And if you talk to those who need the inhalers, they will tell you it is not a pleasant experience. I doubt many, or any, you see puffing before a track event are doing it for anything other than medical reasons.
I always wondered how many HS get altitude tents. Not clear if they work but they are cheap enough for upper middle class parents...
I've also kind of wondered about that, and really more so about . Does something like that work? It's one thing to sleep at altitude, but to actually train at altitude is what seems to be what gets you the most benefit.
Although, I suppose most pros can't afford something like that (some could though, I'm sure), and high schools probably couldn't justify it in their budget.
Wealthy parents could afford an altitude chamber and have it installed somewhere in their presumably huge house (or add-on an addition), but their kid would have to be a pretty driven and talented runner to justify the expense.
As for high school kids doping: it probably happens.
Those who set national records and the like get tested though, don't they.
I seem to remember watching an Athing Mu video (on her YouTube channel) when she set some national record when she was like 16 or something, and she had mentioned something about drug testing.
So if you're at that level I would be surprised if you're able to slide. But if you're just some regular high school kid and don't bring too much attention to yourself, then yeah, no big deal. You're just putting your health at risk for "reasons"...
EDIT:
Of course, I imagine the whole reason for doping in high school is to bring attention to yourself, so there is that.
This post was edited 15 minutes after it was posted.
My school won the state track champs in the '90s, and it was a pretty open secret some sprinters doped. My understanding is the one very talented one who eventually ran in D1 was clean. The throws coach was also a rumored doper from his competition days, but no one ever substantiated it.
After the Addy Wiley stuff, it reminded me that HS kids can cheat and it's probably easy for them to do so.
I always wondered how many HS get altitude tents. Not clear if they work but they are cheap enough for upper middle class parents...
I've also kind of wondered about that, and really more so about . Does something like that work? It's one thing to sleep at altitude, but to actually train at altitude is what seems to be what gets you the most benefit.
Everything I have seen suggest training has minimal value. It is living at altitude. But the tent doesn't have the partial pressure of altitude and that appears to be one of the big performance drivers..
I've also kind of wondered about that, and really more so about . Does something like that work? It's one thing to sleep at altitude, but to actually train at altitude is what seems to be what gets you the most benefit.
Everything I have seen suggest training has minimal value. It is living at altitude. But the tent doesn't have the partial pressure of altitude and that appears to be one of the big performance drivers..
Yeah, it's kind of hard to call.
Because watching the Eliud Kipchoge and NN Running Team videos, they train at altitude, at about 2000m (6500 feet).
Our athletes Eliud Kipchoge, Kenenisa Bekele, Geoffrey Kamworor, Abdi Nageeye, Jake Smith and Yalemzerf Yehualaw will talk about the different topics within ...
That's during their training camp though, and it's like 6 days a week, and on Sundays they go back home, and then come back Monday. Also, I don't believe many of them live at that high of a level (I don't believe Eliud Kipchoge does), but they do train at that level.
The altitude that they do live at when not training is probably 1000m (3200 feet or whatever), so yeah...
So yeah, when people question the Kenyans and the altitude, it's like, show me a comparison of who else is born and raised, and lives and trains like that. Because there is none, so it's hard to say it's not a factor.
There's people who are born and raised in Flagstaff, Arizona (or Boulder, Colorado). So there are some comparisons, but none of the people born and raised in Flagstaff or Boulder train like the freaking Kenyans who run marathons.
Of course, Emily Sission set the Women's American marathon record in Chicago from training in Providence, Rhode Island. So go figure.
How you can run that fast (and do it clean) training at sea level I don't know, but I suppose you can because she hasn't been popped.
But yep, you probably have to live (and be born) at altitude to probably get the most benefit out of it. Training there for a few weeks or months, then racing, then going back home to live at sea level. Then doing it all over again for the next race may not be enough to compete with people who are born into that.
