Supertraining

I forgot Joan Benoit (Samuel), who was the first women's Olympic 
marathon champion and a fantastic runner for her day, and any day. 
(And I think she just ran a 2.49 marathon at 50.)

Reminiscing a tad now -- apologies to the youger crowd -- but in 
triathlon also: Scott, Tinley, Allen, Molina and Newby-Fraser, 
Americans who dominated triathlon in the eighties.

I can understand the dominance of the Africans in distance running, 
but where are those dominant Americans in triathlon?

Anyway, for track and field fans, and for pure enjoyment, take a look 
at Dave Wottle's gold medal run - golf cap and all - from the Munich 
Olympics. Check out that leg speed and notice the little kick to get 
in position just after the first lap. Dave gets overlooked sometimes 
in US Olympic history I think. There are few more inspiring moments 
than this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LHid-nC45k

Paul Rogers
Gympie, Australia

--- In [EMAIL PROTECTED], "Dr. Michael Yessis" 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Paul, your comments are right on.  I should modify my use of the 
term trend
> as it really applies to those who are keeping up with the latest 
advances in
> sports science.  With sorrow the training of U.S. middle and long-
distance
> runners is still basically the same with no real changes.  The only 
major
> difference has been in getting  many of the top runners to train 
together
> and push one another in the training.  Rather than being innovative 
they try
> to copy methods used by the Kenyans without closely examining the 
progress
> of Kenyan runners from childhood.
>  
> I think if you saw the training being done by Alan Webb you would 
cringe.
> I'm not surprised that he has been unable to do well since he set a 
record.
>  
> Michael Yessis, Ph.D
> Professor Emeritus, CSUF
> President, Sports Training, Inc.
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> www.dryessis.com <http://www.dryessis.com/> 
> 760-480-0558
> 
> =================================
>  
> In [EMAIL PROTECTED]  
<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] P>
> Paul wrote
>  
> Michael, thanks for your perspective.
> 
> With all due respect to modern training methods, it seems to me 
it's 
> many years since the US produced long and middle distance runners 
of 
> the calibre of Salazar, Rodgers, Shorter, Prefontaine, Ryun and 
> Wottle.
> 
> Not saying newer methods don't work, and I understand that 
champions 
> come and go, but . . .
> 
> =============================
>