Renato Canova shares his wisdom with LetsRun.com

Interesting reads. I always like hearing what Canova has to say. Certainly one of the high points here.

Yes, very interesting, especially comparing current (Americans) to the stars of the past. Admittedly he was specifically asked about specific athletes very familiar to an American audience (Centro, Rupp, Jager) but these guys are pretty near the top of the heap which includes the East African All-Stars. It seems to me - and Canova - that the era of El G, Komen, Bekele, Cherono/Shaheed is untouchable by more recent generations. Only a couple more waves of runners have come along since then as a 'generation' can be longer in distance running than, say, pop music. So it could just be that the genetic lottery was hit perfectly for several events at about the same time and maybe 5 years from now we see a 1500 record, then 8 years later 10k and so forth - we just wait for than one-in-a-million genetic anomoly to show up.

I never have been one to jump on the MB with the usual explanation as to why the Lance Armstrong-era produce records that can't be approached now. Renato seems to acknowledge that something was different then. When asked about some of the guys very near the pinnacle of performances this year and last, he admits they're not in the league of the record holders from 1500 - 10k. I even tell non-track fans that those records have stopped coming down and that the men's marathon has simply been catching up to what extrapolation would predict if charted from Komen - Bekele - Tadese (or from Radcliffe - do the math either way).

However, it starts to seems strange. Even one of the great coaches from a few years back as well as now sees that something was going on. Again, I never really jump on the bandwagon of condemning all athletes (baseball, track etc, etc) active at the turn-of-the-century, but an expert on distance performance is quick to point out that Shaheen, for example, is in that category that some rock magazines put Hendrix: no one today is close. I'm starting to think some was in the water, if you know what I mean.

Thanks for doing this, awesome interview.

Chokemaster Meb wrote:

I'm starting to think some was in the water, if you know what I mean.

Bekele's era is still around so your conclusion doesn't really make any sense. Both Bekele and Kipchoge are dominating the marathon. There is no "genetic lottery". The biggest difference between runners now and runners 10-25 years ago is that current runners aren't as interested in world records or even personal bests. The number 1 distance runner on the planet Farah is content with sitting and kicking. It is a mentality. When front running becomes popular again, you will see records again.

Interestingly, it is only the middle distances that suffer from this. From 100-800 and half to full marathon, the chase for fast times never seems to go away. So again, the drug argument makes little sense.

Renato Canova brilliant widsom: if you want to look good as a coach, move to Kenya and tap the world's richest talent pool.

What is an embellishment on a map?

ITS_THA_HOMIE wrote:

Renato Canova brilliant widsom: if you want to look good as a coach, move to Kenya and tap the world's richest talent pool.

Did you read the links? He talks extensively about other coaches' athletes. This wasn't a maturation session, he gives credit to others too.

Interesting read, thanks for posting.

thanks for the great interview

I agree that his rating of Centro seemed a bit rude- he just beat all of those guys, is certainly capable of 328 at some point. I'm also confused by him saying Shaheen is in a different league from Jager. If Jager breaks the WR, then what?

otcerisker wrote:

I agree that his rating of Centro seemed a bit rude- he just beat all of those guys, is certainly capable of 328 at some point. I'm also confused by him saying Shaheen is in a different league from Jager. If Jager breaks the WR, then what?

But Jager won't break the record, that's the point.

otcerisker wrote:

I agree that his rating of Centro seemed a bit rude- he just beat all of those guys, is certainly capable of 328 at some point. I'm also confused by him saying Shaheen is in a different league from Jager. If Jager breaks the WR, then what?

I don't think he's being rude intentionally, just blunt; and just Italian. Unfortunately, we live in a society now where in general, people are way too sensitive. Centro beat them all in one race in Rio. If you're going to hit it, I'd say the Olympics would be the perfect day. He's a brilliant tactician, and it showed. In an all out TT such as in Monaco however, Centro gets his clock cleaned 100 out of 100 times. As much as I would like to see it, he will never run 3:28.

“I will tell you this. If you take Eliud Kipchoge, or Kenenisa Bekele, and they become only a little bit stronger than they are right now, and you take them to run a marathon that is 50 meters below sea level, and for a pacesetter you have a car or motorbike, or something like this, that is normally allowed in current competitions, and you also allow them refreshment, not every five kilometers like the rules state but whenever they need it, I think that such a time is already possible.”

BUT, this situation is not athletics.

how is this not athletics? is el guerrouj's mile wr also not athletics because he ran it in a big stadium with almost no wind, a perfect track and pace setters in front of him?

I think hes wrong about Jager not being on the same planet as Shaheen, Jagers running and steepling mechanics are way better than shaheens, plus his 1500 pr is faster and his 3k pr is only seconds off of shaheens. While Jagers 5k pr isnt even close to 12:48, I think that if jager wouldnt have fallen over that last barrier in paris, his steeple pr would have been only a couple seconds off shaheens. I think for canova to say that they are comparable to rupp and bekele isnt fair at all.

lol what makes you think centro will never run 3:28?

Canova is officially a member of the fan club:

"I don’t think Paul Chelimo is as strong as Celeb Ndiku at his best, or maybe in the future, Ronald Kwemoi. But at the moment, 100 percent, he is better than all the other Kenyans in 5,000 meters."

I was perplexed by the Jager comment- in Paris he would have run 7:57-7:58 and I would say that that is not on a completely different level than the WR. I think that is an unfair comment.

Regarding Centro- he gets his clock cleaned every time at a race like Monaco, but I don't think it is unrealistic to expect a 3:28 from him. I guess I am just a bit baffled why Canova doesn't seem to give any of the three ANY credit, as if they are just an afterthought.

All three won a medal, Canova's didn't win any, right? What gives?

tyywer wrote:

I was perplexed by the Jager comment- in Paris he would have run 7:57-7:58 and I would say that that is not on a completely different level than the WR. I think that is an unfair comment.

Regarding Centro- he gets his clock cleaned every time at a race like Monaco, but I don't think it is unrealistic to expect a 3:28 from him. I guess I am just a bit baffled why Canova doesn't seem to give any of the three ANY credit, as if they are just an afterthought.

All three won a medal, Canova's didn't win any, right? What gives?

Jager fell because he was too tired to run 7:57-58. Jager has never shown the ability to run 12:4x. It is a fair comment.

You are being dishonest. Canova did give them credit. He just said that they aren't as good as Bekele etc. That is true unless you really think Bekele and Rupp are on the same level.

Centro beat them in a absurdly slow kicker's race that has nothing to do with the ability to run 3:28. Centro has been in several fast rafes and has never come close to running 3:28.

Everything Canova said makes sense. Your comments do not.

otcerisker wrote:

I agree that his rating of Centro seemed a bit rude- he just beat all of those guys, is certainly capable of 328 at some point. I'm also confused by him saying Shaheen is in a different league from Jager. If Jager breaks the WR, then what?

It seems harsh for us as American fans of Jager but remember Shaheen ran sub-8 as an 18 year old. At age 20, he ran 12:48 for 5000.

He ran sub 8 10 different times.

And his career was basically over at age 24 in 2006. Imagine what he'd have been able to do if he'd not gotten hurt. He's only 34 right now.

It's a shame he didn't try to win the steeple and 5000 at the same words. That would be amazing.