Not a Coach wrote:
92.0 Matt Carpenter runner, US
I have seen that list before, and Matt's score is actually a typo. His real VO2 max score is 90.2.
Not a Coach wrote:
92.0 Matt Carpenter runner, US
I have seen that list before, and Matt's score is actually a typo. His real VO2 max score is 90.2.
in Matt Carpenter's own words:
"It's kind of funny because the other part of my career, besides redemption, is people telling me things can't be done. When I was in college I tested with a low VO2, and they were like, 'it's genetic, that's the way it is.' Well I did specific workouts to improve that and they said, 'well, it's genetic that you were able to train your VO2.' With economy they told me the same thing at the Olympic Training Center, 'that's just genetic, you're stuck with that.' Well, VanHandle gave me these workouts that improved my economy, and the first thing they said ... 'it's genetic that you can train your economy.' So everything is genetic. But I always tell people, unfortunately, it's the genes above the neck that count."
Added Perspective wrote:
Raptured wrote:Matt was always focused on trail and mountain races because that's what he enjoyed. He briefly turned his attention to the marathon and easily qualified for the trials. Given a few years of focus, 2:15 would have been a horrible result for him.
I'm sorry, but that's questionable. I admire everything that Matt has accomplished, but the evidence seems to indicate that while he is exceedingly strong, he isn't quite that fast.
For starters, he didn't "easily qualify" for the Olympic Trials marathon. He ran 2:19:44 (which is still his overall marathon PR) in 1992, and the qualification standard was 2:20. While that is a nice performance, I don't think we can really say that running 16 seconds faster than the standard constitutes "easily qualifying" for the OT marathon.
Additionally, his fastest time on the Boston course is 2:25. So, his overall PR is slower than Deena's, and his Boston course PR is slower than Kara's.
Once again, the man has some great high-altitude runs on his résumé, but I don't think that he had it within him to be a sub-2:15 runner.
^This. Prior to his 2:19, Carpenter was making statements about making the Olympic team in the marathon. It was a not a casual effort by any means. Amazing mountain runner and certainly not "overhyped" as someone posted (and this coming from a guy who wasn't a big fan of Matt). The dude has some serious talent and has made a career out of kicking a** in the mountains.
Not a Coach wrote:
My mistake. Harri Kirvesniem is Finnish.
Kirvesniemi was a doper too. Caught in Finland's biggest doping scandal in the early 2000s.
5kto50m wrote:
in Matt Carpenter's own words:
"It's kind of funny because the other part of my career, besides redemption, is people telling me things can't be done."
Interview
http://www.pikespeaksports.us/group/roadtrailrunning/forum/topics/matt-carpenter-to-be-inducted-in-the-colorado-springs-sports-hallNo; what it means is he transports a crap ton of oxygen around his circulatory system... If he can't off load this oxygen at the cell level ... there's the rub...
DW wrote:
VO2 max doesn't mean you're powerful or that you're fast.
he could have the strength of a 120 year-old woman but may have a high lung capacity..