Mexican distance running was pretty good in the early 90's. What happened

i found this good article from 1996.

http://outside.away.com/outside/magazine/1196/9611fevo.html

The Africans is what happened. Shortly before Mexicans dominated the marathons US runners did. As to why the dropoff has been more pronounced for Mexican runners, it has to do with the fact that Mexican runners lived solely off prize money. If US runners had to live off prize money, there would only be a handful of American pro runners as well.

i think it also has to do with their unorganized governing body for track, its probably corrupt.

My take is, they are no longer hungry. That group of Rodolfo's was a very close knit group and maybe the newcomers to Rodofo weren't so close.

Too, I always felt Rodolfo had a bitterness towards the US stemming back to his days when the raced the American Salazar and think he made some bad decisions for his athletes. Talking with some of them today that's what they say at least.

Moes Tavern wrote:

Too, I always felt Rodolfo had a bitterness towards the US stemming back to his days when the raced the American Salazar and think he made some bad decisions for his athletes. Talking with some of them today that's what they say at least.

I have known Rodolfo for years. You are completely full of it.

there is a ton of talent in Mexico. Problem is there is no support for any sports (only some for soccer). Athletic Federations are very corrupt in Mexico and there is no organizations supporting most athletes. Pretty much the guys you see come compete at Mt. Sac is all the runners Mexico has right now. Even athletes who have won gold medals in other sports don't have any money are are coaching themselves. Sad, but true.

That actually was a very interesting article. I wonder if any such training groups still exist in Mexico?

I know that they still have some good performers on the track (Galvan is the only I can name, but there are others), but I haven't seen any marathoners of note coming from Mexico lately.

The one workout they mentioned is a bit suspicious. 3X6000m at 4:10 pace with 4 min rest at 9500 feet? Hit 5k at 13:13 and tack on an extra kilometer, then do it two more times with 4 min rest? Nobody on the planet could do that, not in the history of the world.

i agree with you its not the coaches, its the officials in charge.

this was the same problem arthur lydiard faced back in 1966 when he became mexico's national coach.

Then you take that argument up with some of the former athletes. I'm just repeating what they have told me. ANd yes, my spanish is so-so at best but I heard what was being said in my presence.

moloradocudstuffin wrote:

The one workout they mentioned is a bit suspicious. 3X6000m at 4:10 pace with 4 min rest at 9500 feet? Hit 5k at 13:13 and tack on an extra kilometer, then do it two more times with 4 min rest? Nobody on the planet could do that, not in the history of the world.

3x600 meters in 92.5 (~4:10pace) with 4min rest @ 10,000 feet would challenge this old guy

moloradocudstuffin wrote:

The one workout they mentioned is a bit suspicious. 3X6000m at 4:10 pace with 4 min rest at 9500 feet? Hit 5k at 13:13 and tack on an extra kilometer, then do it two more times with 4 min rest? Nobody on the planet could do that, not in the history of the world.

I was looking at that and thinking the same thing. There is no way in hell they did that workout.

youknowit wrote:

there is a ton of talent in Mexico. Problem is there is no support for any sports (only some for soccer). Athletic Federations are very corrupt in Mexico and there is no organizations supporting most athletes. Pretty much the guys you see come compete at Mt. Sac is all the runners Mexico has right now. Even athletes who have won gold medals in other sports don't have any money are are coaching themselves. Sad, but true.

You hit the nail in the head. The Mexican Athletic Federation is run by former professional SOCCER players who alocate all the government funds towards personal use or soccer programs. Even money that's supposed to be alocated to sports such as track and field never arrives to those athletes. At the 2007 World track and field champs the Mexican athletes complained that the Mexican federation never even provided the equipment for them to use or wear. They were furious because they had no money for travel/hotels/ or food in Osaka, and said that even the uniforms/shoes did not fit and the federation would not do anything to support them. Ana Guevara was so upset that that event alone caused her to retire a year before the olympic games. She was one of the favorites for a medal in the 400, but retired to attract attention to the corruption that was the Mexican sports federation. She was furious and criticized the governing body in the media for the events of Osaka. Carlos Hermosillo, the president of the Mexican Athletic Federation and former mexican soccer star said some nasty things about Ana Guevara in the media as well and to this day those two keep criticizing each other.

The complaints of corruption haven't just been from the track and field athletes. Belem Guerrero, a cyclist medalist from the Athens Olympics also declined to go to the Beiging Olympics because of the same reasons as Guevara. She also claimed corruption and lack of support from the Mexican Federation.

The Mexican Athletic Federation pockets all the money that the federal government reserves for the support and development of amateur athletes. Since most of the members are soccer heros and soccer is the most important sport in Mexico the voices of those such as Guevara's and Guerrero's are very seldom heard. Sad, sad, situation. In Mexico if you want to be a successful athlete, you have to do it all on your own. Your own money, your own coaches, your own training because there is no support from the corrupt Athletic Federation.

Here some info on that situation.

http://www.nowpublic.com/sports/mexican-runner-ana-gabriela-guevara-retires

all the mexican gods decided to distribute all the talent to one mexican named German Fernandez.

It's true, here's an article from the NY times about it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/16/sports/16iht-athletics16.9271961.html

So the Mexican sports officials are corrupt. That is seriously a shame. What's left that ISN'T corrupt in Mexico??

1 Kenenisa Bekele Ethiopia 12:57.82 OR

2 2 Eliud Kipchoge Kenya 13:02.80

3 3 Edwin Cheruiyot Soi Kenya 13:06.22 SB

4 Moses Ndiema Kipsiro Uganda 13:10.56

5 Abreham Cherkos Ethiopia 13:16.46

6 Tariku Bekele Ethiopia 13:19.06

7 Juan Luis Barrios Mexico 13:19.79 SB

8 James Kwalia C'Kurui Qatar 13:23.48

9 Bernard Lagat United States 13:26.89

10 Kidane Tadasse Eritrea 13:28.40

11 Aelemayehu Bezabeh Spain 13:30.48

12 Thomas Pkemei Longosiwa Kenya 13:31.34

13 Matthew Tegenkamp United States 13:33.13

14 Jesús España Spain 13:55.94

Ummmmm .....ever heard of german fernandez?