Watching the Berlin Marathon this morning and observing how the African runners seams to have an advantage over US distance runners leads me to the following conclusion. (Flanagan, Shalane (USA)02:21:14 Congratulations!)
Reason most of the Top US Distance Runners don't win:
1. Not enough rest - Most African runners (including the Top ones)live a very simply life. They get up early in the morning for their tempo run, go home, shower and sleep. Most do not go on interviews, run charity organization, signing book deals and so forth. (In the 2009 NYC Marathon, Ryan Hall coach suggested that one reason Hall did not do well in that race was because of all the sideshows (interviews, appearances, flying to Japan for customize shoes and so forth).
2. Too Much Stress and pressure to compete - Most African runners do not have the contractual obligations as do the American Runners. The African runners earns most of their money from appearance fees and winnings. The top US runners have huge contracts with pays them more than their appearance fees and winnings; this requires them to maintain their top standing in order to keep their sponsors.
I think if Shalane, Kara, Meb, Hall and the others just relax and rest up a bit, they would be able to compete on a top level with the African Runners. Congratulations to Kimetto, Dennis (KEN)WR 08:02:57 , Tsegaye, Tirfi (ETH) 02:20:27 and Flanagan, Shalane (USA)02:21:14
Why Shalane and other Top US distance runners don't win
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true i think your right
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Agreed
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And it's a race and she announces her race plan to the world. It is easier to beat someone when you know exactly what they are going to do.
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Meb does win. 2009 NYC Champ. 2014 Boston Champ. Olympic silver and 4th place.
Meb is an inspiration. -
it's more of a numbers game. they don't win because there are so many in the pot and only one can win. winners don't always win.
that said, i agree that a simple life can bring an athlete, or anyone, energy.
but ryan hall was never going to be a top, top runner, rest or no. god took too much of his energy. -
I like the theory that African athletes do not have to taper as much before a race. The taper freshens up a Caucasian athlete but their fitness always slips.
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Taper Method wrote:
I like the theory that African athletes do not have to taper as much before a race. The taper freshens up a Caucasian athlete but their fitness always slips.[/quote]
Dude, I totally agree with you on that one. I've noticed this especially with Josh McDougal having to tweek his training to not tapering as much and allowing him to win NCAA's over Galen Rupp. I also feel from personal experience that tapering like that has really left me flat for a race, which is why the mileage isn't going to going to decrease all that much. I do agree with you.[quote] -
The top US runners don't race enough. Very simple, they don't know how to race, they don't know how to shift gears, they can't handle tempo changes in a race. Because they don't race enough. Even Saladbar knows that, Rupp races more than many US guys and gals.
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Im not so sure the africans have an advantage over the americans , to your point , their lives are uncluttered , they train , they are able to have a singular focus without the distractions. Their marathon training systems work towards running fast times , just look at the top 100 times for the year.
The americans see racing as a full time business with obligations , africans see it as a moment in time to run fast , represent Kenya, Ethiopia , make some money to have a better life.
Shalane wasn't even close to her stated goals with the very best in corporate support of any running group in the world.
You could say americans have every advantage in the world just not the formula to run fast in the marathon. -
While Shalane had a good effort today, talk is cheap. How often to do you hear from the kenyan or ethiopian of setting a WR, or a specific time. Never. Anytime one of the USA upper crust begins talk of AR, CR or a specific time, it does not happen.
Best to let the fitness do the talking during the race and results speak for themselves. Then the post run commentary of 'I thought, or my training indicated' etc.
A humble approach is best.
old timer... wrote:
The top US runners don't race enough. Very simple, they don't know how to race, they don't know how to shift gears, they can't handle tempo changes in a race. Because they don't race enough. Even Saladbar knows that, Rupp races more than many US guys and gals. -
Going into Berlin last year and this year, everyone was talking about how the men were going for the world record. Shalane did what the rest of the world did in that she set a goal and went for it. Whether or not there is record talk before the race doesn't matter.
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so you are saying it is more stressful to have a guranteed money from a contract then to live strictly off a win and get paid or lose and get nothing system? Said Aouita was the king of press conferences and entourages, didn't seem to hurt him. I also think dealing with the Kenyan Athletic Federation would be way more stressful than usatf.
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Taper Method wrote:
I like the theory that African athletes do not have to taper as much before a race. The taper freshens up a Caucasian athlete but their fitness always slips.
If your fitness slips you're not doing it right. -
itapinfo wrote:
Reason most of the Top US Distance Runners don't win:
1. Not enough rest - Most African runners (including the Top ones)live a very simply life. They get up early in the morning for their tempo run, go home, shower and sleep. Most do not go on interviews, run charity organization, signing book deals and so forth. (In the 2009 NYC Marathon, Ryan Hall coach suggested that one reason Hall did not do well in that race was because of all the sideshows (interviews, appearances, flying to Japan for customize shoes and so forth).
2. Too Much Stress and pressure to compete - Most African runners do not have the contractual obligations as do the American Runners.
Nope, the Africans win because there's 37x more of them than Americans cause all the money makes them millionaires by Kenyan standards. You're bound to get a 2:02 guy with 37x more talent.
/THREAD -
Hmmm
so what about the greats who win like Hailie, and Kenny B and more recently Wilson Kipsang who have multiple business ventures going on (hotels, stores etc) in their homelands? They have plenty of stress and other obligations, not to mention they generally have far more people that are dependent on them as opposed to Americans. Who is dependent on Shalane? (as in we go hungry if you do not win, or we have no more jobs when you no longer make money). At most Ryan Hall has Sara that depends on him and she is pretty well taken care of by his contracts that he still has even though he has done nada in 5 years.
I can sort of see where you are coming from but also think that is a bit of a reach as to why they do not win. -
Ed Smallwood wrote:
Taper Method wrote:
I like the theory that African athletes do not have to taper as much before a race. The taper freshens up a Caucasian athlete but their fitness always slips.
If your fitness slips you're not doing it right.
None of them do.
Don't confuse your glorified hobby-jogging taper as representative of what it takes to contend with the Africans. -
/THREAD wrote:
Nope, the Africans win because there's 37x more of them than Americans cause all the money makes them millionaires by Kenyan standards. You're bound to get a 2:02 guy with 37x more talent.
/THREAD
This really is the truth. The average Kenyan earns what, 250 USD a year? You win a major marathon you are set for life in Kenya. You get 3rd place or 4th place you still are set for life in Kenya. -
itapinfo wrote:
Watching the Berlin Marathon this morning and observing how the African runners seams to have an advantage over US distance runners leads me to the following conclusion. (Flanagan, Shalane (USA)02:21:14 Congratulations!)
Reason most of the Top US Distance Runners don't win:
I blame Schumacher, he burns out athletes faster than a drifter burns out rear tires. The list of top athletes he's destroyed is shameful:
- Solinsky
- Tegenkamp
- Bairu
- Bumbalough for awhile.
- Goucher
- plus slew of Africans that amounted to little
Flanagan has always come into races tired, fading at the end. Go back and read her training interviews/articles on her training, and tiredness seems to be a common thread, i've never heard her talking about getting the pop back in her stride. And as other poster noted, she doesn't race enough.
Given all that, she went for it and PBd, but she should seriously consider a new coach. -
Better PED's and less stringent testing for those who
"Come out of nowhere".
