"When Will Kenya Discover Triathlon"

[Jwolf]

from Matt Fitzgerald:

http://triathlete-europe.competitor.com ... -triathlon

He describes what happened when a triathlete tried to train some Kenyan distance runners in triathlon.

This article is really about why strong distance runners won't necessarily make best triathletes. Triathlon is an endurance event, but specific neuromuscular adaptations are just as important. (and it's so much about being strong on the bike)

[Joe Dwarf]

I think the lack of swimming facilities and bicycles may play a factor...

[HCcD]

Not a very large test/sample/control group ??

[jamix]

Although he isn't Kenyan, Zersenay Tadese (holder of HM world record) could've made it in Duathlon since according to wiki he was quite the cyclist before becoming a professional runner.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zersenay_Tadese#Early_life

[Jwolf]

I think the lack of swimming facilities and bicycles may play a factor...

The title of the article could be "What happens if you give young Kenyan distance runners training in swimming and cycling for triathlon", but that would be too long.

[Wu wei]

from Matt Fitzgerald:

http://triathlete-europe.competitor.com ... -triathlon

He describes what happened when a triathlete tried to train some Kenyan distance runners in triathlon.

This article is really about why strong distance runners won't necessarily make best triathletes. Triathlon is an endurance event, but specific neuromuscular adaptations are just as important. (and it's so much about being strong on the bike)

I think it was an absurd supposition from the start... and the results confirm that.

He would have had much greater success with nordic skiers.... closer to ideal physiology. I once raced the Canmore triathlon and the local nordic skiing olympians came out and crushed us.

[Jwolf]

Cross-country skiers would definitely have mover overall body adaptation.

Absurd assumption maybe, but I think it surprised the coach that they weren't able to make the adaptations even with training. And what they lacked in the swim and bike adaptation they couldn't even make up fully on the run.

Also, I think a lot of runners assume that their aerobic endurance training will carry them far in triathlon. But it can only go so far if you don't do enough specific neuromuscular training.

[Pat Menzies]

Does this mean that genetics matter in triathlon but not running?

[La]

Wouldn't it also depend on which race distance (for running) they were already specialists at, and which distance of triathlon they were being trained for?

There must be a reason why we don't see many African swimmers and cyclists at the World level.

[La]

After actually reading the article (what a concept! ), I think his points about cultural influences on sport are bang on.

So, just as with almost everything else in life, it's a combo of nature AND nurture.

Does this mean that genetics matter in triathlon but not running?

They matter in both sports, just in different ways. But genetics are just ONE thing that factors into it.

[La]

Cross-country skiers would definitely have mover overall body adaptation.

Absurd assumption maybe, but I think it surprised the coach that they weren't able to make the adaptations even with training. And what they lacked in the swim and bike adaptation they couldn't even make up fully on the run.

Also, I think a lot of runners assume that their aerobic endurance training will carry them far in triathlon. But it can only go so far if you don't do enough specific neuromuscular training.

Because it requires more than just aerobic endurance - body type is also important. Drug use aside, you could argue that's why Lance's cycling ability didn't translate into the equivalent marathon ability.

[turd ferguson]

I think you're all forgetting the most important part of the cross-country skiing story - we're talking about Olympians here. I don't think "adaptation" is as big a deal when we're talking about Olympians competing against ordinary mortals.

[Wu wei]

I think you're all forgetting the most important part of the cross-country skiing story - we're talking about Olympians here. I don't think "adaptation" is as big a deal when we're talking about Olympians competing against ordinary mortals.

There is decent cross-over in fitness and neuromuscular patterns between nordic skiing and triathlon. Not so much to do with them being Olympians. An Olympic shot-putter wouldn't be so quick...

[dgrant]

I don't see a lot in there to dispel the notion that east Africans could dominate triathlon like they dominate distance running. A sampling of two sub-sub-sub elite marathoners (by Kenyan standards) isn't much of a representation.

The part about conflicting ideal body types seems overstated. Elite distance runners are teeny tiny men. Elite road cyclists are teeny tiny men.

[La]

The part about conflicting ideal body types seems overstated. Elite distance runners are teeny tiny men. Elite road cyclists are teeny tiny men.

Elite swimmers are NOT teeny tiny men.

And as the article points out, even the teeny tiny elite cyclists have much bigger quads/calves than you would find in an elite runner.

[Spirit Unleashed]

Elite cyclists have tree trunks for legs. Not teeny.

[La]

Elite cyclists have tree trunks for legs. Not teeny.

Depends on the type of cyclist. Sprinters and track cyclists have massive quads. Climbers are quite light-weight and don't have that same amount of bulk. What they all have in common is no upper body muscle at all. They likely can't even open a jar of pickles.

[dgrant]

Elite cyclists have tree trunks for legs. Not teeny.

Look at a picture of Alberto Contador or Lance Armstrong. It's amazing they can even stand up. If you put bags over the heads of Ryan Hall and Bradley Wiggins, I bet you couldn't tell them apart. Paul Tergat and Alberto Contador... basically the same body.

With a sport as niche as triathlon (in terms of cost/culture/geography), can we really say there's an "elite"... and therefore an elite body type that is different from another body type? Same for any sport where there are many filters that have nothing to do with athletics.

[Spirit Unleashed]

sorry. The only famous cyclist I ever saw was a speed skater turned cyclist. That would explain the legs. (Eric Heiden I think)

[daddy_runner]

Everybody is forgetting that Armstrong was a really good triathlete before he specialized in the bike.

[La]

Everybody is forgetting that Armstrong was a really good triathlete before he specialized in the bike.

And his body shape completely changed when he switched.