Eh I think the problem is 2 fold. You don't massively change olympic sports and think your going to be close WITHIN the same olympic cycle you say you'll win. Like when she committed "full time" to running, this was already what 1 year post Rio. So 3 year window to "win gold in marathon".....now of course I have no doubt she didn't really think that (i mean of course she thinks she's going to win, but her comments were more PR machine), this was all PR fluff, and she's hugely successful in getting paid by sponsors.
You don't go from a "low volume" athlete to a high volume sport and not see these kinds of "setbacks". Even if she's on the low volume approach for marathon mileage compared to her competitors, you just dont change these type of training dynamics and set the world on fire.
So yeah I get it, she kinda has egg on her face because of all the pomp and bravada with the announcement of winning gold in Tokyo in the marathon and now this is her current output. But I also think that's all fluff, but yes the athlete has to own it when they come off that way- whether genuine or PR contrived.
Lastly I'll say what triathlon does for people- it gives you a reprieve from run pounding. I dont think people understand just how important that can be to run a super hard run day and instead of having to run again later that day, you can go shake out the legs with a 4k swim and get very similiar cardio-fitness benefits. Of course it's all about specificity and so triathlon running and speeds required to win gold are much different than the equal counterpart in run only events. BUT when you become a triathlete and your body begins to take advantage of that system of play- it's really really hard to get away from that for a much harder on the body system like running; where many days your recovery from running is well running some more. And yes I think she still "cross trains" *some* but nothing like she used to.
Brooks Doughtie, M.S.
Exercise Physiology
-USAT Level II
You don't go from a "low volume" athlete to a high volume sport and not see these kinds of "setbacks". Even if she's on the low volume approach for marathon mileage compared to her competitors, you just dont change these type of training dynamics and set the world on fire.
So yeah I get it, she kinda has egg on her face because of all the pomp and bravada with the announcement of winning gold in Tokyo in the marathon and now this is her current output. But I also think that's all fluff, but yes the athlete has to own it when they come off that way- whether genuine or PR contrived.
Lastly I'll say what triathlon does for people- it gives you a reprieve from run pounding. I dont think people understand just how important that can be to run a super hard run day and instead of having to run again later that day, you can go shake out the legs with a 4k swim and get very similiar cardio-fitness benefits. Of course it's all about specificity and so triathlon running and speeds required to win gold are much different than the equal counterpart in run only events. BUT when you become a triathlete and your body begins to take advantage of that system of play- it's really really hard to get away from that for a much harder on the body system like running; where many days your recovery from running is well running some more. And yes I think she still "cross trains" *some* but nothing like she used to.
Brooks Doughtie, M.S.
Exercise Physiology
-USAT Level II
Last edited by:
B_Doughtie: Oct 7, 18 8:36