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Post by Jumper on Aug 29, 2004 7:51:07 GMT -5
Being a member of a track club and then a University team for 9 years now I have always heard how lazy us speed, power event athletes are, and how tough the distance runners in this world are. How the Distance events are where all the "real" gutsy performances are.
Now I have never believed this and think it takes alot more to run a 400 or a 400H then it does to run a 10K or a 1500.
I would like to have the following question answered by distance guys.
If distance running is so tough, and so hard to do, and you guys fight through so much pain. THEN HOW COME EVERY RACE TURNS INTO A TACTICAL RACE OF PUSSYS WHO JUST SIT AND KICK TO THE FINISH?
Sorry for the stereotyping of distance runners as pussys(Not everyone sits and kicks) but I am tired of watching these losers run around a track leasurely until the last lap and they kick to the finish line. I mean you would never watch all 8 400m contestants agree to jog to the last straight and then have an all out sprint to the finish. Nor would you see all the hurdlers walk over the hurdles and giver' after the last hurdle.
I am sick of hearing distance runners say they are the toughest of the track world and then see them turn every international race into a game of chicken. This isn't sprint cycling. Just run your PB and you will win the race. I'm not just talking about the 5K last night in which they handed the race to EL G, or the 1500 in which they handed it to EL G again. This happens time and time again in every international race. Its embarrasing, its a disgrace and I would like to know why?
Maybe I just don't understand the reasoning behind it. But I'd like someone to enlighten me.
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Post by SummerDietch on Aug 29, 2004 9:18:27 GMT -5
Alright, I don't really think I qualify as a Distance guy but I will say I employ different strategies from running the 6 and 8 as opposed to the 4. First off, I think many on here would take issue with your assumption that distance guys are running "leisurely" for the first 3/4 of a race. Running close to 2 min in the first 800m of a 1500m I don't think is a 'leisure' pace. And that many 'pussys' just sit and kick.
I think for the reason some people perceive Distance guys as 'tough' as oppose to Jumpers, 1, 2 and even 4 guys has to do with LACTIC ACID. Typically, does it not take about 40 seconds for lactic to sink in and force athletes to tie up? I think that is the crux of the Distance 'tough' guy image. Its a pain threshold argument. Its supported by peoples actions once they cross the finish line. Look at a 1, 2 or even 4. How many guys completely COLLAPse after those races compared to say a Steeple or 1500m?
Honestly, JUMPER, how many times do u see a jumper tie up about 80% of the way into his jump, and stumble to the mat/pit? Didn't think so.
HOwever, for the record, I agree with you Jumper in that I think the 400 hurdles are the toughest event on the track. There is no sit and kick, and I speak from experience when I say there is a fair share of lactic acid build up.
ND
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Post by realist on Aug 29, 2004 9:53:55 GMT -5
It takes more energy to lead than follow. Why sacrifice your race? hope that helps to understand why everyone doesn't rtry and run their PB's at the Olympics.
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Post by Cooker on Aug 29, 2004 10:53:07 GMT -5
Jumper, I think that you have to relise that its the olympics, guys are not running to PB, they are running to win the Olympic title. Also, i dont think that closing your last 800m in 1:46 in a 1500m should classify as pussying, seeing how 98% of Canadian 800m runners cant even run that. How often will they show the races on tv where the guys are out there to set World Records, Im pretty sure they never showed Bekele's 5k WR on tv. You are really only seeing half of our sport, known as distance running. In the 100-400m&400mH events its about whos fastest and strongest over that 9.85-44 and 47seconds. There are also mind games you play with yourself over a 10k or a 5k even, its not just go out run your hardest and finish, it takes some skill to run really fast in a distance race. I dont feel that without experienceing a distance race yourself, that you can really come on here and accuse us of why are we "pussy's" compared to sprinters. So next time when watching those sort of events on tv just think of the mind games and what they are actually running for. in the olympics its for the chance to be crowned olympic Champ, not toughest distance runner, and your going to do what it takes to make the race unfold in your favour no matter how that is.
take it easy
Pat
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Post by guest on Aug 29, 2004 11:29:21 GMT -5
o.k mr. jumper, in most international races, such as golden leauge races, there is always a pace setter and therefore the races are normally very fast and not just a sit and kick, at the olympics, like it was said people are there for place not time, and therefor do not want to lead becasue rarely the guy that leads the whole race will win. In the 100 200 400, there is no drafting, so there would be no point in it being slow and tactical.
Also, one reason that distance runners say that there sport is so tough is not only becasue of the races but becasue of the training, distance runners are pushing themselves incredibly hard 2 to 3 times a week, and on the other days running a lot of milage. So the training of distance runners is probably tougher than any other event. Yes i will agree that the 400 m is very tough, however, think of running 4600m very fast and then having to sprint the last 400m, thats sounds to me a little tougher.
