Sam’s 8:07 with a 54 min swim, 4:18 bike and 2:51 run were very similar to what Normann Stadler used to win Kona 2006. Sam outran Stadler by 4 minutes, but the swim and bike were identical (it just occurred to me that the race splits were very alike).
But in any case everyone was beating on Sam at Tulsa. It just goes to show that some days you’re on, other days not so much. Congrats to Sam. All the threads are about Lionel’s implosion, but what a performance by Sam Long bouncing back so quickly from Tulsa.
There isn’t much you can say to critique his performance yesterday at CdA for sure. Very impressive all things considered. I hope he can continue to grow and improve!
There isn’t much you can say to critique his performance yesterday at CdA for sure. Very impressive all things considered. I hope he can continue to grow and improve!
Cam Wurf and Sebi just got a new engine for the Kawaihai Bullet train to chase down Jan.
Sam’s 8:07 with a 54 min swim, 4:18 bike and 2:51 run were very similar to what Normann Stadler used to win Kona 2006. Sam outran Stadler by 4 minutes, but the swim and bike were identical (it just occurred to me that the race splits were very alike).
But in any case everyone was beating on Sam at Tulsa. It just goes to show that some days you’re on, other days not so much. Congrats to Sam. All the threads are about Lionel’s implosion, but what a performance by Sam Long bouncing back so quickly from Tulsa.
Different courses. Sam Long is (currently) built for what I would call a “strong mans” course. CDA, St. George, etc. Tulsa was more roller/Kona’ish so I was no wonder Lange did so well. Sam is tough and it will be fun to watch him in the future.
Sam said in video before CdA that he had been too focused on his threshold prior to Tulsa and his body was burning tons of sugar. Said since Tulsa he’s not been worried about having such a high threshold, but more focused on getting his body to be more of a fat burner. That sure makes a nutrition plan easier to execute. Lionel take note.
I am a Sam Long fan. Impressive performance after IM Tulsa, but only 1 min faster at this race. Had the same field been present at this race from Tulsa would he even podiumed? Comparing apples to oranges I know but how would this performance compare to Kona? Is he already a top 5 potential for this years Kona or is his swim still going to make him burn too many matches for the front pack. Im rooting hard for the guy, its been too long since an American has won there.
I would love the veterans’ input on all this, but isn’t the factor in Kona the heat? Sam races very well in the heat. That would seemingly give him a leg up, no?
Sam’s 8:07 with a 54 min swim, 4:18 bike and 2:51 run were very similar to what Normann Stadler used to win Kona 2006. Sam outran Stadler by 4 minutes, but the swim and bike were identical (it just occurred to me that the race splits were very alike).
But in any case everyone was beating on Sam at Tulsa. It just goes to show that some days you’re on, other days not so much. Congrats to Sam. All the threads are about Lionel’s implosion, but what a performance by Sam Long bouncing back so quickly from Tulsa.
Well said. I hope Sam gains a bunch of followers on his youtube channel. He’s a good entertainer and is starting to back it up with great results. The heat yesterday was no freaking joke and he performed great.
I was in the camp that thought it was a mistake for him to race another Ironman on short notice and so close to Tulsa. But that was a really impressive performance given the weather, besting Hoffman’s course record by 10 minutes. Though worth mentioning that the run course prior to 2016 was slightly different and involved a little more elevation gain.
Hoffman went 50:24 + 4:30:47 + 2:52:54 (8:17) in 2013. Hoffman didn’t have a standout Kona in 2013 but was on the podium the following year. Weather this year was similar to 2015 when Potts won going 50:30 + 4:33:13 + 2:53:25 (8:20). Potts did well in Kona that fall
I didnt see anyone say bad things about sam at Tulsa.
I think Tulsa was him realizing hes doing to much hard efforts so close to the longe efforts
And Tulsa being a tougher race field overall.
I dont get why people think 10 -15 minutes off first is a bad day at an ironman that’s like two steps behind usain bolt in the 100m. Just didnt do it on that one.
Sam said in video before CdA that he had been too focused on his threshold prior to Tulsa and his body was burning tons of sugar. Said since Tulsa he’s not been worried about having such a high threshold, but more focused on getting his body to be more of a fat burner. That sure makes a nutrition plan easier to execute. Lionel take note.
Is it possible to convert your body into fat burning in such a short time. I would chalk this up to lifting his theshold before Tulsa inclusive of hard racing at St. George 70.3 and now having enough recovery time to absorb that intensity block. He would have had taper 1 going into Tulsa, and some light training in between and since he ran slow at Tulsa his recovery would be fast and get the full aborption of the intensity block by this past Sunday.
Sam said in video before CdA that he had been too focused on his threshold prior to Tulsa and his body was burning tons of sugar. Said since Tulsa he’s not been worried about having such a high threshold, but more focused on getting his body to be more of a fat burner. That sure makes a nutrition plan easier to execute. Lionel take note.
Is it possible to convert your body into fat burning in such a short time. I would chalk this up to lifting his theshold before Tulsa inclusive of hard racing at St. George 70.3 and now having enough recovery time to absorb that intensity block. He would have had taper 1 going into Tulsa, and some light training in between and since he ran slow at Tulsa his recovery would be fast and get the full aborption of the intensity block by this past Sunday.
probably not an ‘adaption’, but definitely a change in a) type of training in terms of intensity and, b) a change in the amount of simple sugars taken in during workouts. He’s been doing huge ~35-40 hour training weeks for a while, so he’s definitely fat adapted, but cutting down the Coke and type foods during training can, in my experience, cause pretty quick adaptions. He did quite a few long rides and runs in between Tulsa and Coeur d’ Alene.
With Zero disrespect to Sam, he will have to catch Sebi and Cam before he can join that train
It’s true. He’ll need to find the solution to translating his ability to tick off sub 1:11 100y pace for 8+ x 500 in the pool to open water before Kona.
The good thing for Sam is that he’s still really young, and has lots of people to swim with in Boulder. Other than a really good coach on deck, the best thing for a bad swimmer is to have good swimmers to swim with and learn from!
With Zero disrespect to Sam, he will have to catch Sebi and Cam before he can join that train
Sebi had to get from duathlete to the level that he could win both 70.3 Worlds and Kona. Stadler was world duathlon champion in 1994. These guys had to move their swim into a range that they can win. I don’t see why Sam Long can’t get his swim to the level Sebi and Wurf are at. This is not front pack swim level.
Morning Dev … My response was based around his swim results most recently (I.E. Tulsa & IMCDA), I am quite sure he and Ryan Bolton are aware of it and will continue make progress in closing that gap, maybe even by October. That said, if historically things hold similar, he will be chasing Sebi & Cam out of T1
Sam is young, strong, motivated, has a massive engine, and is good for the sport. I am hoping he continues to work on his mental approach and plays “the long game”!