maardn DK wrote:
This thread is rather stupid. There are even rumours that kipketer once did 2 x 20 x 200m in 26s with 30s rest so why shouldn't it be possible for him to run 16 x 200m in 25s with a minute rest? If you are endurance trained you can really just continue forever with those short reps. My stamina isn't particularly world class but 20 x 200m with 1 minute rest at date 800m pace IS doable for me. But if you lack basic stamina you will for certain lie dead on the track before 10 reps. In my opinion at least 15 reps should be possible. And 24 might be an option for some stamina trained runners!
I wouldn't say Kipketer was known for his stamina as he tended to focus on the 800m.
Here are several explanations for the crazy workouts:
1) People are getting very inaccurate times. Inaccuracy matters more at shorter distances. Could times by 0.5-1 seconds out?
2) People are rounding their inaccurate times down. Could make the difference of almost a second.
3) Times vary (e.g. you run 30.x, 30.x, 31, 32, 30.x, 30.x 31, 30.x, 30.x, 32....) and you say you averaged 30.
4) Rolling start. If you do this and coach doesn't have a good marker this could be even more inaccurate.
A combination of these factors could lead people to believe they ran 1-2 seconds faster than they really did.
There could be a few workout heores (aka people who can't race to their potential) or people who embellish their training or can't remember their times.
It doesn't seem to be restricted to 200s though. These doubtful ones stick out:
El G 10x400m in 52-54 with 30 seconds rest at altitude
Paul Tergat 20x400 in 55-56 with 60 seconds rest at altitude (I read this in Athletics Weekly. I later heard someone else talking about it who remembered it as 60x400*).
James McIllroy and a few 400 runners claiming they ran 600m in 1:12 in training.
* You know how when you watch runners they always look slower than you feel at that pace? I think there is something similar with describing workouts, so a lot of people exaggerate.