and coaching in the world isn't going to get you to run a 27 min. 10K or a 2:05 marathon. The percentage of the human population who pocesses the required genetics to do this is very, very minute.

No, not physical advantage, mental advantage. If you really want to be an awesomely fast runner, I'm interested.

I am getting faster with my training, as fast as a 36 year old will get, 50 plus miles a week and hitting the workouts.

I guess I was just intrested because I was reading some of the stories on letsrun about people running very fast without much training and beating people with a lot more training, more of a curiosity really.

wellnow wrote:

No, not physical advantage, mental advantage. If you really want to be an awesomely fast runner, I'm interested.

I really think this is utter bullshit. I don't see how anyone could possibly believe this

Genetic predisposition for the following:

1. Longer than normal legs compared to torso

2. Lack of muscle.

3. Naturally high Vo2max.

4. For women: Hips more narrow than normal.

Not everyone can be 6'0" 140lbs. Some people are just naturally more muscular regardless of what they eat or how much they run. Also some people have longer than normal legs and a thin short torso while others will have a wider torso. Vo2max is related to weight, the lighter you are the high your Vo2max is. Mitochondira, capillaries, heart size, are all increased through training.

Alan

cmurph wrote:

wellnow wrote:

No, not physical advantage, mental advantage. If you really want to be an awesomely fast runner, I'm interested.

I really think this is utter bullshit. I don't see how anyone could possibly believe this

I practice what I preach, that's why I believe it.

Phillyrunner wrote:

I am getting faster with my training, as fast as a 36 year old will get, 50 plus miles a week and hitting the workouts.

I guess I was just intrested because I was reading some of the stories on letsrun about people running very fast without much training and beating people with a lot more training, more of a curiosity really.

You are as fast as a 36 year old will get? What is that supposed to mean?

Many people believe that Haile Gebreselassie was 37 years old when he broke the World Record for the Marathon last year.

You have an awful long way to go to get anywhere near your peak fitness.

wellnow wrote:

cmurph wrote:

I really think this is utter bullshit. I don't see how anyone could possibly believe this

I practice what I preach, that's why I believe it.

how so?

I train with purpose, constant improvement. Don't you realize that the top runners are just fitter than everyone else? You are only as good as your training.

wellnow wrote:

You don't need special physical attributes to be a fast runner. A normal healthy body will respond to the stimuli you give it in a predictable way.

So if you want to be fast, get a good coach, who understands where you are now fitness wise, where you want to be in the future, and what you need to do to get there.

What a load of crap. Training and attitude are important, but natural talent is certainly a factor. I can do all the training I want and I'll never be faster than Alan Webb even if I'm doing all the right training and have the right mentality. He has physical attributes that I don't that make him a better runner than me. If you don't believe this, you must think that you yourself are a slacker for never running 3:43 in the mile. El G doesn't have any physical attributes that you don't.

wellnow wrote:

No, not physical advantage, mental advantage. If you really want to be an awesomely fast runner, I'm interested.

Does the fact that all posters so far have disagreed with you suggest something to you?

And if you are "putting this into practice" by running 36 minute 10k's I don't think there's much more to discuss. Hell even 29 minute 10k's, I mean why aren't you running 27?

You have no idea how serious those guys are and you probably never will. Please don't give me all this " I can do all the training I want" crap, you're not going to do anything of the sort ever and you know it.

I don't think like you and that's why I get results.

wellnow wrote:

You have no idea how serious those guys are and you probably never will. Please don't give me all this " I can do all the training I want" crap, you're not going to do anything of the sort ever and you know it.

I don't think like you and that's why I get results.

what results? you improve? that doesn't make you special or set you apart from anyone. On my high school team there were kids who trained hard, took running seriously, and yet couldn't break 6 minutes for 1600. These kids were unbelievably untalented. On the other hand there were kids who could slack off, sit out with bogus injuries and yet and run 4:30. On my college team there are kids who work hard, are confident in themselves and their training and yet run 9 minute 3ks. There are other kids who can run faster than that right after coming back from a month-long injury. If your version of the world was correct than we would see 18-minute 5k runners improve to 13 minute 5k runners just by changing their mental attitude and training hard and consistently for a few years.

big nuts.