Supertraining

On a personal note, I  am very pleased for Oscar, its not just his Olympic
performance that is at stake, but also his participation in all IAAF events
including the South African national competitions and other IAAF events, so
good luck to Oscar.  Practically Oscar has not qualified to run in the 400m
event yet and would only go to Beijing as a relay alternate, unless he
qualifies shortly.

I'd love also to read the evidence presented in full, until then I will with
hold my thoughts.

Best Regards
Nick Tatalias
Johannesburg
South Africa

2008/5/17 John Casler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:

>    Ken Jakalski kindly sent me the below article:
>
> The scientific team was asked to evaluate the IAAF's initial claim
> that the Cheetah Flex-Foot prostheses (J-shaped, high-performance
> prostheses used for running) worn by Pistorius give him an advantage
> over able-bodied runners. The team concluded that the scientific
> evidence put forth by the IAAF investigation to ban Pistorius was
> fundamentally flawed. "While an athlete's performance in sprints of
> very short duration is determined almost entirely by mechanical
> factors, in races of longer duration, such as the 400m, performance
> depends on both mechanical and metabolic factors," said Herr, a
> bilateral amputee who heads the MIT Media Lab's Biomechatronics
> research group.
>
> Based on this performance link, the scientists refuted the IAAF
> findings on two major points: the speed-duration relationship and
> rates of metabolic energy expenditure.
>
> Specifically, the scientists concluded that:
>
> . Pistorius' ability to maintain speed over the course of longer
> sprints--his speed-duration relationship--is essentially identical to
> that of able-bodied runners, indicating that he fatigues in the same
> manner as able-bodied sprinters.
>
> . Pistorius' rates of metabolic energy expenditure do not differ
> from elite non-amputee runners. In particular, he has nearly the same
> running economy, or rate of oxygen consumption at submaximal speeds,
> and a similar maximal rate of oxygen consumption as elite non-amputee
> runners.
>
> John Casler writes:
>
> While I am not informed enough to have an opinion on the "equality" over
> all
> competitors, I might wonder or question the assertion of "metabolic"
> advantage.
>
> I, for over 20 years have used "stair climbing" as a great Cardio
> Stimulating activity, and regularly do so.
>
> During this period I have explored many climbing and descending experiments
>
> to compete with myself and become faster.
>
> It didn't take too long for me to find that climbing on my "toes" caused a
> greater blood flow to my calves. This then when viewed logically suggested
> several things:
>
> 1) The blood flow to the calves was significant.
> 2) The distance the blood was pumped was far greater from the heart, and
> surely offered greater stress
> 3) The circulatory efficiency of supplying blood both TO and FROM the
> calves
> was a greater stress due to the "Cul de Sac" system.
>
> In light of this, I adjusted my form to step deep into the step itself and
> land on the heel, reducing calf involvement. This then reduced blood
> requirement for the area. Additionally I pushed off with the heel, causing
> even greater hip and ham involvement.
>
> The proximity of the glutes and hams to the heart to both supply and return
>
> blood was far less stressful and my times steadily improved.
>
> Now while this certainly doesn't suggest that metabolic requirements are
> small, it does offer an interesting question as to if the shorter and more
> direct blood flow can offer metabolic advantage.
>
> While I might suggest it "does", I might also say that I can see no viable
> method of establishing the scope of the advantage, considering the
> disadvantages contained in the disability itself.
>
> However, it is interesting none the less.
>
> I think this will be one "large story" of the upcoming OLYMPICS. Good or
> Bad, the Press will love this.
>
> Regards,
>
> John Casler
> TRI-VECTOR 3-D Force Systems
> Century City, CA
>
> 
>


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