People who deny the importance of genetics know NOTHING about running or physical training

DiscoGary wrote:

Theoretically we all ran in high school. We all saw different people running basically the same practices, working as hard as they could, with wildly different results.

Working as hard as they could? HAHAHAHA!!!!! 95% of the team were complete slackers.

Did you expect everyone to cross the line at the exact same time? No, of course not, the efforts and desires of runners are going to vary greatly.

I won't be there as I don't want it enough.

Most people would be able to run a sub 2h marathon if they really wanted it and started early, got good coaching, etc. But genetics do play a role. I guess some elite runners could run 1:45 if they just wanted it badly enough.

Denial flows deeply. wrote:

So if the guy on here that runs 100 miles a week and does all the little things right can't break 18 minutes or run a 65 second quarter what tips do you have for removing those pesky 5 minutes?

100mpw? Why not try 150mpw? It worked for Cam Levins.

If that is not enough for you, run 200mpw.

TMT wrote:

marijuologist wrote:

If anyone trivializes the role of genetics or calls it an "excuse," you can be certain that you are talking to a total idiot. Thank you for giving me the floor.

If someone WANTED IT BAD ENOUGH and started at a young enough age, they could win a gold medal in T&F in the Olympics. The problem is that the people that say that really want it bad, don't want it bad enough. This is true for anyone.

If someone as dumb as you can learn how to use a keyboard, I suppose anything is possible.

I'd equate genetics to talent and it presents you with your maximum capability and that everyone has a different ceiling.

So genetics has a role.

But the importance of that role may be overstated.

Maybe one person is born with 5k talent to run 12:25 and another with talent to run 12:45.

The lessor gifted person may have more motivation and attain a time of 13 flat while the more talented one may quit before realizing his potential.

Certainly we have seen people with inferior genetics beat someone more gifted before.

Some people take the mindset of the OP and use that as an excuse to not believe that they will ever be very good.

Why was Christophe Lemaitre the first white guy under 10 in the 100?

Because other white guys with the same talent believed they were limited by their genetics while he didn't.

I doubt he is the most talented white sprinter ever.

Dial it up wrote:

TMT wrote:

If someone WANTED IT BAD ENOUGH and started at a young enough age, they could win a gold medal in T&F in the Olympics. The problem is that the people that say that really want it bad, don't want it bad enough. This is true for anyone.

If someone as dumb as you can learn how to use a keyboard, I suppose anything is possible.

The personal attack certainly wasn't necessary (reported, BTW). But I see we agree about the fact that if you want it, you can get it. But you have to TRULY want it!!

TMT wrote:

If someone WANTED IT BAD ENOUGH and started at a young enough age, they could win a gold medal in T&F in the Olympics. The problem is that the people that say that really want it bad, don't want it bad enough. This is true for anyone.

Supposing that's true, would it be safe to assume that the medalists at any Olympic Games are the ones that "wanted it" (during training and the race) more than any others on the planet?

We know so much about physical adaption to exercise that the gains to be paid are more or less finite.

The formula:

Variables:

Genetics - G

Optimum training (constant) - T

% of commitment to training (max 100%)- P

Performance = G*(T*P)

So a runner with better genetics can try less hard and still perform better than someone with weaker genetics and does everything 100% correct for optimum results.

Lenny Leonard wrote:

TMT wrote:

If someone WANTED IT BAD ENOUGH and started at a young enough age, they could win a gold medal in T&F in the Olympics. The problem is that the people that say that really want it bad, don't want it bad enough. This is true for anyone.

Supposing that's true, would it be safe to assume that the medalists at any Olympic Games are the ones that "wanted it" (during training and the race) more than any others on the planet?

No you're getting it all wrong. Some people need to want it more badly or less badly due to getting a small head start. Runner A could want it more than runner B and still lose, but if he really wanted it badly enough - and that's a bold-faced want not your sissy "want" (I'd like to see you text your significant other that you "love" her and see if she believes it's genuine) - he could do it.

So what event are you guys doing in Rio?

Can a little person dunk if the want to or are they limited by genetics?

Lenny Leonard wrote:

The formula:

Variables:

Genetics - G

Optimum training (constant) - T

% of commitment to training (max 100%)- P

Performance = G*(T*P)

So a runner with better genetics can try less hard and still perform better than someone with weaker genetics and does everything 100% correct for optimum results.

I came up with that first! There's no way I'm sharing the Nobel Prize in genetics with you, because I WANT it more than you do. That's an UPPER-CASE-bolded-italicized "want" for those keeping score.

TMT wrote:

Dial it up wrote:

If someone as dumb as you can learn how to use a keyboard, I suppose anything is possible.

The personal attack certainly wasn't necessary (reported, BTW). But I see we agree about the fact that if you want it, you can get it. But you have to TRULY want it!!

Oh no! Not reported!

Science and reason tell us genetics plays MOST of the role in determining success. Usain Bolt with no training, will beat some chubby white kid if Usain doesn't ever train and the chubby white kid does everything imaginable to improve(including steroids). Unless you have a real understanding of genetics and athletics, then you cannot comprehend the importance of this subject. "Wanting it," no matter how bad, is a drop in the bucket compared to the ocean that is genetics.

I really, really, really wanted to be as good as MJ or Lebron

Can someone give me any advice on I can want it more bad, then get it

Her name is Rio wrote:

Can a little person dunk if the want to or are they limited by genetics?

Limited? Yes.

But most people 5'7" think that their height limits them from being able to win an NBA dunk competition.

False

Star wrote:

Her name is Rio wrote:

Can a little person dunk if the want to or are they limited by genetics?

Limited? Yes.

But most people 5'7" think that their height limits them from being able to win an NBA dunk competition.

False

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5Vnb7uhDSk

Awesome! The bottom line is we can do anything we want. Lots of people say "I want to do 'X'." But they don't TRULY want it. If they did, they'd get it.

Star wrote:

Her name is Rio wrote:

Can a little person dunk if the want to or are they limited by genetics?

Limited? Yes.

But most people 5'7" think that their height limits them from being able to win an NBA dunk competition.

False

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5Vnb7uhDSk

No, most people 5'7" try to jump and dunk as kids and realize that hops like anything else are genetically determined.

Plus they don't have the genetics to even get to the NBA never mind the All-Star Game or dunk competition.

That's because most 5'7" people ARE limited by their height from being able to win an NBA dunk competition.

TMT wrote:

Star wrote:

Limited? Yes.

But most people 5'7" think that their height limits them from being able to win an NBA dunk competition.

False

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5Vnb7uhDSk

Awesome! The bottom line is we can do anything we want. Lots of people say "I want to do 'X'." But they don't TRULY want it. If they did, they'd get it.

I TRULY want to sprout feathers and fly but I don't have the genetics for it.

XY wrote:

I really, really, really wanted to be as good as MJ or Lebron

Can someone give me any advice on I can want it more bad, then get it

Firstly, get off LetsRun. Did MJ or LeBron waste time on LetsRun? Didn't think so.

You can't just really really really want it. You have to want it worse than you want to troll LetsRun. You have to want it more than you want to sleep. You have to get up early and make it a routine, do it, live it, repeat it again the next day.

You have to be able to fail and get back up. This isn't for quitters who said they already wanted to but it didn't work.

Bye and hope to see you out there rather than posting on here.