Higher levels of training and knowledge across the board. Way back in the day I still remember the 1982 Bellaire Relays in Ohio and Ricky Pittman from East Cleveland Tech outkicking John Zishka to win in 8:46 3200. Back then it was super fast. Today fast, but not the elite. I think the difference is so much knowledge available and sharing that did not happen 40 years ago.
HS coaches did not have a grasp of higher level running and generally only the most gifted athletes would run fast times. Today it’s another level in HS: specialized year round training, nutrition, supplemental exercise, shoes, etc. this is the best HS running has ever been - no comparison.
1981 guy here. You are spot on!
I never ran a step from last day of H.S. track until the 1st of XC in September. Reason was milked cows and baled hay.....combine wheat\oats....ect. all summer.
Never ran from last day of HS XC from State meet early November until 1st day HS track April 1st . Reason same, had to milk cows and do "winter stuff" . Also still had snow on the roads!
So basically our "training" was meets on Tuesday\Thursday\Saturday. Never ran on Sunday ! That got me PR's of 4:24\9:30
My 2nd day of college was a 13miler. This was the 1st 13 miler I had ever run !
My 1st day of college XC was 6x(4x400R100) about 800 R between each 4x400!
So my total mileage 1st 2 days of college XC was equivalent to about 3weeks of HS XC.
Remember Gatorade was the "scientific" recovery drink which is nothing but pure sugar!
Luckily I adapted to 100 mile weeks for Collage XC and track. Was a mid 31 10k nobody and low 14 5k nobody because we had a Nike AW as #1runner. Along with Canadian national 10kchamp. Had fun and made good friends.
Kept up with running very consistent through the years doing low mileage. Only did a total of 3 marathons in late 30''s. All BQ's 2:45. age 45 ran 16:45 at Carlsbad. Age 55 was running 5ks low 18's.
I'm glad I wasn't a "shooting star" and can enjoy "running " this early in life😉
There are runners today setting records on 25mpw, and 30-40mpw. Ryun's training was in another realm from what some of his successors do today.
I never ran a step from last day of H.S. track until the 1st of XC in September. Reason was milked cows and baled hay.....combine wheat\oats....ect. all summer.
Never ran from last day of HS XC from State meet early November until 1st day HS track April 1st . Reason same, had to milk cows and do "winter stuff" . Also still had snow on the roads!
So basically our "training" was meets on Tuesday\Thursday\Saturday. Never ran on Sunday ! That got me PR's of 4:24\9:30
My 2nd day of college was a 13miler. This was the 1st 13 miler I had ever run !
My 1st day of college XC was 6x(4x400R100) about 800 R between each 4x400!
So my total mileage 1st 2 days of college XC was equivalent to about 3weeks of HS XC.
Remember Gatorade was the "scientific" recovery drink which is nothing but pure sugar!
Luckily I adapted to 100 mile weeks for Collage XC and track. Was a mid 31 10k nobody and low 14 5k nobody because we had a Nike AW as #1runner. Along with Canadian national 10kchamp. Had fun and made good friends.
Kept up with running very consistent through the years doing low mileage. Only did a total of 3 marathons in late 30''s. All BQ's 2:45. age 45 ran 16:45 at Carlsbad. Age 55 was running 5ks low 18's.
I'm glad I wasn't a "shooting star" and can enjoy "running " this early in life😉
There are runners today setting records on 25mpw, and 30-40mpw. Ryun's training was in another realm from what some of his successors do today.
There are runners today setting records on 25mpw, and 30-40mpw. Ryun's training was in another realm from what some of his successors do today.
You live in the past.
So do quite a few college athletes. They train no harder and with the same mileage as athletes did in the '50's. Yet they keep setting record after record.
For the older folks listening, imagine replacing alcohol and bad diet with great nutrition. Now think about the poor sleep you had, even if was just a few days per month. Eliminate 4 drunk/hungover nights per month, now replace with massage and other therapeutic efforts.
hot dog and super big gulp after each workout replaced with good food.
Sure, the shoes are faster, but ours were faster than Lindgrin’s and Ryun’s.
Analyze and scrub your life today and you will probably feel a huge boost, running or otherwise. The blueprint for greatness is out and they are taking advantage of it.
The assumption here is that dedicated athletes in the past didn't live a healthy lifestyle. That is an assumption and it is false. I have news for you - faster times today aren't built on healthy living but something else that modern science can provide.
Late 1980s I knew teammates that were doping. In high school.
So do quite a few college athletes. They train no harder and with the same mileage as athletes did in the '50's.
Correct. But they train more intelligently.
Every generation thinks they are smarter than their parents or the one before. It isn't true, of course. You'll find that out if you're lucky enough to live till old age.
So do quite a few college athletes. They train no harder and with the same mileage as athletes did in the '50's. Yet they keep setting record after record.
Athletes are doping younger and younger these days. That's part of the sport. I think fancy shoes and training has changed things just a little bit ,but not by much .