Kenyan Eating Practices

G-Money

I stumbled across this today. Thought I would share it here.

http://www.active.com/running/Articles/Eating_practices_of_the_best_endurance_athletes_in_the_world.htm

walshb

What stood out to me was all of this was from natural food sources. This has always been said to provide the healthiest diet. No need for gimmicks. Full fat milk etc should be encouraged, in moderation of course. I never ever believed in the term "junk food." Ther is a junk food attitude that exists though.

RayCun

You have to bear in mind that these are not wealthy athletes. They are living off what they can afford - what is cheap and plentiful in Kenya.
Cryotherapy, supplement X, and a high proportion of lamb in your diet might be great for running fitness, but these runners aren't going to have them.

The lesson to take should be "they don't need fancy diets and equipment, they just run", rather than "lots of ugali and sugar will make me a 2.10 runner!"

walshb

RayCun wrote: »

The lesson to take should be "they don't need fancy diets and equipment, they just run", rather than "lots of ugali and sugar will make me a 2.10 runner!"

Spot on

kennyb3

What stands out is that they are on average 58.6kg not the 65-70kg you often hear people aspiring to

Krusty_Clown

kennyb3 wrote: »

What stands out is that they are on average 58.6kg not the 65-70kg you often hear people aspiring to

I'm sure they don't aspire to be 58.6kgs, instead they aspire to run very high mileage and win marathons. for Elite runners, weight loss should be the result of hard training, not the goal.

kennyb3

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

I'm sure they don't aspire to be 58.6kgs, instead they aspire to run very high mileage and win marathons. for Elite runners, weight loss should be the result of hard training, not the goal.

The point being they arent 70kg winning marathons

lgk

If it's purely their diet, what are tribes other than the Kalenjins doing so differently/wrong?

Clearlier

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

I'm sure they don't aspire to be 58.6kgs, instead they aspire to run very high mileage and win marathons. for Elite runners, weight loss should be the result of hard training, not the goal.

Actually I believe that even the elite runners will keep an eye on their weight and potentially drop some for a peak performance.

walshb

Not claiming to be an expert but I would have thought that middle distance and marathon runners would be on average 5 feet 9/10 and weighing 130-147lbs. 154 lbs and above would seem a wee bit heavy?

Krusty_Clown

kennyb3 wrote: »

The point being they arent 70kg winning marathons

My point is, that an Irish runner of equivalent talent (if they exist) would also be of a similar weight, as it would be extremely difficult to keep excessive weight on your frame when running 110+ miles per week.

So if you are comparing people with an aspirational weight of 65-70kgs against Elite Kenyan marathon runners, then I wouldn't realistically expect to yield quite the same result.

kennyb3

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

My point is, that an Irish runner of equivalent talent (if they exist) would also be of a similar weight, as it would be extremely difficult to keep excessive weight on your frame when running 110+ miles per week.

So if you are comparing people with an aspirational weight of 65-70kgs against Elite Kenyan marathon runners, then I wouldn't realistically expect to yield quite the same result.

I think you ve completely misunderstood my point, im not really trying to compare the average joe with an elite runner. Merely that I find it interesting that many an individuals with some fairly good race times of a similar height perceive their race weight to be 65-70kg.

But anyway for the record Martin Fagan was listed on the AAI site as being 68kg and a couple of inches taller (again how accurate that is anyway who knows), so people can knock themselves out with comparisons there if they wish.

Unfortunately this is what happens on boards, i make a comment about finding their weight interesting and someone will think that i think kenyans are the best because they are the lightest or some crap like that.

Krusty_Clown

If you read your original post, this is the way it would most likely be interpreted (well, by me anyway):

What stands out is that they are on average 58.6kg

I read = Kenyans are very light

not the 65-70kg you often hear people aspiring to

I read = 'people' are crap because they are not as light as the Kenyans and should be aiming for a weight of 58.6kgs. Like I said, it was just my interpretation of your post.
Yes, I perceive my race weight to be 65-70kgs, but then, I'll never be a elite marathon runner, or 58.6kgs!

kennyb3

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

If you read your original post, this is the way it would most likely be interpreted (well, by me anyway):

I read = Kenyans are very light


I read = 'people' are crap because they are not as light as the Kenyans and should be aiming for a weight of 58.6kgs. Like I said, it was just my interpretation of your post.
Yes, I perceive my race weight to be 65-70kgs, but then, I'll never be a elite marathon runner, or 58.6kgs!

Yes i was defintely saying if you dont hit 58.6kg you wont win a marathon:rolleyes:.

My subtle point was that i think people over estimate their racing weight regardless of their level - end of (regardless of what that is). Not that they have to be 55kg and 6% body fat when they are training three times a week and running average times.

kennyb3

To put my point across in a less PC way im saying there are plenty of people that are too heavy (11.5/12 stone) relative to the amount of effort they are putting in other ways (running 70mpw, worrying about what vitamin to take etc etc)

Krusty_Clown

kennyb3 wrote: »

To put my point across in a less PC way im saying there are plenty of people that are too heavy (11.5/12 stone) relative to the amount of effort they are putting in other ways (running 70mpw, worrying about what vitamin to take etc etc)

What do you weigh Kennyb3? How about we put your theory to the test?
My 11.5 stone frame against your 9 stone something, and we'll see whether less weight wins out over miles and miles of training?

ecoli

Logically I should be beating this guy with my 63.1kg:D

TheRoadRunner

Jesus I'm a fat bastard compared to you lightweights. I am big boned though

ecoli

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

Jesus I'm a fat bastard compared to you lightweights. I am big boned though

Extra room to store energy:D Take your few extra lbs as long as it came with your pbs:)

tunguska

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

Jesus I'm a fat bastard compared to you lightweights. I am big boned though

Felling a bit heavy myself after looking at that table. Lads on there who are the same height as me but 15lbs lighter??? Thats unreal. Time to really sharpen up the diet now I reckon.

SWL

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

Jesus I'm a fat bastard compared to you lightweights. I am big boned though

Join the club 6'4" and 90kg here, was hoping to get down to 80-82kg lose a bit then it goes back on, think I have made a balls of my metabolism with all the reduced calorie intake must have slowed it down:rolleyes:

Must say when I did lose a couple of kg it made a big difference to my running