Alan:
You could say all you want that the 800 meters is not a distance event, but
this is a matter of climes, not boxes. Physiological studies show that one
needs to draw on your aerobic energy reserves after about 45 seconds or so.
That makes 800 meters very much a distance race. The anatomical and
physiological profile of every event is slightly different. Check out
JMTanner's studies on this, or more recent ones by Robert Malina, Claude
Bouchard, Lindsay Carter, and many others. There is quite a large gap
between the 400 meter profile and the 800 meter profile. Period.
There have been some tests of muscle fiber type comparing different
populations. East Africans and North Africans from the interior mountains,
who are a genetica mix of African, Berber, and Arab genes, commonly share
about 60 percent of their genes with West Africans, according to sudies by
Cavalli-Sforza in "The History and Geography of Genes."
Many scientists, such as Noakes and Saltin, believe that this genetic cohort
combines the anatomical/physiological characteristics of West Africans with
great endurance capabilities, making them somewhat faster than many other
endurance runners.
Here is a fact: athletes of West African ancestry (African Americans in
particular) will NEVER become great long distance runners. There might be
some abberations, generally because of racial mixing and the roulette wheel
of genetics, such as Johnny Gray. You might have a Joquim Cruz who is most
likely an interesting mix of southern African genes, Asian (Amerindian)
genes, and European ancestry, but that's it.
For all your huffing and puffing, MJ COULD NEVER DEVELOP THE ANEROBIC BASE
TO EVEN BE A VERY MEDIOCRE DISTANCE RUNNER. For the same reason, you will
not find many athletes of West African ancestry as a great distance swimmer.
Genes proscribe possibilities. Individuals win races. But nothing can turn
clay into marble. Get used to it.
If MJ developed any sort of aerobic
> base at all he would demolish the AR and give Joe-Kenyan a run for his
> money.
On 5/1/01 12:19 PM, "alan tobin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>> ...than 60 percent of all top distance
>> races, from the 800 meters to the marathon.
>
> The 800m is not a distance race...repeat, the 800m is not a distance race.
> Most if not all 800m runners can be/are great 400m runners. In the 800m you
> see African Americans excel: Johnny Gray, South Americans excel: Joaquim
> Cruz, and Kenyans excel: Wilson Kipketer. You say East/North Africans have a
> lot of slow twitch fibers right? Then why are they so well in the 800m, a
> race that requires a lot of speed and fast twitch fibers. Could it be 'gasp'
> that the Kenyans vary just as much as everyone else? I believe our best 800m
> runners are running the 400m right now, but have no desire to run 800s
> because they would tarnish their appeal. If MJ developed any sort of aerobic
> base at all he would demolish the AR and give Joe-Kenyan a run for his
> money.
>
> Alan
--
Jon Entine
RuffRun
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