diego_b wrote: 1. Have you had many running injuries to date, how have you managed them?
diego_b wrote: 2. Do you do any S&C work?
diego_b wrote: 3. What's the best "running" thing about Ballyheigue? Plenty of hills and views for training I think.
diego_b wrote: 4. What races abroad have you looked at?
diego_b wrote: 5. Does thrash talk ever thrown about at the start of race at the top end?
diego_b wrote: 6. What's the most annoying thing someone has ever done to you in a race?
diego_b wrote: 7. I like that you want to run into old age (as do I), but are you going to get involved in track stuff? (The county/provincial championship days are good fun and competitive at the masters level, not sure what age you are)
diego_b wrote: 8. What's the most you've ever left it out there in a race and did you wonder afterwards was it worth it?
diego_b wrote: 9. When you started running did you do a couch to 5K plan or how did you get going?
diego_b wrote: 10. If you could win DCM but no one would ever know about it (world wide mind blank, record/result erased) or else finish second and everyone know about it what would you chose?
diego_b wrote: Thanks for the answers, especially good answer and attitude on number 10! When saying about wondering is it worth it, I know a former Olympian who's had a knee replacement later in their life and I'd wonder for the pain and discomfort of that (plus an absolute end to running in their late 50's/early 60's) was it worth it. I don't think I could possibly ask the person the question but the sacrifices both physical (and possibly in personal life) at times for everyone as they step up the levels are something that can come to the fore.
diego_b wrote: p.s. Don't forget Banna 10K for August Bank Holiday weekend....pb course and organized by my club St. Brendan's AC.
OOnegative wrote: An idea for a foreign race!!!
Swashbuckler wrote: » Well in terms of the physical, leaving it almost all out there (we never leave it all out there) I don't think has any impact on my physical wellbeing. I wouldn't be pushing myself to the limits of injury if you know what I mean. In terms of the personal sacrifices I don't honestly think I make any sacrifices yet. In time we'll see. But at the moment most of my running is at work. No impact on family apart from when we're on holidays. Lol Killarney 10k in July 28th!
diego_b wrote: Ah yes, I've done the half there a few times but missing it due to a wedding this year. You have a good week there to recover with the Banna run on Sunday 5th. There's a nice long Strava segment there from Ardfert village to Banna cross you could well get up the ranks on...and of course main course of the race! Usually have a few good club runners at the top end in it.
ariana` wrote: » - Do you think you're capable of being 'tough to be kind'? You are always very encouraging and pretty sound to be honest, if you saw something someone really making a b*lls of their training/racing in their log/strava would you be able to be fairly harsh if you thought they needed to hear it?
ariana` wrote: Really interesting stuff so far... Thanks for answering my earlier questions. A few more if you don't mind
ariana` wrote: - At amateur level in running how much is talent and how much is hard work & determination?
ariana` wrote: - Would you recommend to anyone to go down the coaching route as a way to progress or do you think it's a natural progression when a runner hits a stage in their running?
ariana` wrote: - Do you think you're capable of being 'tough to be kind'? You are always very encouraging and pretty sound to be honest, if you saw something someone really making a b*lls of their training/racing in their log/strava would you be able to be fairly harsh if you thought they needed to hear it?
Swashbuckler wrote: » Missed this one. Honestly (and people might disagree) I believe at our level it's 100% hard work and determination. I don't think talent comes into it to be a good runner.
skyblue46 wrote: » Controversial! Haha. Don't you think hard work and determination will improve everyone but by how much depends on nature? Start 100 non runners of the same age and gender on an identical plan, assume all are dedicated....do you not think there will be a wide range of performance as a result?
skyblue46 wrote: Controversial! Haha. Don't you think hard work and determination will improve everyone but by how much depends on nature? Start 100 non runners of the same age and gender on an identical plan, assume all are dedicated....do you not think there will be a wide range of performance as a result?
Murph_D wrote: Agree. “Talent†= genetics.
Murph_D wrote: Q - How do you manage pain (if you haven’t answered this yet?) Do you have a particular technique or just pure stubbornness, 00negative-style?
