Gene Dykes-how does he recover so fast???

it takes you 3-4 days to recover from a speed workout?

ur genetically limited

what in the name of the lord wrote:

it takes you 3-4 days to recover from a speed workout?

ur genetically limited

Maybe, but you just wait until you are 67...

I've met Gene a few times, and I'd say his ability to recover comes mostly from three things:

1) Genetics - Gene has obviously good genes, what runners call "talent"

2) Adaptation - He races very frequently, at every distance. He has done back-to-back marathons, ultras that are stage races where you run for days with little sleep, and run for the ages, where you run as many hours as your chronological age to see who can run the most miles. He is running a 24 hour race on a 400m track today. Because of these habits, he has trained his body to handle the recovery very well, and quickly. When you run 40 miles a week, marathon recovery is a big deal, when you run 120 miles a week, marathon recovery is a breeze.

3) Mindset - Gene acts and thinks like he's 40. He's usually around younger people in this sport, and if you've met him, you'll realize that he doesn't seem anywhere near his chronological age.

Thanks for the insight. Yes, 40 (sometimes less) mpw is how it is now for me, but that mileage for a 70 year old is astounding.

And, deservedly so, Ed Whitlock was treated like a god here on LR but Gene gets very little press when he puts up some other worldly times for those last 3 races within a month!!! Go figure...

Interview with Gene after Rotterdam (before Boston):

https://cloud259.com/2018/04/13/episode-63-boston-marathon-and-the-splendid-septuagenarian/

One impressive thing about his Boston result is that it was (or was close) to the Boston over-70 record and was done in historically bad conditions and was only one week after his 2:57.

RI red wrote:

Rotterdam-2:57:43

Boston-3:16:20 a week+later

Broad Street 10-1:03:01 May 6

Looking at the Broad Street results this past week and I see Gene runs a 63. Being a few years younger than him I am amazed at his times and how quickly he recovers. Before people start with the PED stuff, does anyone know him personally (or maybe Gene directly) that can shed some light on his secrets? Could it just be Gene's genes?

It currently takes me 3-4 days to recover from a speed workout, never mind a race; nothing over 5 miles (mostly 5k's) now.

Yes, I followed his thread after the Rotterdam Marathon.

I just Googled Gene's name and saw that on 4/28/18 (between Boston and Broad Street) he set a the US 70-74 Road 10K record in 39:02.

Only met Gene once, but I think he's nowhere near 120mpw (did you mean to imply that?). I don't remember well and don't want to make anything up but pretty he said 60 or less.

In addition to his obvious talent and dedication, maybe it helps him that he came to the sport later in life? Fresh motivation and fresh joints. Just a thought.

RI red wrote:

Maybe, but you just wait until you are 67...

Is he 67, or 70?

Age ... wrote:

RI red wrote:

Maybe, but you just wait until you are 67...

Is he 67, or 70?

Gene is 70. I am 67. I was replying to the guy who questioned my recovery after a "speed" session.

So 54 miles/week avg, with 25 of those being races, including several 200+

Plenty of Snarkatine...and I'm certain he's on T and Thyroid meds as well...

Drug testing on the masters running circuit is a joke. Runners of Gene's caliber earn several thousand dollars per year in prize money with the knowledge they're never going to be tested - despite the fact USATF says for every race says there might be testing.

I've never spoken to Gene personally but his recent rise to prominence and ability to string so many grueling races together at age 70 has a lot of the masters runners talking...

Gene attributes his success to having a good coach:

https://www.fixyourrun.com/

IMO Gene is clean .

RI red wrote: ... you just wait until you are 67...

meet Aleksander Doba, from Poland. he waited until he was 70, then he Kayaked across the Atlantic. again.

Cottonshirt wrote:

RI red wrote: ... you just wait until you are 67...

meet Aleksander Doba, from Poland. he waited until he was 70, then he Kayaked across the Atlantic. again.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/03/22/magazine/voyages-kayaking-across-ocean-at-70.html?action=click&module=MagazineModule&pgtype=Article&contentCollection=Magazine&region=Header

Will be reading this one. Thx for the post.

Gene was terrific at the 2018 usatf national masters t & f championships this past week.

He won the 5,000, the 10,000 and the 1500, defeating runner-up Gary Patton in all three.

http://www.finishtimingresults.com/2018/2018-USATF/Day1.htm

TheOhioState wrote:

Gene was terrific at the 2018 usatf national masters t & f championships this past week.

He won the 5,000, the 10,000 and the 1500, defeating runner-up Gary Patton in all three.

http://www.finishtimingresults.com/2018/2018-USATF/Day1.htm

Thanks for the post. Not sure why he doesn't get more love on here?