Proof that genetics are key - Look at this picture of Asbel Kiprop

HardLoper wrote:

picture plus performance wrote:

Except that the thin guy in the picture is known to be a gold medalist and 3::27 runner.

What's the point of the picture then?

It confirms what smart people already know.

DaCloner wrote:

twin cows wrote:

I don't think running power comes from the calves.

And I think you're an idiot. Read some biomechanics research- normal gait data shows that the plantarflexor moments are not much less than knee extensor moments.

Both trail the hip region by a long shot. If calf power was important then those guys would have big calves. They don't.

Your study is probably from crossfitters flailing while trying to accelerate their mass.

picture plus performance wrote:

tiniest leap of logic wrote:

While genetics almost certainly play a part in running performance, to say 'genetics are key because here's a photo of someone thin' is such a huge display of lack of critical thinking skills as to render you a complete tit.

Except that the thin guy in the picture is known to be a gold medalist and 3::27 runner.

No shit, Sherlock? What I am saying is that the OP is suggesting that study in the complex field of genetics involves merely looking at pictures.

Kiprop is not the only world class 800/1500 guy on the scene right now. Ever heard of Makh Daddy and Soul Man?

In any event, I give them all credit for running both. Too many people these days focusing on one event.

tiniest leap of logic wrote:

picture plus performance wrote:

Except that the thin guy in the picture is known to be a gold medalist and 3::27 runner.

No shit, Sherlock? What I am saying is that the OP is suggesting that study in the complex field of genetics involves merely looking at pictures.

It does. How else would you see the studies? Braille?

Popful Mail wrote:

Kiprop is not the only world class 800/1500 guy on the scene right now. Ever heard of Makh Daddy and Soul Man?

In any event, I give them all credit for running both. Too many people these days focusing on one event.

You're right, Souleiman deserves credit, might not look a thoroughbred but incredibly fit and incredibly competitive, almost always a factor when he races.

Makhloufi races infrequently enough that I don't really know what to think about him or where to rate him.

Calf power is important, however more important is muscle and tendon elasticity, which is a talent, which you can be assured the best runners in the world have a lot of. Nearly as important as elasticity is having low rotating mass, which is why the top runners in the world all have small lower leg bones, muscles, and carry a relative portion of their bodyfat away from their legs.

Jim Ryun is a perfect example. Now that he's older, he has a little beer belly, but his calves still have almost no bodyfat.

Man I hope your kidding.

The girls I date have bigger biceps than that guy.

How're you supposed to take him seriously?

Xfit_guy_the_real_1 wrote:

Man I hope your kidding.

The girls I date have bigger biceps than that guy.

How're you supposed to take him seriously?

They probably have bigger Johnson's too.

Wow, 'Bad Wiggins,' you're pretentious. Are you an English teacher/Nutritionist/Astronaut? Maybe your familiarity with obesity (in America) makes you think Kenyans look starved, but that man can run 3:27 for 1500, so I'd say that's damn healthy.

Bad Wigins wrote:

perspective wrote:

if by 'half-starved' you mean 'not overeating like USA fatties', then you are correct!

No, more like "not overeating like Vietnamese (2770) fatties." And with quotes, not apostrophes.

the next next Idiot wrote:

Wow, 'Bad Wiggins,' you're pretentious. Are you an English teacher/Nutritionist/Astronaut? Maybe your familiarity with obesity (in America) makes you think Kenyans look starved, but that man can run 3:27 for 1500, so I'd say that's damn healthy.

Bad Wigins wrote:

No, more like "not overeating like Vietnamese (2770) fatties." And with quotes, not apostrophes.

Tall people aren't malnourished. Kiprop ate just fine as a kid.

y p thomas wrote:

Accra wrote:

Why? He is apparently a joker in training, loses races by celebrating too early, and supposedly tried to kill his spouse. I don't see how anyone could be a fan.

I know nothing about his personal life and his relationships (and neither do you), find his unpredictability in races compelling, and I find the idea of a 3:27 man not training hard pretty fascinating - don't you? He doesn't owe a world record or ascetic preparation to us.

His effortless running action, strange blend of swaggering dominance and total incompetence in racing, and the fact he is the only world class 800/1500 man these days are what do it for me.

Admittedly I was talking rubbish with 46 sec 400 ability, more like 47 on a good day. Terrific speed for an extremely thin aerobic monster nonetheless.

Souleiman is a better 800 man and probably better at the 8/15 combo.

No, nothing is unpredictable or compelling to me about a guy who loses races celebrating too early. He doesn't have total incompetence in racing, he is just an idiot and quite possibly a criminal too.

starvin' marvin wrote:

Tall people aren't malnourished. Kiprop ate just fine as a kid.

Idiot of the day

Well fed African wrote:

starvin' marvin wrote:

Tall people aren't malnourished. Kiprop ate just fine as a kid.

Idiot of the day

moron of the century

just reading this thread made my IQ drop about 20 points...and posting on it made it drop another 20.

Geez, kids...it's no wonder America is going to hell with all these "deep thinkers" we are bringing up to make decisions in the real workplace.

picture plus performance wrote:

HardLoper wrote:

What's the point of the picture then?

It confirms what smart people already know.

You're not a smart person. Everyone figured that out as Gary Oldman, and that's why you're not posting under that name.

y p thomas wrote:

RunningAntelope wrote:

I'm built just like Kiprop, and I don't come even close to approaching his speed or talent.

Let's see a photograph then.

I've never seen a single runner built like Kiprop in my life. He stands out as a freak even among the other freaks on the world elite stage.

For all his success, Kiprop still looks like an underachiever at this point in his career. World junior cross country champion and 46 second 400m speed is unprecedented, easily has the talent to match El Guerrouj.

When did Kiprop run anything approaching 46 sec for 400m?

He's more like a 47 high at best.

Have an argument. Fine. But the constant name calling and "I won the argument" BS on this board is so pathetic and annoying. Sorry, forces me to do the same: Grow up. (yeah, yeah, I know, it's the internet...still nothing wrong with calling wrong wrong)

We're fortunate enough to be fans of an EXTREMELY objective sport. Not sure why people want to kinda make it less so. The "freakiest" person is the fastest person. And what might make them "freakiest" is almost never visible in a picture. Very, very simple.

Oh, and the constant "he/she is most/more talented" claims need to sit down, too. For the most part, we don't know who is most talented. Is Bekele the hardest working and toughest 99.90th percentile athlete ever, or the laziest, wimpiest 99.99th percentile athlete ever? No clue. We know who beat who and who ran what times. No need to pretend like we know more than we do.