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Nike’s Two Hour Marathon Attempt

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Re: Nike’s Two Hour Marathon Attempt

#81

Post by eitally »

mikestew wrote: post #73
alasdair_ wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>I believe everyone physically able to should try running 13.1 mph on a treadmill just to get an understanding of just how fast these athletes run for two hours. It is incredible. A whole bunch of treadmills don't go past 8MPH and even that seems pretty fast to me to run at for an extended period of time.

I can run 10mph for 13 miles, and I’m in my fifties. That’s not to brag, but to point out that an 8 mph speed limit on a treadmill is ridiculously low. Sure, it probably fits the 80% use case, but that’s only about 8 minutes/mile. Not a very useful treadmill, IMO. But I’ve been on a treadmill less than a half dozen times in my life, so what do the treadmill makers care what I think. :-)

It's perfectly useful, because the vast majority of people using treadmills are moving closer to 4mph than 8mph.

Re: Nike’s Two Hour Marathon Attempt

#82

Post by nradov »

padobson wrote: post #39

But by then, he had won four major marathons and the Olympic gold medal, and what he lacked in raw physical potential he made up for with … something. It seems like the next frontier in distance running optimization is the mind. Given the analysis on the runners' physiology, the only thing that really separated them was mentality. This seems obvious, given the nature of distance running, but the article never mention…

For endurance sports the top level competitors are all in phenomenal condition. What separates the winners from the losers is the ability to suffer. (Not accounting for PEDs of course).

Re: Nike’s Two Hour Marathon Attempt

#83

Post by azeotropic »

njarboe wrote: post #79
alasdair_ wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>It's a little insulting to marathon runners to claim this is a 'marathon' IMO. I agree. Anything other than a 26.2 mile race in footwear common in the classical hellenistic period that terminates in the ancient town of Marathon in Greece is a little insulting to REAL marathon runners. /s

Marathon to Athens, I believe is the correct route.

But first run from Athens to Sparta and back. If you happen to see Pan, it is permissible to stop and chat with him.

Re: Nike’s Two Hour Marathon Attempt

#84

Post by bronson »

alasdair_ wrote: post #67
chrisfosterelli wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't want to take away from their substantial achievement but I think it's an important distinction between "lab perfect" and "techniques that would not be allowed in any official marathon race in the world".

>"techniques that would not be allowed in any official marathon race in the world" (genuine question) is there only one official body in the world that determines what a "marathon" is? My understanding is that the Boston Marathon (which certainly seems to be a marathon) isn't considered a "real" marathon because of various reasons (weather, elevation, non-loop nature of the course etc.)

The IAAF. Boston is an excellent marathon but ineligible for world records.

Re: Nike’s Two Hour Marathon Attempt

#85

Post by smogcutter »

stonewhite wrote: post #65
smogcutter wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is not correct. "We ran" refers to the hoplite charge during the battle itself, which was notable for being a long run at full tilt (although Herodotus likely exaggerates): http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%... Here's the mention of "we ran" in Hansen: https://books.google.com/books?id=lAWEPUkz5sIC&pg=PT164&lpg=... The story of Pheidippides running from Marathon to Athens (and dying on…

Thanks for the correction and the links.

If you're interested in the period, check out the podcast Dan Carlin's Hardcore History. He's got a three part series on the Persians that's totally engrossing. For one thing, it's where I heard the "we ran" story about Marathon veterans. Carlin is a fantastic storyteller, and his stuff is very well researched.

Re: Nike’s Two Hour Marathon Attempt

#86

Post by yesenadam »

caio1982 wrote: post #8
Analemma_ wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm just one data point, but as a semi-serious runner I tried switching from ordinary Nike running shoes to the cushion-less, toe-heel-preferred style, and found it made no difference. I think all this business about "running shoes are bad for you" is an overblown fad, no different than all the other fitness fads that come and go.

Thankfully there are scientific data to prove you wrong. You just need to leave your prejudice and bubble behind, and we're talking about running mechanics here not Nike's competitors producing minimalist shoe wear. They you can have doubt about.

"Don't be snarky."

Re: Nike’s Two Hour Marathon Attempt

#87

Post by hsitz »

olivermarks wrote: post #29

Speaking as someone who has run a lot of marathons and half marathons, it would be more honest to describe this project as attempting to have a human run 26.2 miles in under 2 hours in perfect, laboratory like conditions. It's a little insulting to marathon runners to claim this is a 'marathon' IMO. Long but fascinating article though...

>It's a little insulting to marathon runners to claim this is a 'marathon' IMO.

Well, the guys participating were three of the best marathoners in the world, probably one (Kipchoge) who is the best ever, so I doubt whether they or anybody involved were concerned about "insulting" marathon runners. Everybody was well aware that the conditions were different and would help create a faster time than possible in a regular marathon race.

Baby steps. Once they have achieved sub-2 in "artificial" conditions, the idea of going sub-2 in an actual marathon race will seem easier, and will be the next item to check off.

Re: Nike’s Two Hour Marathon Attempt

#88

Post by dilyevsky »

padobson wrote: post #39

But by then, he had won four major marathons and the Olympic gold medal, and what he lacked in raw physical potential he made up for with … something. It seems like the next frontier in distance running optimization is the mind. Given the analysis on the runners' physiology, the only thing that really separated them was mentality. This seems obvious, given the nature of distance running, but the article never mention…

Not only the steroid quote is whole lot of bullshit but running is not really competitive in the same way basketball and wrestling/boxing are.

Re: Nike’s Two Hour Marathon Attempt

#89

Post by hsitz »

mikestew wrote: post #73
alasdair_ wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>I believe everyone physically able to should try running 13.1 mph on a treadmill just to get an understanding of just how fast these athletes run for two hours. It is incredible. A whole bunch of treadmills don't go past 8MPH and even that seems pretty fast to me to run at for an extended period of time.

I can run 10mph for 13 miles, and I’m in my fifties. That’s not to brag, but to point out that an 8 mph speed limit on a treadmill is ridiculously low. Sure, it probably fits the 80% use case, but that’s only about 8 minutes/mile. Not a very useful treadmill, IMO. But I’ve been on a treadmill less than a half dozen times in my life, so what do the treadmill makers care what I think. :-)

You're in your fifties and you're running a sub 1:19 HM? Color me dubious on that one. Possible, but not likely.

Although you're right that it would be a piss-poor treadmill if it were built to max out at 8 minutes/mile pace or slower. I suspect none are, but I think the fellow reporting it was at heavy weight, so perhaps that affected things.

Re: Nike’s Two Hour Marathon Attempt

#90

Post by FreeCrypto »

hsitz wrote: post #87
olivermarks wrote: post #29

Speaking as someone who has run a lot of marathons and half marathons, it would be more honest to describe this project as attempting to have a human run 26.2 miles in under 2 hours in perfect, laboratory like conditions. It's a little insulting to marathon runners to claim this is a 'marathon' IMO. Long but fascinating article though...

>It's a little insulting to marathon runners to claim this is a 'marathon' IMO. Well, the guys participating were three of the best marathoners in the world, probably one (Kipchoge) who is the best ever, so I doubt whether they or anybody involved were concerned about "insulting" marathon runners. Everybody was well aware that the conditions were different and would help create a faster time than possible in a regula…

Exactly this. Kipchoge would probably be insulted that the OP uses the term "run" in describing anything that's slower than 5:15 pace.
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