250 marathons in 365 days

[habernac]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

Anyone who finishes a marathon, whatever the time, is a bit of a sadist/hero.

I read a quote last year from an elite marathoner, someone who would finish in about 2:15 or so, saying the people he admired the most were those out on the course for four to six hours. He just couldn't fathom the mental effort it would take to keep going since its nowhere near the time frame he'd have to endure himself. Kind of a different way to look at it.

Cowperson

I did a 7 day mtn bike race a few years ago (Transrockies). I ended up tearing my meniscus 3 weeks before the race so I was in doubt to even start. I chugged along and finished the thing, outting in a couple of 9 hour days in the process.

I had a ton of support from friends who were much faster and much more fit. I was a pretty great feeling hearing this from people on the podium. Yeah, they ripped it up for 3 hours but had a ton of respect for schlubs like me who were out there 3 times as long.

Amazing hearing about this guy. 250 marathons. Unreal.

[MoneyGuy]

I've done four marathons over a period of about 18 years and I think what this guy is doing it nuts. I've seen guys who have become running addicts. I can't imagine doing what this guy is doing but then I'm very driven and highly competive and have run fat times so it's very different than just jogging a marathon, which is what he'd have to be doing.

[macker]

[QUOTE=Cowperson;2866662]A few years ago, Katie Holmes, the wife of Tom Cruise, FAKED RUNNING the New York City Marathon in about 5:30, basically part of the process of getting back into actress form after giving birth.

FYP http://www.gossiprocks.com/forum/lat...ge3-60222.html

[browna]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

I read a quote last year from an elite marathoner, someone who would finish in about 2:15 or so, saying the people he admired the most were those out on the course for four to six hours. He just couldn't fathom the mental effort it would take to keep going since its nowhere near the time frame he'd have to endure himself. Kind of a different way to look at it.

Cowperson

I guess...I just don't know how you'd build up first the endurance, then the speed that the guy you quoted had, without running, at some point, for 3-5 hours to start.

It took my wife and I 4 months of training 4 years ago to get a 2h pace for a half marathon. I'm at it again with the goal of a marathon this spring and 11 days ago did 27.5k in 2.5h, with a decent heart rate and felt good after. However, if I pick up the pace on shorter runs by just 1km/h, I am as tired as that, in half that time...so can't see how thing guy would have 2:15 pace without building up to that.

Good on the guy from Cochrane for his extreme dedication to the cause.

[TheSutterDynasty]

Originally Posted by browna

I guess...I just don't know how you'd build up first the endurance, then the speed that the guy you quoted had, without running, at some point, for 3-5 hours to start.

It's called the push-pull (or polarized) model of endurance training. You can't be running competition miles to train for something, so you need to train your system to be able to cope. This means raising VO2max, %VO2 at lactate threshold, and vVO2max (velocity at VO2max).

It basically consists of training perhaps 30% - 40% at above VO2max (high intensity interval training), with your other 60% - 70% below aerobic threshold (which is VERY light). In this way you not only get the benefits of endurance (more mitochondria, capillary density) training, but also the speed component and higher lactate threshold (which allows you to run faster, longer).

I'm surprised he didn't get any stress fractures.

[Dodsdomd]

So much for feeling good about running 5k everyday. haha

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by browna

I guess...I just don't know how you'd build up first the endurance, then the speed that the guy you quoted had, without running, at some point, for 3-5 hours to start.

It took my wife and I 4 months of training 4 years ago to get a 2h pace for a half marathon. I'm at it again with the goal of a marathon this spring and 11 days ago did 27.5k in 2.5h, with a decent heart rate and felt good after. However, if I pick up the pace on shorter runs by just 1km/h, I am as tired as that, in half that time...so can't see how thing guy would have 2:15 pace without building up to that.

Good on the guy from Cochrane for his extreme dedication to the cause.

The lady who finished second, I think, in the 2010 NYC Marathon was running her first ever marathon.

She was the USA champion in the half marathon. I think you saw the same thing in Canada this summer In the Ottawa marathon.

As to Kate Holmes, I haven't seen anyone serious believing that. I do know my long legged assistant WALKED the Phoenix marathon in the same time Holmes ran the NYC event. So people are going a little nuts on her time.

The thing about no bra is only interesting if that's not her normal thing. I think everyone at one time or another, running longer distances, men and women, has probably suffered chafing and a bloody, embarrassing shirt at one time or another, often because of a material you might not be used to. But most through time will move well past that. The no bra look would be unusual though.

Bottom line, there's no upside for any race to allow cheating though. In fact, there's more upside to expose her than shelter her given her celebrity status.

For amusement I also punched in random bib numbermbers to the NYC marathon Brightroom picture database and didn't see a lot of difference in variety of.pictures available versus that of Holmes. Tempest in a teapot.