The steroids you take for asthma are not the kind of steroid that helps with athletic performance. And inhaled steroids (which affect the lungs with very little systemic effect) rather than oral steroids are typically prescribed for asthma.
And if you talk to those who need the inhalers, they will tell you it is not a pleasant experience. I doubt many, or any, you see puffing before a track event are doing it for anything other than medical reasons.
So many "asthmatics" with exceptional stamina. Where can I get it? Asthma, that is.
HS football, basketball and baseball players have used, do you think any runners have used? Use to get into a better school such as Ivy, etc. seems some kids run exceptional times and than fade back to mediocrity once in college
I know that some kids can take huge time off pr's from one race to the next and that transition to college can change ones priorities
Thoughts?
Myself and many other running in the illinois area are suspicious of someone who got borderline elite out of no where. I’m not going to name names but those around the Illinois hs running scene might have an idea who i’m talking about.
Very easy to get prednisone and albuterol prescriptions. HS kids are more likely to dope by accident in winter or spring. If they get a little sniffy, cough, chest a little tight.... the parents take the kid to urgent care. The guy diagnosing you can sometimes not be a physician...so he'll think you have exercise-induced asthma. Urgent care facilities are in the business of getting you in and out as fast as possible. They'll prescribe both drugs mentioned above and then say if it persists go see your physician. On occasion you can call them back for a refill prescription.
Taking a combination of prednisone and albuterol is absolutely a performance enhancher -- especially if you're misdiagnosed as having asthma, bronchitis.
Idk about Nalley but someone went from a 16:30 5k to a 8:49 3200 in months. He has a crazy progression and it very well could be natural but it’s hard to say.
I think Nalley is on something if his workouts his teammate posted are true. Most elite college kids would have trouble doing it. My son just looked and his teammate took it down someone must have told him to do so. Probably the coach. All jokes aside Nalley not so much but another kid In Southern Illinois went from 9:40’s to 8:40’s in less than 1year. I can’t find one example of someone going from JV 3A times to national elite in 1year.
What happens if a HS kid is busted for PEDs? It’s likely to cost him a chance to compete in college, his coach will lose his job and it will damage his family’s reputation. Any sane parent would not consider doping to be worth the risks.
I think Nalley is on something if his workouts his teammate posted are true. Most elite college kids would have trouble doing it. My son just looked and his teammate took it down someone must have told him to do so. Probably the coach. All jokes aside Nalley not so much but another kid In Southern Illinois went from 9:40’s to 8:40’s in less than 1year. I can’t find one example of someone going from JV 3A times to national elite in 1year.
Idk about Nalley but someone went from a 16:30 5k to a 8:49 3200 in months. He has a crazy progression and it very well could be natural but it’s hard to say.
I watched an interview after Ethan Hogan 3200 at Arcadia. He said he was pretty new to running and that his body was getting more used to it now (A perfectly good explanation for the big improvement).
You guys underestimate how much a new runner can improve if he takes the sport seriously and has lots of talent.
In addition, Arcadia 3200 tends to promote an environment where vast improvement is possible. Tons of hype and everyone wants to run fast. I highly recommend anyone who is fast enough to get into either the seeded 3200 or invite 3200 to travel there.
I have seen this sort of progression many times before and your suspicions in Illinois is unwarranted.
The people whom actually dope in this sport tend to do it because they are not improving. People who are new to the sport and only in it for a year never dope. In addition, it is extremely difficult to cope successfully. You need an Albert Salazzar an expert nutritionist etc etc. (Remember distance running is different than springs which is different than other sports where simply cocain can improve focus but not endurance)
In D1 college, I had a few teammates who would try a few supplements (I am pretty sure they weren’t legal) for races and they still sucked and still ran slow.
I highly doubt anyone in high school has the resources or the motivation to dope. The only people I would suspect are youth runners whom have lots of connections and aren’t seeing any improvement (but even them it is extremely unlikely).