http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,5033,s6-78-0-0-6573,00.html
It’s an interesting article with the author posndering how well Lance would do in a marathon. I say that right now he could run about 2:20 - 2:30, like the author says. If he were to train for a year specifically for the marathon I think it could be faster. What do you all think?
2:45 right now. 2:30 with focus.
It would be interesting to know how fast Lance thinks he could run. I doubt we’ll ever know since his focus is on cycling. If he ever does run a marathon he will likely be past his prime and/or do it as part of an IM. I think with his mental focus, his Vo2 max, his seeming ability to block out pain, and his natural running ability, that he would be able to run sub 2:10 with proper training. But that’s just pure speculation.
Don
He’s go out w/ the big guns at the 2hr20’ pace and crash’n burn at 10K-to-go like the rest of us. Finish at 3hr5’ 
I think with his mental focus, his Vo2 max, his seeming ability to block out pain, and his natural running ability, that he would be able to run sub 2:10 with proper training. But that’s just pure speculation.
Don
Not a chance. Not even close. He is an old teammate of mine. I’ve seen Lance run many, many races, though granted it was years ago. Lance would win the local Plano races but get his hat handed to him by the Dallas guys. Chann McRae was actually a better runner.
2:10 is world-class. No way Lance has 2:10 running talent. *Possibly *sub 2:30, if he really worked at it but I doubt it.
Granted, it’s not at all the same thing, but he was second coming off the bike in the Dirty Du a couple of years ago and won on the run.
Generally speaking cyclists loath running with a passion. So Armstrong’s ability or interest, is on one hand rather surprising but on the other he did have very strong tri/run credentials before the switch to full time pro cycling. To give you some idea of what pro road cyclists think about running, former top pro and Tour de France yellow jersey wearer Steve Bauer once told me that the toughest thing that he ever did was run the 400 meter LeMans style start that they have at the start of these 24 hour Mtn Bike races! Bauer was there competing on a team.
There may be other information/performances floating around out there, but to date the only very top triathletes to have an all-out go at stand-alone marathon were Mark Allan and Erin Baker. Allan was hoping to go sub 2:20 and I think qualify for the Olympic marathon trials - he pulled up a little short on that running around 2:22 and saying afterwards that it was much harder than he thought it was. Baker, was a very good runner and I think recorded a time in the mid to low 2:30’s for a marathon again, I think in an attemp to qualify for the NZ Olympic team.
he was an unbelievable triathlete back in the day, and that dirty du is true. he’s going to retire from cycling soon and become a tri-geek again. then everybody here can line up against him and test him out. he still holds the record for one triathlon in texas, and he set that when he was 15 years old.
Yeah, I know. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a very good runner, but it’s all about perspective. The times guys in du’s and tri’s are capable of is pedestrian compared to world class runners. To suggest that Lance could run a 2:10 and automatically become one of the best US marathoners is ridiculous.
There may be other information/performances floating around out there, but to date the only very top triathletes to have an all-out go at stand-alone marathon were Mark Allan and Erin Baker. Allan was hoping to go sub 2:20 and I think qualify for the Olympic marathon trials - he pulled up a little short on that running around 2:22 and saying afterwards that it was much harder than he thought it was. Baker, was a very good runner and I think recorded a time in the mid to low 2:30’s for a marathon again, I think in an attemp to qualify for the NZ Olympic team.
Didn’t Ryan Bolton run a marathon a couple of years ago in the 2:20’s? I think he was some kind of collegiate stud runner.
Indeed, to run that fast( 2:10) you have to be built a certain way. I have been up close to a number of the top marathon runners in the world and these are all reasonably small(less than 5’8"), slightly built( less than 120 pounds) men.
Remember Michael Engleman (sp?). He was former national class marathoner…low 2:20’s maybe slightly faster…and went on to become a top domestic pro.
agreed. but how good of a triathlon runner would lance be now? running a marathon by itself is ok (yawn), but how fast would he run one in an ironman? Peter Reid isn’t a world class runner, biker, nor swimmer, but he IS a world class triathlete. Can lance hang with Reid in a marathon after swimming 2.4 and biking 112 miles?
I agree 2:10 is a stretch. Wasn’t it Runner’s World that said the US had trouble getting enough athletes who could even run the qualifying time for the Olympics in 2000?
I think if he focused on it, he could be a great triathlon runner(long course).
I just looked it up - the winning time at the US Olympic trials was 2:11. 2:10 ranks in the top 30 so far this year in the world.
Lance is God but I doubt there is an Olympic marathoner lurking under his bike jersey even given the pathetic state of US distance running.
i totally agree. with his swimming and biking abilities, he could go into the run of a half IM or even a full one with a heart rate similiar to a sea sponge. compared to those dainty little REAL runners with their seahorse sized bodies, he’d far outdistance them on the swim and bike and they’d never catch up on the run, even with rocketskates. werd.
I agree with Jaylew. With his triathlete background, and his freakishly amazing fitness level, I think he could be a world class triathlete. It would be interesting to see his bike split in an IM race. BUT also is the question…do they do 110 mile TT’s? Not that he couldn’t adapt but I am sure he is used to doing a fair share of his long rides in some sort of draft pack. Just topic fodder…
yeah, but they draftpack and paceline at insane speeds, trying to wear out the other riders. they still go at near redline the whole time.
ok, this is getting me all pumped up. let’s all do a IM bike and run and report back with our times. we’ll have an internet-based race. 