I always felt that Ed Whitlock was clean and I get similar vibes about Tommy. Here are my reasons.
1) He ran a 2:13 marathon in his prime, in the non-supershoe era. He clearly has talent.
2) He's been very open about his past struggles with alcoholism and newfound sober living the best several years. He may not have ever reached his full potential due to alcohol.
3) He comes across as a very low key, humble guy who does not possess the classic "look at me" narcissistic traits you so often see in the obvious age group cheaters.
4) From interviews it is obvious the guy just loves running and does not seem to be in it for reasons other than that.
5) His appearance gives no indication of PEDs unlike many (not all) typical age group cheaters.
I could very well be wrong and nothing above proves or disproves anything, but I'm going with clean until proven otherwise.
No. There is something off here. No one who has raced their entirety (not Shorter; not Rodgers) could sustain this level of racing. Even Ed Whitlock took a long break.
Now look at Tommy's race results all the way back to the millenia:
Also, didn't he have thyroid issues some time ago and was either put on a TUE, or had his pituitary gland removed?
Again, there is far more to this than someone aging well. Just Gene Dykes came to running late. As did most masters (60+) aces. Name one other elite level runner who has been able to hold it together since 1988? Tommy was already an established runner before 1992.
Please.....share............
Rosa Mota broke the W65+ World Record for Half Marathon last October...
Paul Forbes from the Coe and Ovett era broke 800m and 1500m records last year, I believe...
No. There is something off here. No one who has raced their entirety (not Shorter; not Rodgers) could sustain this level of racing. Even Ed Whitlock took a long break.
Now look at Tommy's race results all the way back to the millenia:
Also, didn't he have thyroid issues some time ago and was either put on a TUE, or had his pituitary gland removed?
Again, there is far more to this than someone aging well. Just Gene Dykes came to running late. As did most masters (60+) aces. Name one other elite level runner who has been able to hold it together since 1988? Tommy was already an established runner before 1992.
Please.....share............
Martin Fiz of Spain, the 1995 World Champ in the marathon and a 2:08:05 guy, ran a 1:15:26 Half last month at age 61.
With respect, I don't think you really know what aging does to an athlete, and especially by the age of 65. He is only twenty or so minutes slower than his best in his prime. I don't buy it. Whether you think he is a nice guy is irrelevant; dopers don't have horns on their foreheads.
Without respect, because you deserve none, you don't know that some people age better than you. You are just jealous of other older men's success.
Someone else who has yet to experience the reality of aging.
Comment indicative of some who is not happy with how their life has turned out....
Just lettin' you know we're all here for you if you ever wanna talk about it....
So scepticism about any performance always has to be personal for you guys. I'm not actually jealous of anyone who is doping - I wasn't jealous of Armstrong, Jones, Kiprop or whoever. Observing it as a possibility doesn't require a personal motivation. Just having your eyes open to the sport.
No. There is something off here. No one who has raced their entirety (not Shorter; not Rodgers) could sustain this level of racing. Even Ed Whitlock took a long break.
Now look at Tommy's race results all the way back to the millenia:
Also, didn't he have thyroid issues some time ago and was either put on a TUE, or had his pituitary gland removed?
Again, there is far more to this than someone aging well. Just Gene Dykes came to running late. As did most masters (60+) aces. Name one other elite level runner who has been able to hold it together since 1988? Tommy was already an established runner before 1992.
Please.....share............
Martin Fiz of Spain, the 1995 World Champ in the marathon and a 2:08:05 guy, ran a 1:15:26 Half last month at age 61.
With respect, I don't think you really know what aging does to an athlete, and especially by the age of 65. He is only twenty or so minutes slower than his best in his prime. I don't buy it. Whether you think he is a nice guy is irrelevant; dopers don't have horns on their foreheads.
Without respect, because you deserve none, you don't know that some people age better than you. You are just jealous of other older men's success.
Touche...a grumpy old guy that has aged badly.
Has anyone checked some of Prof David Sinclair's aging work?
Without respect, because you deserve none, you don't know that some people age better than you. You are just jealous of other older men's success.
Someone else who has yet to experience the reality of aging.
What exactly is the 'reality' of aging, I am closer to 70 than 60, I could work at my job another 20yrs, still run fast times, probably going to tilt at sub 3:15 in next year or so.
One of our club volunteers, not a runner, works at an old aged home. He drives himself there (sits for licence every year), lives on his own, volunteers all over the show. I joke with him that he is working at the 'young aged home' because his 'clients' are almost all younger than him. He is 94 this year!!
Is this old fella also on PEDS ??
If there was a 'reality of aging' then all will look the same at the same age regardless of lifestyle, diet and genes
So alcoholic versus sober wouldn’t have a massive impact on an elite distance runners performance?
That’s a ridiculous claim.
The ridiculous claim is that an "alcoholic" was world class and then after being an alcoholic he recovers to be a world class senior. Alcoholism is devastating physically. It finishes every kind of career.
Someone else who has yet to experience the reality of aging.
What exactly is the 'reality' of aging, I am closer to 70 than 60, I could work at my job another 20yrs, still run fast times, probably going to tilt at sub 3:15 in next year or so.
One of our club volunteers, not a runner, works at an old aged home. He drives himself there (sits for licence every year), lives on his own, volunteers all over the show. I joke with him that he is working at the 'young aged home' because his 'clients' are almost all younger than him. He is 94 this year!!
Is this old fella also on PEDS ??
If there was a 'reality of aging' then all will look the same at the same age regardless of lifestyle, diet and genes
I didn't say aging precludes an active life. I have one myself. But I am aware that it means the progressive and even dramatic loss of the physical powers of youth, which shows particularly in sports. Sure - you might still be able to run and compete but in later life you will be nothing like what you were capable of in your twenties, if you trained then at your peak.
This post was edited 40 seconds after it was posted.
Without respect, because you deserve none, you don't know that some people age better than you. You are just jealous of other older men's success.
Touche...a grumpy old guy that has aged badly.
Has anyone checked some of Prof David Sinclair's aging work?
None of you know how I have aged. Since I still play competitive sport to a decent level I've probably aged lot better than many of you of my vintage. But I also know what is realistic for even the best athletes as they age and what many senior athletes will do today to succeed. The same as anyone else now - regrettably.