A 100m runner runs that once in his race, distace runners will run 4 or 5 100 m sprints BEFORE there race, field events get to sit down in between there throws / jumps, the only time a distance runner gets to sit down in there race is if they pass out.
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Post by distance guy on Aug 30, 2004 0:38:15 GMT -5
I could not agree more with the first post. I've been a distance runner for about 10 years now and I just finished my college running career in the U.S. I can't stand those pussy faggot runners who try and control the race and then just kick. They are just doing that because they can't hang with the fast pace. I'm not just saying this because I'm one of those guys who doesn't have a kick. I can kick with the best of them. I'd just rather have a tough fast race from the gun. That takes more balls.
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Post by realist on Aug 30, 2004 8:35:58 GMT -5
distance guy,
i agree with you. Its much more tough and exciting to giv'er than sit around. But, have you ever run for an Olympic medal. I think when one is put in that situation the medal is more important than runnning tough from the gun.
sidenote: I think the ethiopians/kenyans should have actually run faster in the earlt parts of the 5000 if they wanted to win.
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Post by object on Aug 30, 2004 13:27:21 GMT -5
what is the object of a RACE?? to win is it not?? I believe so. And what do we do to win a race? whatever it takes... If you don't like "faggot" kickers then take out the race hard and if you don't like to lead then I have news for you distance guy, you are the "faggot" kicker...
That being said Jumper, I believe jumpers and sprinters got the reputation of being "lazy" because of the workouts compared to distance runners... I'm not saying you guys don't work hard I know you do. It's just that running 3 hard workouts a week and doing 4 long runs on the other days seems to be a little tougher. During our workouts we cover a greater distance say 6-7 times a mile in 5 min or better depending on how good you are...for cross or 10k track runners, where as sprinters may just work on their starts for a while then form then do some weights. Which seems a little easier to us. come out of the blocks run hard for 60 meters then ease up and take a 5min break and do it again... Where a distance guy would do 16*400 meters with a hundred meter jog recovery with no stopping... seems that would give us the "tougher" image
hope that helps
Thomas
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Post by Jumper on Aug 30, 2004 16:18:37 GMT -5
Ok I've taken in everyones opinions.
I agree with the theory that "in the end the only thing that matters is victory". Ok I can live with that. But I respect a guy who wins running hard more than I do a tactical winner. However I respect a tactical runner more than I do a guy who could have run hard, but didnt and lost in a tactical race.
Now for the who works out harder. Just because a distance runner is doing longer runs, doesn't mean they are hard. A sprinter could easily run 20 400's in 80 seconds, which would be a slow pace but would equal the methodical mileage that a distance runner does.
To Object: If you are doing 3 hard workouts a week and 4 easy ones you are over training take a day off.
As for Sprinters they also do 3 hard workouts a week. Speed, Speed Endurance, and special endurance.
mileage doesnt make your tough, I could counter by saying being able to lift 200 lbs makes you tough. All in all speed power event people spend more time per week on training.
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Post by observer on Aug 30, 2004 16:37:07 GMT -5
if the distance runners lifted as part of their routine then it would be a different story. i believe that weights should be done as part of a distance runner's routine.
did you see kelly holmes race? man was she ripped? other people watching her races with me that don't normally watch distance stuff said she was like a stacked sprinter running middle-distance.
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Thomas
Full Member
Mon the Hoops
Posts: 130
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Post by Thomas on Sept 1, 2004 0:37:19 GMT -5
First off running 7 days a week does not mean we're over training, one day a week is a easy 5 mile run.
and if you think running 3 long runs in 6 min mile pace or faster is a easy workout then maybe you should try it...
When I say running 16*400 with a 100 jog recovery they are done in 60-62 seconds... I went through a whole cross season of this training and ran the best times of my life so I wasn't over training by any means... it was 80-90 mile weeks and thats with the one day 5 mile run at 6:30 pace.
regardless we could argue who works hard and who's tougher all day... and distance guys well some anyway do, do weight training at least I did while I was down south.
This arguement will never be settled, so this is the last I'm posting about it... regardless I do believe distance runners test the limits of the human body a hell of a lot more than a sprinter. like the one poster said how many sprinters do you see collapsing at the line from being totally exhausted?? and how many jumpers heart rates get above 160 on the way to the pit or bar?
Fact of the matter is most distance guys run with everything they have, you will get the occasional guy who does nothing but thats part of racing to win the race. I won ofsaa one year with a 4:04 1500 I came from the back of a pack of 7 runners leading the race with 200 meters to go...
the next year I finished 3rd with a 3:57 and gave everything I had from 600 meters out... it's all tactics. but then there are the hamilton twilight nights where everyone in the field is looking for a p.b and gives it everything they have from start to finish...
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