Interesting. Maybe an exaggeration but even a 53 or 54 is pretty amazing for a non D1 trackster.
To take things a step further a few former world class alpine skiers have become excellent cyclists, runners and even triathletes over the years.
“I admit it does seem a little fishy,” she said. “It could be off.”
Far more likely. I don’t doubt that Lindsay Vonn is a hell of an athlete but there’s no way I’m believing that. Frankly I would doubt even 62 seconds for her.
Ummm… I think it sounds more than a LITTLE fishy. At least my ego wants me to think so.
Any number of decent girls high school track teams can throw together a 4x400 relay in 4:08 or less, so it’s not like a 62 second quarter miler is particularly hard to find.
But she’s saying 52, right? I find that a little hard to believe.
Yeah. 52 is an entirely different kettle of fish.
Any number of decent girls high school track teams can throw together a 4x400 relay in 4:08 or less, so it’s not like a 62 second quarter miler is particularly hard to find.
4:08 is more than “decent” for high school girls relay team. But yes, there are certainly a number of high school girls in each state who can run 62 in a race. But we’re talking about a skier, ostensibly doing mostly ski training but then runs one in practice.
I don’t believe 62 is impossible for her, just unlikely. And no way in hell do I believe 52 or anywhere near it.
That would be good for a podium at the DI championships and it was her 8th repeat. So I’d say fishy
total BS, the absolute TOP NCAA D1 runners are 50-51 secs, and lindsey vonn doesnt (ahem) have the typical runners build. I’d go out on a limb to wager there are MANY MANY female ironman pros who couldn’t run a 52 second quarter.
why would you look at Ironman pros? That would be a stupid population to look at for 400m speed. You’d have better luck with ITU pros, and even 10k speed is a drastically different game from 400m. Just look at the body types of 400m runners vs ITU pros.
my point is that they run for a living and wouldnt be able to do 52, with lindsay vonn’s body comp there is NO way she could even run a 60 (on her 8th lap she said!)
I don’t know what ITU pros are capable of…
She’s probably not :52 fast (even she admits her self timed run is a bit suspect) but I would not be surprised if she can run a 400 faster than any female triathlete. She is, after all, world class in a sport that has a huge element of explosive leg strength used in events that last about :45 to 3 mintues. A downhill ski race has a lot more in common with a 400m than a triathlon does.
why would you look at Ironman pros?
Exactly!!! I didn’t click on this thread to look at Ironman pros, I clicked on it to look at Lindsey Vonn in track shorts and there are no pics…bummer.
I remember talking to Daron Rahlves during the summer before he won the Hahnenkamm. His “off-season” workout routine was brutal and included quite a bit of cycling on a stationary bike, including a low cadence build to multiple 20 min sets @360 watts. Obviously that’s sort of the opposite end of running a 400, but still pretty impressive.**
Or it could be that the HUGE leg muscles developed through downhill are enough to get her around a track really fast. And 1/4 mile isn’t 400m. But it’s not crazy to think an Olympian might have a fair shot at being fit in a sport that rewards leg strength…
Why is it that downhill skiers are so aerobically talented? It doesn’t seem like the kinda sport that would require a huge quantity of aerobic talent. It seems that it would require very good fitness, but wouldn’t necessarily favor those who can have 400+ watt FTP
Or it could be that the HUGE leg muscles developed through downhill are enough to get her around a track really fast. And 1/4 mile isn’t 400m. But it’s not crazy to think an Olympian might have a fair shot at being fit in a sport that rewards leg strength…
no doubt she’s fit, but 52 ain’t “fit”, it’s close to world class. sorry
I’ve seen Lindsey in person. She is the Chrissy Wellington of skiing. A tremendously gifted athelete - she has that 1-in-a-10,000,000 physical ability that only the best-of-the-best have. I would not put a 52s 400m past her.
I work with Lindsey’s uncle; he is suspicious of the time as he says that she has never been that fast of a runner.
Or it could be that the HUGE leg muscles developed through downhill are enough to get her around a track really fast. And 1/4 mile isn’t 400m. But it’s not crazy to think an Olympian might have a fair shot at being fit in a sport that rewards leg strength…
“no doubt she’s fit, but 52 ain’t “fit”, it’s close to world class. sorry”
To which I say, if she was a little off in the timing and ran a 53, a little off in the distance and was a few meters short of 400m…it’s entirely plausible that someone who DOES have world class fitness (in skiing, but still, world class fitness, there’s no denying) then it doesn’t really seem fishy to me…