Joanie vs. Lance

it is impressive. she seems to be losing just about 1 minute per year in the marathon.

After all these years, Joanie still runs 70-80 mpw. Lance, a relative newcomer to the sport, doesn't. Not even close. Lance is at least honest about it. This is what he said in the AP article (which I can't imagine coming out of the mouth of Joanie):

Armstrong said he planned to run Boston again, though he added he's too busy with other things to get more serious about running.

"It is a hobby, it keeps me fit on a daily basis, it keeps me inspired and motivates me to go out and run," he said.

Armstrong added he regrets not training harder when he's suffering in the middle of a race.

"Every time I come out here, I swear to myself I'm going to train harder for the next one," he said. "But I never do."

They didn't run the same course dumbass.

Yer honesty in your reply is why I keep coming back to Lets Run.

DUI

Lance also said about seriously training:

Those guys train hard, eat right and go to bed early. I don't want to do that any more.

Yeah, he just lances so he doesn't have to train as hard.

duro wrote:

Yeah, he just lances so he doesn't have to train as hard.

Proof?

Oh, that's right, you don't have any. Like everyone else.

A few other impressive times by women who are no longer "super young". Linda Somers is twice the age of the youngest competitor.

Linda Somers Smith Arroyo Grande, CA ASICS Aggie Running Club 2:38:49

Age 46

Susan Loken Phoenix, AZ ASICS 2:42:55

Age 44

Doreen McCoubrie Malvern, PA Runaway Success 2:48:29

Age 46

Congrats to Joanie,

2:49 at age 50, and she ran that wearing combat boots, the 2007 Nike Air Pegasus. Impressive!

Lance has nothing to prove in running. He won the Tour seven times. Drugs or not, that is impressive. Has anyone won Boston seven times in a row?

Beating a bunch of white europeans in cycling is a little different than beating a bunch of hungry Ethiopians and Kenyans

I still have the tape of Joanie in the '84 Trials. I haven't seen it in a while, but if memory serves correct she had her knee scoped 2 weeks prior to the Trials and won. I recall an image of her lying on her back peddling a bike with her hands to keep aerobically fit during the recovery. Amazingly tough woman.

Lance is also a tough dude. I don't feel the need to compare because they have both inspired with their stories.

It is every bit is significant as winning London or Boston or Chicago or the Olympics. Africans do not convert that well to being cyclists.

I'm still in awe of Joan, have been ever since I saw her destroy the Women's Olympic Marathon field in the first women's OM--from start to finish (I think 2:25). It's comparing apples and mangoes, when it comes to Lance and Joanie. Doubt she ever could have stayed anywhere near him in a time trial or a Tour race; why even go there? Lance wasn't racing--and even if he was he'd probably never come close to Joan's times--and he said so. He was there for a larger purpose than himself: rasing money for his cancer fund organization. He made no claims about his running other than he did some regular (short runs) and one longish run, just to be able to finish respectably.

Joan is still amazing, a legend and a continuing role model and super runner. Lance is probably incomparable in his sport and he also continues to be amazing and and a super human being--pretty dang good runner, too btw.

Larry the Loser wrote:

Beating a bunch of white europeans in cycling is a little different than beating a bunch of hungry Ethiopians and Kenyans

Hungry white eurpoeans. And hungry spaniards. Hungry brazilians, colombians, etc.

They were two impressive performances by two great athletes. I don't know why we need to say that one was better than the other. My hat is off to Lance and Joanie.

JBS wrote:

They didn't run the same course dumbass.

Exactly! She would have easily ran sub 2:49 on that 500 foot elavation drop of a course rather than the zero elevation drop on the one she did.

Lance couldn't beat Joanies grandmother

So did Joanie set an American record for 50+??? whats the world record?