What makes someone a fast/good runner?
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ZenInTexas
Posts: 781 Member
What makes someone good at running? Why are some people capable of 2 or 3 hour marathons and others, even if they train for years wouldn't be able to do it? Is it genetics? Anyone have any insight into this?
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So many variables. Yes genetics is part of it. As is a good training plan, proper nutrition, consistency, base of fitness, etc, etc0
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I want to know too!!
I want to be so much faster than I am and I research all the time and train appropriately, but improvements are soooo slow! Frustrating!0 -
Yes, a lot of it is genetics. You can train and improve your strength but there is a limit to how much you can train to improve endurance. But for most people, getting stronger, building up a base of mileage, and losing fat are all possible -- and these will all help you get faster. If you have 10 percent body fat, can do 100 pushups, and are already doing speed work and running 50+ miles a week then you can improve a little but you probably won't get a heck of a lot faster. Fortunately, most people aren't yet at that level, so they can still improve a lot!0
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So many variables. Yes genetics is part of it. As is a good training plan, proper nutrition, consistency, base of fitness, etc, etc
Add psychology to the list, some people can tolerate physical pain and mental anguish more than others.0 -
Genetics - Just like the 4'8" woman is going to have a leg up on the 6' woman when it comes to gymnastics (and vice versa for volleyball), some are going to be better at distance running purely based on his/her particular mixture of genes.
Mental fortitude - I used to be a competitive diver and I could have been a lot better it at. What held me back? My head. Irrational fears. Not enough belief in myself to push myself to really test the limits of my physical abilities. A person could have been born with gifted running genes, but if they're not there mentally, they won't reach their potential.
And everything else... competitive drive, practice, coaching, diet, cross training, familial support... the list goes on!
And, FWIW - I still consider myself a "good" runner (albeit one with lots of room to improve), but I'll probably never consider myself a fast runner. Good for me equates to enthusiastic, dedicated, determined... qualities like that :-).0 -
Genetics - Just like the 4'8" woman is going to have a leg up on the 6' woman when it comes to gymnastics (and vice versa for volleyball), some are going to be better at distance running purely based on his/her particular mixture of genes.
Mental fortitude - I used to be a competitive diver and I could have been a lot better it at. What held me back? My head. Irrational fears. Not enough belief in myself to push myself to really test the limits of my physical abilities. A person could have been born with gifted running genes, but if they're not there mentally, they won't reach their potential.
And everything else... competitive drive, practice, coaching, diet, cross training, familial support... the list goes on!
And, FWIW - I still consider myself a "good" runner (albeit one with lots of room to improve), but I'll probably never consider myself a fast runner. Good for me equates to enthusiastic, dedicated, determined... qualities like that :-).
Great post!0 -
Genetics - Just like the 4'8" woman is going to have a leg up on the 6' woman when it comes to gymnastics (and vice versa for volleyball), some are going to be better at distance running purely based on his/her particular mixture of genes.
Mental fortitude - I used to be a competitive diver and I could have been a lot better it at. What held me back? My head. Irrational fears. Not enough belief in myself to push myself to really test the limits of my physical abilities. A person could have been born with gifted running genes, but if they're not there mentally, they won't reach their potential.
And everything else... competitive drive, practice, coaching, diet, cross training, familial support... the list goes on!
And, FWIW - I still consider myself a "good" runner (albeit one with lots of room to improve), but I'll probably never consider myself a fast runner. Good for me equates to enthusiastic, dedicated, determined... qualities like that :-).
^^^^ This (except I think of myself as an average kind of runner - middle of the pack finishes)
Like anything else in life you have to have the desire and the willingness to do whatever it takes to excel to reach the top of your field of endeavour (just ask any concert pianist how many hours a day are spent practicing)0 -
Genetics - Just like the 4'8" woman is going to have a leg up on the 6' woman when it comes to gymnastics (and vice versa for volleyball), some are going to be better at distance running purely based on his/her particular mixture of genes.
Mental fortitude - I used to be a competitive diver and I could have been a lot better it at. What held me back? My head. Irrational fears. Not enough belief in myself to push myself to really test the limits of my physical abilities. A person could have been born with gifted running genes, but if they're not there mentally, they won't reach their potential.
And everything else... competitive drive, practice, coaching, diet, cross training, familial support... the list goes on!
And, FWIW - I still consider myself a "good" runner (albeit one with lots of room to improve), but I'll probably never consider myself a fast runner. Good for me equates to enthusiastic, dedicated, determined... qualities like that :-).
I DO consider you a fast runner!!! I hope to one day do my training runs as fast as you do yours!0 -
So many variables. Yes genetics is part of it. As is a good training plan, proper nutrition, consistency, base of fitness, etc, etc
Add psychology to the list, some people can tolerate physical pain and mental anguish more than others.
I think this might have a lot to do with it. It hurts to run a 2:05 marathon, does it not? I mean, those guys make it look so easy and effortless but it has to hurt, right? I know my head gives up on me long before my body does.0 -
This is the key right here. I know plenty plenty of people who will go out there and run marathons every weekend who will never break 4 hours but I still consider them "good" runners. Ed the Jester is probably one of the best runners I personally know and I don't think he has crossed the line in under 3:30 in years; however if you ever ran a race with Ed you probably saw him .2 miles from the finish line cheering people on and waving a "Only .2 miles to go" sign.And, FWIW - I still consider myself a "good" runner (albeit one with lots of room to improve), but I'll probably never consider myself a fast runner. Good for me equates to enthusiastic, dedicated, determined... qualities like that :-).0 -
I don't think of it in terms of "fast/good" but rather "what makes someone significantly improve themselves?" I started to really get into running 3 years ago, and did my first half in 2:29. Fast/good is relative, and by some definitions, I really whizzed through it. Fast forward to today, and my PR is 1:45. Do I consider that fast? Nope. I won't be happy until I get sub 1:30. That's my definition of "fast," and I just won't accept genetics as the thing that keeps me where I am at. One person's fast is another's slow, one person's "good runner" is another's "lack of discipline." Do I think I'll ever win any marathon? Nahh. I don't put in the time/effort. Will I beat my expectations and leave my guts on the course? Damn straight
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What makes someone good at running? Why are some people capable of 2 or 3 hour marathons and others, even if they train for years wouldn't be able to do it? Is it genetics? Anyone have any insight into this?
whats "good" at running, really?
Kiprotich is a Kenyan long distance runner who can run a marathon in a few seconds over 2 hours....
Elizabeth ran the Toronto marathon in 8 hours...
Elizabeth was still on her feet when Kiprotich was in the departure lounge at the airport waiting for his flight back to Nairobi
a good runner in my mind is some one who WANTS it and will work hard to EARN it...and make running as much of a habit as using the internet or socialising. Elizabeth is every bit a "good" runner to me as Kiprotich.0 -
Genetics and being able to train consistently by remaining as injury free as possible. I believe that anyone, given the time to train properly and lose weight to a healthy racing weight, can break 4 hours for the marathon, maybe even 3:30.0
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So many variables. Yes genetics is part of it. As is a good training plan, proper nutrition, consistency, base of fitness, etc, etc
Add psychology to the list, some people can tolerate physical pain and mental anguish more than others.
I think this might have a lot to do with it. It hurts to run a 2:05 marathon, does it not? I mean, those guys make it look so easy and effortless but it has to hurt, right? I know my head gives up on me long before my body does.
Just like a marathon for us mere mortals, it doesn't really start to hurt until around mile 20.0
