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How have marathon times decreased so much in the last 100 years ?

  • 11-12-2011 1:00am
    #1
    rom
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,148 ✭✭✭


    Just looking at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathon_world_record_progression The women's times have dropped loads by 1hr 15 mins which is like 2.5 mins per mile approx. Mens times have dropped by 40 mins in that time which is still a lot. What are the factors that are making times so much faster ? like looking at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men%27s_100_metres_world_record_progression over the same time your talking 10% improvement and the percentage is closer to 50% for the marathon. Anyway you look at it the times have been getting better and better. How ? Have I got my stats messed up ?


Comments

  • #2
    rom
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,148 ✭✭✭rom


    Comparing to 1/2 marathon times I don't see how the times have dropped so much http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half_marathon#World_record_progression


  • #3
    Pisco Sour
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,029 ✭✭✭Pisco Sour


    Nobody ran marathons back 100 years ago. Nowadays it is the most lucrative event in athletics.

    The women's marathon wasn't run in championships until the 1982 Europeans, and the standard was woeful up until the late 1970's, when Grete Waitz single handedly dragged the standard of the event up to a level that was deemend acceptable for it to be included in the Olympic programme.

    And obviously with the event being such a long one, and medical knowledge on how to approach such an event not being as good 100 years ago.


  • #4
    T runner
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,307 ✭✭✭T runner


    04072511 wrote: »
    And obviously with the event being such a long one, and medical knowledge on how to approach such an event not being as good 100 years ago.

    Including not allowing competitors to take water!


  • #5
    tunney
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,584 ✭✭✭✭tunney


    rom wrote: »
    Just looking at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathon_world_record_progression The women's times have dropped loads by 1hr 15 mins which is like 2.5 mins per mile approx. Mens times have dropped by 40 mins in that time which is still a lot. What are the factors that are making times so much faster ? like looking at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men%27s_100_metres_world_record_progression over the same time your talking 10% improvement and the percentage is closer to 50% for the marathon. Anyway you look at it the times have been getting better and better. How ? Have I got my stats messed up ?

    Online coaching.


  • #6
    rom
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,148 ✭✭✭rom


    tunney wrote: »
    Online coaching.

    :rolleyes:


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  • #7
    theboyblunder
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,054 ✭✭✭theboyblunder


    the lads tend not to stop for brandys on the route these days. Most of the rest of it is down to the McMillan calculator and foam rollers :)


  • #8
    Pisco Sour
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,029 ✭✭✭Pisco Sour


    theboyblunder wrote: »
    the lads tend not to stop for brandys on the route these days. Most of the rest of it is down to the McMillan calculator and foam rollers :)

    And from being told to HTFU over and over :)


  • #9
    Gringo78
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,120 ✭✭✭Gringo78


    Must be the cushioned running shoes, they didn't have them 100 years ago.


  • #10
    tHE vAGGABOND
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,693 ✭✭✭tHE vAGGABOND


    Advice on LSR's [or in Pub] from meno - that was not possible 100 years ago :pac:


  • #11
    lway
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 302 ✭✭lway


    The rise in numbers of people playing "a little GAA when younger and 5 a side soccer once a week" has increased fitness levels ;)


    Sorry, Couldn't resist.


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  • #12
    hardCopy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,969 ✭✭✭hardCopy


    rom wrote: »
    Just looking at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathon_world_record_progression The women's times have dropped loads by 1hr 15 mins which is like 2.5 mins per mile approx. Mens times have dropped by 40 mins in that time which is still a lot. What are the factors that are making times so much faster ? like looking at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men%27s_100_metres_world_record_progression over the same time your talking 10% improvement and the percentage is closer to 50% for the marathon. Anyway you look at it the times have been getting better and better. How ? Have I got my stats messed up ?

    100 Years ago, training was not considered to be in keeping with the amateur ethos and was almost as bad as cheating in some people's eyes.


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