Allyson Felix 10.93/49.83

I strongly suspect (and hope and pray) without the drugs.

In all seriousness, does anyone have any physiological explanation for her speed? She is not powerful built, not at all.

A Gift!!!!

Yeah, seriously. If I didn't know who she was I would never look her and think, "Man, I bet that chick is fast." She has a very slender frame with little muscle definition.

The physiological explanation is that she is extraordinarily strong relative to her bodymass - her strength coach, Barry Ross, has written that she can leg press and deadlift ungodly amounts of weight for her size. This is likely attributable to neurological efficiency, i.e. the ability to recruit huge numbers of motor units simultaneously.

Barry also wrote a book on the topic and maintains a webpage. His whole coaching schema is built around increasing strength with small (or no) increases in body mass.

I believe that Barry's conclusions are correct and should apply to distance runners as well as sprinters. However, having read his stuff, I'll say that I think he did a poor job of making his case in writing. So if you read it and aren't convinced, know that it can be much better explained.

Tri This wrote:

I strongly suspect (and hope and pray) without the drugs.

she is coached by Bobby Kersee. do we need to speculate any further?

marijuologist wrote:

The physiological explanation is that she is extraordinarily strong relative to her bodymass - her strength coach, Barry Ross, has written that she can leg press and deadlift ungodly amounts of weight for her size. This is likely attributable to neurological efficiency, i.e. the ability to recruit huge numbers of motor units simultaneously.

So was Seb Coe-guy was like 125 lb and could leg press incredible amounts of weight. I would guess Jeremy Wariner is cast from the same neurological and physiological mold.

marijuologist wrote:

The physiological explanation is that she is extraordinarily strong relative to her bodymass - her strength coach, Barry Ross, has written that she can leg press and deadlift ungodly amounts of weight for her size. This is likely attributable to neurological efficiency, i.e. the ability to recruit huge numbers of motor units simultaneously.

Barry Ross is a self-promoting blowhard. Bobby Kersee is Allyson's coach and has been for 4 years. Bobby has NO respect for Ross' methods and both Bobby and Allyson have been laughing at the old methods for some time. If you don't believe be, go to Allyson's web site and read.

Allyson does now have a weight room in her home but her weights from Bobby Kersee are the OPPOSITE of what Ross preached, such as 4X15 squats and 4X8 clean and jerk--hypertrophy work like a lot of pro sprinters. Bobby is actually trying to put weight ON her in the lower body, which isn't working very well because all of the work Allyson does on the track. Allyson's improvement comes from the overdistance and acceleration work on the track. She sometimes does two sprint workouts and one weight workout--not in one week, but in ONE DAY.

BTW, as I've mentioned elsewhere, Allyson is a voltary participant in USADA's Project Believe. Her blood and urine is tested EVERY week, and what she goes through at meets is a walk in the park compared to whatshe goes through voluntarily. Bryan Clay the decathlete is also in this program.

i weigh 130 lbs and i can bench press 215 lbs and i can squat 405 lbs. i am a 13:48 5k runner and a 3:46 1500m runner.

Barry Ross is a great S&C coach whose methods are derived from sound research and who gets ridiculed because he's ahead of his time. 4x8 clean and jerk is idiotic and retarded. And, while I'm not accusing Allyson, I'm prety sure that weekly testing is inadequate, especially since they can't even test for half the shit athletes are using nowadays.

It'll take a few years but it'll all come out in the end.

I don't care that she's hot.

Allyson Felix? Mmmmmmmm girl, she gooooofy lookin.

Allyson is not on drugs, she is very fast, she's articulate, she's quite lovely. She's an exemplary track star.

Okay, what's next?

Ever heard of powerlifting? Ever hear how bodybuilders are pussies? Strength, and especially power is mostly neurological. This is why novice lifters usually make big gains in strength in the first few weeks without any anatomical changes.

Allison was tearing it up in high school, so it's not too crazy too think she'd be running this fast after a few years of training. I disagree with the comments about her appearance. She has very long legs relative to her height, and there appears to be almost zero fat on her. I think she looks incredible.

Sorry to disappoint you but Allyson is the real deal. I know how much it means to you, believing that anyone with success in track is a drug cheat in order to lessen your own feelings of mediocrity, but that's not the case with Felix.

You don't think that Catlin is putting samples on ice? BK doesn't need to do any funny business with her and she's not the kind of person who would subscribe to any.

hey kenyon

the real mobile9 wrote:

You don't think that Catlin is putting samples on ice?

he's long retired...