These guys didn't wear, watches, heartrate monitors, garmins nor iPods.

Classic.

Jones, DeCastella and Lopes.

Brass b@lls the 3 of them.

Thanks for that link.

Very nice.

I've got the entire '85 race on videotape, would like to put it on the net and dvd at some point.

Carlos Lopes has to be the most relaxed runner ever in top competition.

No sir, they did not. They drank beer, banged broads and put it on the line.

In the US, Alberto Salazar was doing the commentary. As they kept talking about Jonesy getting the world record, he said "Someone could cut your arm off and you'd still go for the record." And he kind of chortled as Lopes went past Deke at the end.

Awesome link.

Amazed me how heavy they looked compared to the current elite.

If Jones was built like Geb, what would the WR be?

They didn't wear watches in 1985?

"These guys didn't wear, watches, heartrate monitors, garmins nor iPods"

Wow they are tough!

Were they really old school though? Did they also use leeches and stuff to cure injuries?

Did the go without vaccinations and shit in the street too?

No arm warmers, no gloves, no compression socks, no breathe-rite strips, no ice vests, no Alter-G, no aqua jogging, no gel packs, no fuel belts.

They just ran.

junk master wrote:

Awesome link.

Amazed me how heavy they looked compared to the current elite.

The crowds were also MUCH smaller then. Hard to believe spectators were so thin in the last mile. We've come a long way baby.

just run wrote:

No arm warmers, no gloves, no compression socks, no breathe-rite strips, no ice vests, no Alter-G, no aqua jogging, no gel packs, no fuel belts.

They just ran.

So if they are so "old school" and you are so impressed with what they did "back in the day" answer me this.

Why are they using such advanced technology?

Why aren't they wearing leather shoes, or any shoes at all?

Why did they sleep indoors and use water out of a faucet before the race?

Do tell how you choose to approve technological advances for use.

just run wrote:

No arm warmers, no gloves, no compression socks, no breathe-rite strips, no ice vests, no Alter-G, no aqua jogging, no gel packs, no fuel belts.

They just ran.

...several minutes slower than, today's elites

You chose what is obviously a genuine aid in getting the job done (food, shelter, footwear) and ignore the rest. They still ran faster than any tool using so-called tools like GPS, HRM, compression gear, arm warmers, breathe-rite strips, underwater or lower gravity treadmills, etc. It's obvious to some of us, don't know why you're failing to figure it out.

akdcts wrote:

just run wrote:

No arm warmers, no gloves, no compression socks, no breathe-rite strips, no ice vests, no Alter-G, no aqua jogging, no gel packs, no fuel belts.

They just ran.

So if they are so "old school" and you are so impressed with what they did "back in the day" answer me this.

Why are they using such advanced technology?

Why aren't they wearing leather shoes, or any shoes at all?

Why did they sleep indoors and use water out of a faucet before the race?

Do tell how you choose to approve technological advances for use.

throw money at it? wrote:

You chose what is obviously a genuine aid in getting the job done (food, shelter, footwear) and ignore the rest. They still ran faster than any tool using so-called tools like GPS, HRM, compression gear, arm warmers, breathe-rite strips, underwater or lower gravity treadmills, etc. It's obvious to some of us, don't know why you're failing to figure it out.

Actually there's a tool named Ryan Hall who ran faster...

.............................. wrote:

"These guys didn't wear, watches, heartrate monitors, garmins nor iPods"

Wow they are tough!

Were they really old school though? Did they also use leeches and stuff to cure injuries?

Did the go without vaccinations and shit in the street too?

Leeches are a quite effective medical "device."

The people arguing for all this old-school shit are the real tools. If something is going to make you better, wouldn't you use it? It takes nothing away from your heart and your spirit as long as you know why you run. Anyone who says otherwise is a complete idiot toolbag yearning for the "good ol' f***n' days" when EVERYTHING was better. It's been proven false time and again, things were not better back then, there is no highlight of previous times to look back on longingly except for the ones you make up in your head. That's why you're tools. Who are you to tell Ryan he doesn't run all out or respect the sport as much as anyone else? Just because some people are more open-minded and interested in technology, doesn't take away the fact that they are super athletes with more heart than the vast majority of the american population.

No altitude tents, no cadence counter, and paltry prize money.

They just ran.

The prize money for marathons might have been smaller but the prize money overall -- including all the other races was better, especially given that there was not yet any real competition from the Kenyans.

Take those guys today and they would have retired from running years earlier. 5 guys from East Africa would school them in every marathon.

Alias Switzer

I have to say, well said.

But LOCAL running times "back in the day" were much faster due to LESS people participating. Runners ran to win.

Now does that mean wearing & using high tech gadgets is slowing the majority of runners down? Somehow I don't think so. Will these make them faster. Maybe, IF used properly perhaps.

Hard work is the only way, but if done intelligently results MAY be better.

Maybe more elite runners as well as rec. runners want to train more intelligently, thinking of longevity in this game rather than going 'ballsout' every single day as some 'old school types' harp on.

Maybe 'old school' works, but what a lot of casualties along the way.

I run with a HR monitor, record the time & my ave. & max. HR for the day. Just because I wish to track what sort of shape I'm getting into and maintaining, no definite competitive plans due to odd work hrs. & the fact that 42 plus years of hard running have done a number on my legs..plan to keep being healthy as well as running.