Runners
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Agreed. But, let's be fair. It's not like Paula Radcliffe wasn't doped, herself. I have no delusions that anyone at their level is clean, but it's just annoying when the most obvious cases get the big results (Sifan Hassan, anyone?)
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Unfortunately doping is always one step ahead of the tests. That gap is shortening but it is still entirely possible to get away with it. Out of competition testing is key as that is when the real doping takes place. In some of the African countries out of competition testing is rare compared to the US and some European countries…. Then you have countries like Russia where everyone knows about it and they're all in on the scheme.
The problem with out of competition is that you can just skip two tests in a year (or in 100m world champion Christian Coleman's case, three, with extremely good luck and a technicality preventing him from getting banned) with absolutely no consequences. "Oops, I thought you were a burglar and locked myself in my panic room and refused to come out when you showed up to test me! Good thing there's no negative consequence for that!" - Mo Farah
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True. There need to be changes to doping controls regardless of the country. But the frequency with which top athletes from some countries are tested out of competition vs. others is an issue. They should of course be random but they should also be frequent. Unfortunately, even without skipped tests you can beat the system with microdosing, masking agents, etc. There really isn't a solution to the problem.
And you won't get any argument from me that Radcliffe was juiced to the gills.
What's also sad, and a bit comical, about all of the doping is it is also rampant at the lower tiers. Whether it's a pride factor or something else sub-elite and masters level competition has its fair share of cheating. It's not like they're making a living racing but for some reason plenty of guys still choose to do it.
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I suppose by now, most of you have seen or read this story. Thoughts?
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21 miles in the Mt Hood National Forest
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@Brock looks so fun. Great scenery. Jealous.
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@neversummer just saw your post. I'm going to apologize up front for what could be a rant.
Having run division I track and cross country and competing post collegiately semi-professionally (sponsorship where I received gear but no actual salary) I have a decent amount of experience dealing with and being trained by high level coaches. At the D1 level, and certainly professional, weight is huge. Coaches, rightfully so, pay a lot of attention to the weight of their athletes as being over or under weight hinders performance massively. Weight is an unbelievably sensitive subject, especially for women, so addressing a female athlete about being overweight is a very steep and slippery slope to an eating disorder. That said, Mary Cain was a highly trained professional athlete. She was paid very well to maintain a body that allowed her to perform at her best. She was part of what was likely the most well funded team in the world with access to numerous doctors and coaches all working to have her perform her best. Maybe the delivery of some of the comments was less than ideal, which is not good for helping build an athlete's confidence, but they were delivered because she was not performing well. I personally recall watching a few races with her where one of my first thoughts when she would begin fading in a race was, "Not that surprising. She's overweight." This isn't me thinking Mary Cain is fat it's me observing that she is not out on the razor's edge of leanness, which is where athletes need to be to perform optimally.
I think the unfortunate thing about a lot of these situations, Alberto is not even close to the first, is that the media jumps at the chance to paint the coach in a bad light for saying an athlete, especially female, needs to lose weight. Sometimes it is absolutely true. The delivery and possible verbal abuse relating to it can be totally unacceptable but it would be great if they acknowledged that both the athletes and coaches are paid (A LOT) to maximize performance and ideal weight is critical to do so.
Since the above was posted other NOP female athletes have also come forward with their experiences. Some mentioning Salazar did the opposite and actually went to great lengths to get them to gain weight as he felt their performance has hindered by being too thin.
From everything I have read Alberto is a master at pushing boundaries; he was banned 4 years because he pushed too far. But what I have also gleaned from all my reading is that everything he did was with the best interest of his athlete's performance in mind. He clearly went too far on more than one occasion but outside of possibly an inappropriate comment I do not think he did anything wrong when being critical of his athlete's weights. This may be blunt but as much as anything I think Mary Cain's situation is one where an athlete with a fragile confidence had a hard time hearing the truth and her performance suffered because of it. She has since been away from NOP for at least a year or two and has still not recovered. I have to believe part of that is due to the fact she is still overweight.
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@BloodnThunder I didn’t know that about you, but not surprised. Whenever you do log a run on strava, you are fast. Both you and Collin’s easy days are faster than my hard days. I guess also not surprising on me- I’ve hated running most of my life, only really started to like it in the last few years, and I’m 39 now. I’ll never be at that level, but it’s still fun to cover long distances on foot.
Great counterpoints you raise. I enjoyed reading your reply though I forgot to reply back! Being at that level, you have a unique insight into that world and what it takes. So thank you!Anyone have any reflections on your 2019 season? Achieve any goals, do any fun races? Plans or goals for 2020?
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@neversummer ha! Thanks! In the past year and halfish I've transitioned to cycling/bike racing full time and now ride for Audi Cycling here in Seattle so the times I do lace up the running shoes are really only because my bike is in the shop. It's incredible how fast you lose the running legs when you've stopped. I'm not sure I could make it much further than one mile at my half marathon PR pace if I went out and ran today.
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2019 was the first year in 10 years I haven't run at least one marathon in a year. Usually avg 5-10 a year, Also first in 5 years I haven't done an ultra. This will change for 2020!!
I've got an apt monday to get my knee looked at. Pretty sure I've got a torn patellar tendon to some degree, not full tear though. I think they will suggest a PRP(plasma rich platelet) shot, and idk what else. But if it works im down [emoji846]
Anyway just wanted to say I very much miss running long distances and can't wait to get back.
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@BloodnThunder I hear ya. Getting back to it after a few months off since I broke my arm. I’ve been hiking in the meantime, but it still hurts!
@kkibbey23 Hoping the treatment works and you can get back to it! Any specific races you’re looking at?
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I made an apt next Monday to get the PRP shot. Im hearing lots of good things about it and should heal the rest of the petalla tendon/ tear
Right now im staying optimistic. Registration opens up for Oil Creek 100 in a month and a half. It was my first 100k and first 100M, its a truly special race and I missed last year and would like to go back. I am thinking I am going to register for the 100k or 50k. Just have to figure that out as it gets closer. I will also put my name in the lottery for NY marathon. Got in the first time then had 4 strike outs.
Going to try to ease into things and see how it goes after the shot. Thinking feb 1 I'll try running and see if im better!
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One of my college teammates decided to signup for a local 5k here in Seattle in February. That snowballed into 6-7 of us former teammates all agreeing to run as well. Most of us do not run at all anymore and the others who signed up are shells of their former running selves so it'll be interesting to see how big of a disaster it is and what all of us can do now. I haven't gone on a run since August when I broke my hand in a bike race. I plan on not running a step between now and race day so I'll have a bit over 6 months of zero running. Not expecting a whole lot.
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I'm a glutton for punishment. And I'm genuinely curious to see what I can run a 5k in without any actual run specific training (I'm not going in as a couch potato since I cycle everyday instead).
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@BloodnThunder Off the couch 5k has a nice ring to it! You’ve got the engine for sure, even if you don’t run much or at all anymore.
@kkibbey23 Hope the appt goes well. Report back. A friend of mine had that treatment (I think) for tendon issue in her heel and it helped her. Oil Creek looks like fun, I think you mentioned it before. I’ve also looked at Eastern States for an east coast race. But we’ll see!
We are expecting our first baby at the end of February, so that will certainly add another dimension to things, particularly travel (we’re in Colorado). I’m doing some training but haven’t signed up for anything. Time will definitely be at a premium once she arrives! -
