Midnight Runner wrote:
Runningart2004 wrote:Did you know? They used to run heats in the 10,000 in the Olympics. I think this was last done in '92. College runners need to get used to running heats. An Olympian running the 5k and 10k already races 3 times in 9 days. In the past distance runners would double back the same day, the next day, etc. Train for the scenerio you are going to be faced with....instead of complaining about it. They are trying to cut back on the number of guys running a race at regionals that they have no intention of racing at nationals. How many guys do you think are going to double? Not many.
Alan
Saying college 10k runners need to get used to running heats is like saying middle schoolers should do 100 mile weeks now to get ready for serious training in their later days. running more and more totally unneccessary races, especially if it is 5 or 10k, is harmful and pointless. if and when runners get to the olympics they can mimic that stress in their training leading up to the meet. they do not need to be damaging their chances by racing extra heats 4 years before the fact.
College 10k runners who aspire to be NCAA Champions are the same who aspire to be Olympians. Running more races won't kill you or magically reduce you to tar after a certain number of races. We are not fragile horses.
Alan