Why are Kenyans the best distance runners?

Barefoot TJ

Barefoot TJ

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Mar 5, 2010
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#1
#4
They work hard as kids and use those lessons in adulthood.
 
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#5
They're not. Not by any physical advantage at least. That's just a pop myth.

Kenyans and Ethiopians dominate distance now for the same reason Kenyans beat Ethiopians at steeple. They're very heavily into the sport, it's their ticket to fame and fortune, it doesn't have to compete with more lucrative pro sports for talent like Europe and America do.
 
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#7
I don't know. It's not just their lifestyle. I mean they definitely have a different body shape than most of us. Mostly, they are lean and short. Perhaps there is something to this.
 
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#9
I think it has to do with them barefoot running to school everyday (1 hour run to and fro) and us as kids being brought to school by car, bus or train - even if the school is just 3 km away. :rolleyes:
Ten years later the Kenyans are already great athletes - and me and you only begin some sort of serious training every other day...
 
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#10
Hobbit said:
I think it has to do with them barefoot running to school everyday (1 hour run to and fro) and us as kids being brought to school by car, bus or train - even if the school is just 3 km away. :rolleyes:
Ten years later the Kenyans are already great athletes - and me and you only begin some sort of serious training every other day...
Click to expand...

This is so true, that's how I grew up barefooted and running to and from school everyday at least 10 mi daily on paved sidewalks, dirt/gravel on the neighborhood streets from Monday to Friday not counting all the running I did when playing.
There was no one, and I mean no one faster than me on the hood.
Not bragging just saying that when you grow up that way you have already an advantage over inactive people and now when African runners see that they have a bright future by running then they have a huge insentive to be an even better athlete $$$$$$.
 
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#14
I thought that this was settled scientifically: They're so fast because they move their legs faster and do it for longer than their competition.

It seems that growing up in a competitive running culture, imbued with a great attitude toward life and running, eating good food and getting good rest, and running some 18,000 or more miles before they're 16 would account for a great deal of their success.

His disparaging comments on BF running might be reflecting a good deal of cultural bias. Who would extol the virtues of poverty? Also, he knows who's buttering his bread - the shoe companies! He'd be nuts to take shots at them. Maybe later when he'd older and coaching. Maybe.
 
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