Mid-distance runner physique?

Collinsky
Collinsky Posts: 593 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I always see conversations that compare sprinters' bodies to the physiques of those who run marathons - there are clear differences in the sprinters vs endurance runners.

My question is, what is the "typical" physique of an elite middle distance runner (say, 5K to half marathon distances)? Somewhere in between? Closer to the endurance athlete?

Replies

  • BenChase
    BenChase Posts: 169
    <
    though i don't have an exact answer i personally run between 1 and 3 miles most days, and i have run much more at times (up to 10 at a time, ran a total of 100 miles in august) i would say i'm middle distance, but have not been at this too long, just since this spring (less than half a year) and this is where i am at in the profile pic so make your own judgements on what i classify as :wink: thats the best i can do for you
  • NavyKnightAh13
    NavyKnightAh13 Posts: 1,394 Member
    Bump I wonder the same thing...I am by no means an elite runner (as a matter of fact I am running 2 to 4 miles most days) and am a work in progress.
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    the sport doesnt give you the body type people become elite (along with lots of practice) partially because they genetically have the perfect body type for that sport.

    for instance, most people's arm reach is equal to their height. michael phelps has a longer reach than his height. his extra long arms are from genetics, not for swimming.

    also in watching the olympics, many of the women who were running in the mid distance races were also taking part in the marathon. for instance Tirunesh Dibaba who won the 10K also ran in the marathon and she just recently won a half marathon.
  • medwards89
    medwards89 Posts: 97 Member
    This is a funny one for me. I ran a half-marathon in may and love running and run as many days a week as possible, 3ish miles. I'm 5"2 and don't look like I run. I think I surprise people because I'm heavier (although I've lost 98lbs) and very muscular for a female.

    No thin "runners legs" here!
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    If you go to any 5K, 10K, or half marathon you will see people of literally all shapes and sizes. There is no typical physique. I would say that they are generally more fit and lean than the average population, but that is because they exercise, whereas the general population does not. My mom went with me to a half marathon expo once, and commented that she had never seen so many healthy people in one place, haha. The WINNERS at all those distances tend to be petite with very low body fat, more like the marathon winners than the sprinters, as they are all endurance distances. 400-m is the longest sprint distance (I think, that's what I remember from running track anyway, but I wasn't a very good track runner so I could be wrong about that point).

    ETA: My bad, missed the word elite on my first read of your post. Ignore most of that, the answer is they look like endurance runners. 5k maybe a bit more muscular than an ultramarathoner, but they're all endurance elite runners.
  • ixap
    ixap Posts: 675 Member
    For an elite runner, anything from 1 mile to marathon will look similar. Because their training is very simiar. Lots of long runs to build endurance, a little weight training to build leg strength, but not terribly much, and very little upper body weight training.
    Look at Morgan Uceny, for instance,one of our best milers. She looks like she could be a marathoner.

    Recreational athletes come in all shapes and sizes for all race distances because their training and diet varies.
  • FoxyMcDeadlift
    FoxyMcDeadlift Posts: 771 Member
    elite athletes are all skinny runners

    MoFarah_1564829a.jpg

    40154_w400xh600.jpg

    TiruneshDibaba_X1EHC.jpg
  • Collinsky
    Collinsky Posts: 593 Member
    Thanks - that's what I suspected! I was curious. :)

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