mathematics wrote:
How about the two most unpopular opinions from both extremes: 1-The absolute biggest thing stopping most people is body weight. You think you're light? Get lighter. You think you're mostly muscle? Get lighter. BMI is the number 1 performance predictor in marathons. It's important in tris too
I disagree here; yes lighter body mass can make you go faster; but only when weight is lost in a healthy, sustainable manner, and only if you are overweight as a starting point. The issue of being underweight in all endurance sports is massive, and to state
mathematics wrote:
You think you're light? Get lighter.I get the sentiment that eating well/training well/not binging on junk all the time will make you faster as you get lighter from fuelling as required not beyond, but in a world where ED's are a real issue wording it as above that lighter will always be better no matter what seems irresponsible.
Not that it should matter; but for context I'm 70kg (up from 63kg two years ago), 21 and 4:13 PR. Would say I'm faster now I'm heavier but that would be a poor example as someone improving generally through training/getting older at the moment anyway.