Swashbuckler wrote: » Haha it's a fair question. There's a major flaw in your rationale though. The same plan for 100 runners will yield wildly different results because each runner will have his own individual weaknesses and strengths that aren't addressed by a plan. However I get your point. I think some will be more dedicated than others and I think other factors are more important than "talent" at our level Mindset is a big thing. If you take 100 runners of the same mindset and same dedication and tailor their training to their own individual needs I think you'll get similar results. I think most of us could get to the same point with hard work. But to get beyond that takes talent.
skyblue46 wrote: Haha...the nerve of you! A major flaw!!! Pffftttt. Talent & hard work and tailored plan = Ronaldo/ Messi. Hard work and tailored plan = Jordan Henderson! No way can you disregard talent/ genetics. I prefer Murphs comment on another thread that any reasonably fit and prepared man should find a 4 hour marathon doable than the idea that there's a 35 min 10k there for the taking
Swashbuckler wrote: » Haha you realise I mean at our level. Not elite level marathon runners. I don't think talent plays any part for the likes of me and you. We can reach the same level with hard work and dedication. With an abundance of talent we could have been Olympic athletes. Just to reinforce my point, ariana asked at amateur level not elite. Messi and Henderson are professionals. I don't think talent plays much part at our level. We can all reach a reasonable standard (amateur) through hard work and dedication. I love a bit of debate. Haha
skyblue46 wrote: I think talent/ genetic ability plays a massive part. I'm convinced it's why some hit a glass ceiling despite lots of training while others can run faster times off little or no training. Like kids in school who have no aptitude for soccer/ music/ art/ athletics despite a burning desire and lots of training/ grinds/ classes to be better ...it carries on into adulthood.
Swashbuckler wrote: » I'll put it to you this way (I've a feeling we won't agree on this regardlesa) but I believe most people with the proper attitude and dedication and hard work and correct training and several other factors outside of genetics can reach a reasonably high standard. Genetics will push someone on to another level. Some might take longer than others but not because of talent... In my humble option. Lol. Genetics or talent is too easy an excuse not to work hard to push yourself beyond your considered limits. Ah shur I'd never reach that level. I'm not Kenyan so why bother trying. Lol.
skyblue46 wrote: No I don't think we'll ever agree on it to be honest. In no way am I suggesting that it's an excuse to not try to get the best from oneself. But neither should someone who doesn't reach a reasonably high standard feel that they have trained inadequately or had too little desire. It just may not be in their capability range. For example my parents spent endless amounts on lessons because I desperately wanted to play a musical instrument. Failure...I just couldn't do it. On the other hand any sport that involved hand/eye coordination I could pick up in no time.
skyblue46 wrote: But neither should someone who doesn't reach a reasonably high standard feel that they have trained inadequately or had too little desire.
Swashbuckler wrote: » What do you think is the limit of your capability at 10k for example? Just curious
skyblue46 wrote: That's an interesting one. I'm not sure. Quite a bit faster than I can do now. Not sure that I can/ want to make the necessary lifestyle changes that would be a help. I'd be thinking high 37/ low 38 within 18 months.
Swashbuckler wrote: » And I think if you were willing to make the changes youd reach 35 for definite. Nothing to do with genetics. Just hard work. So little talent in my eyes needed at our level. We can all reach a decent level without factoring talent.
skyblue46 wrote: Again I disagree...surprisingly I think I have certain genes that help me. I think some training is helping me gradually enable them to prosper a bit. There are lads I beat in school races 40 years ago when we weren't training. I'd wager I'd still beat the same lads, and the lads who beat me then still would with equal training, even now. Everyone can train perfectly, it's ability that separates at every level. I suppose we also both took a different meaning from ariana's question.
Swashbuckler wrote: » I think we're probably looking at this differently. I guess I took arianas question as meaning do i think talent plays a part for people at amateur level being able to reach a decent level and I don't think it does. If the question means do I think people with natural talent will prosper more than those with none then probably no. But I guess what I'm saying is I believe most of us can get to a pretty decent standard before talent plays a part. For me talent is what differentiates someone who's a low 30s 10k vs an Olympic athlete. We can all work on improving our technique, stride, running systems etc. At some point you'll hit a ceiling. I don't think that ceiling is at our level.
skyblue46 wrote: Yeah while I'm looking at it from the view where someone trains like a god and can't break 50 for 10k while someone else can rock up off a bit of football training and run 42. Different perspectives on the same question. To me the difference there is ability pure and simple.
