Drew Eckmann wrote:
Paul's about 5'10.
...which happens to be almost exactly the average height of white americans. i would guess east africans are shorter on average, which would explain why it seems most elite distance runners are short. do you think the average height of elite caucasian runners is shorter than 5'10?
poulter wrote:
Drew Eckmann wrote:Paul's about 5'10.
...which happens to be almost exactly the average height of white americans. i would guess east africans are shorter on average, which would explain why it seems most elite distance runners are short. do you think the average height of elite caucasian runners is shorter than 5'10?
Good point. As long as you're talking *average* I'd say it's about 5'10. You've got your anomalies each way, but I'd say that all of the world/national class guys I've known have probably *averaged* right around 5'10.
I think the only answer to your short height and stride is leg extension equipment that small people use to gain a few inches.
It will be extremely painful, and take a few years, but you won't be hideously too short anymore and you won’t come on here and start a post on something so stupid
I aint much taller than you, and no one, I mean , no one, can stay with me for 5000 or 10000 meters when Im at my best.
Dont worry about your height
Both Geb and Bekele are 5'3" and they might just be the two greatest runners in history.
Let me put this out there... has there ever been a world class runner over 6'3"? And don't say Peter Maher. He was good but not great.
Are you Ryan Deak by any chance ??
Jack Bacheler- US Olympian- 9th place at the 1972 Olympics, 5000m finalist at the 1968 olympics, NCAA 10000 meter champion, was 6'6 and over 150 pounds.
Yes, but he wasn't really that great by today's standards. I think he had a marathon best of like 2:17 and a 10k best of maybe 28:30s. Certainly not slow, but definitely not world class. Anyone else?
Chimpy wrote:
Are you Ryan Deak by any chance ??
Not quite. I do live in Colorado and I couldn't stand that guy's antics in high school.
Your question was, has there EVER been a world class runner over 6'3? Not was there ever a world class runner by TODAYS standards? Heck, pre would not be world class by todays standards, neither would Shorter.
9th at the Olympics and a finalist at the 5000 in the Olympics is pretty world class.
Well, whatever. I just don't think a 2:17 marathon is really all that eye-opening in any era, except before 1960. But you kind of made my point for me. You are going all the way back to the early 1970s to find a name. That shows just how rare it is and how hard it is to be an accomplished distance runner if you are tall.
I call BS wrote:
Well, whatever. I just don't think a 2:17 marathon is really all that eye-opening in any era, except before 1960. But you kind of made my point for me. You are going all the way back to the early 1970s to find a name. That shows just how rare it is and how hard it is to be an accomplished distance runner if you are tall.
Elly Rono has run 2:10 or better and is about 6'5, 6'6. Plenty of other examples if you care to look around.
the second wrote:
conciously planting your foot further (sic) ahead of you, and doing stride exercises.
That's terrible advice. Stride length is important but most people find their optimal stride length from running lots of mileage. Studies show that runners have an inherent ability to select the stride length that is optimal for them and that altering one's stride decreases efficiency. There are definitely cases in which one's stride needs to be tweaked some, however, conciously planting your foot farther in front of you would be the worst way to go about doing it. Regardless of stride length your foot should be landing just ahead of your center of gravity - any more than that and you're going to be over striding.
i am 6'3 and there is no way i will ever way under 160 if all my limbs r still on my body. there is a 5'3 guy on my team who beats my ass everyday. u should stop cryin' put on ur running shoes and go for a run if u wanna be faster
I just want to say: yes, Geb may be 5'3" but his inseam is probably like mine. (I'm a 5'10" white american)
Of course I'm not saying long legs is better. But I do "preach" it's better to be a short distance runner than tall one. Its all about fast turnover....
Another little interesting story. I've hosted Kenyans at my house (James Bungei and John Kipkosgei) They are the same height as me. But when they sat in my car their heads were lower than mine. Long legs........
This guy named Bekele is 5-3
salesman, I'm taking your statement about Bekele implies he is evenly proportioned. In other words, he has a "normal" inseam.... So, he is the best example of great short distance runners.
kartelite wrote:
Elly Rono has run 2:10 or better and is about 6'5, 6'6. Plenty of other examples if you care to look around.
He's 6'3" actually. If the others are so easy to find, where are they?
How tall is schul? lemay is pretty tall.