One thing that I would like to point out is that cycling is a very different movement than running. Ever try biking 15 miles and then going for a run. It feels very awkward and is difficult to move fast. I saw one guy who was a decent runner spend an entire summer biking in a cross-Canada biking thing and in September he was horrible. It took him a month or two to get going but once he did he had improved a lot.

What I'm saying is that Lance is right. Running is a world of difference from running. I'm sure aerobically he is among the best (if not the best) in the world. Could we all sit here and say that Geb or Tergat could do well in one of the Tours or the World Champs. Of course not. I think Armstrong will break 300 but it'll be a 250 or so.

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Alex[/URL" target="_blank">

quote:<HR>Originally posted by fredurie:
http://www.runnersworld.com/events/roadtoathens/mtrials/021018chat_mayeroff.html[/URL" target="_blank">

"Jason Mayeroff: I knew I was ready when I was in Zhongdian (China), and around August 20, I ran 34 kilometers at 3:25 per kilometer, roughly 5:30 pace at 10,000-foot altitude. So I screamed at Shawn Hellebuyck, my agent, "Call Berlin, get me in." She wanted me to run the new Seoul Marathon in November. I told her, "No, Shawn, I'm ready for Berlin. I'm going to be ready in a month. I know I'm close." Then I went back to Kunming to run some 1000s and 2000s to get my pace just right.

http://This message has been edited by fredurie (edited Jul-10-2006).<HR>

People looking to condemn anyone for doping would do well not to mention the name "Hellebuyck."

The French media have always had it in for Armstrong. While the Festina squad was banned in 1999 Le Monde "broke" the "story" that Armstrong had traces of corticoids in his urine after a dope test on 4 July. Apparently he'd been applying a cream for saddle sores that contained trace amounts of corticoid. The trace in Armstrong's urine sample that was enough to have the heavyweight paper Le MOnde condemn him as a drug cheat? The test shoed a level of 0.2: normal levels, without doping, are between 1 and 6. Yet apparently this was proof that Armstrong was a cheat.

The French press conveniently forget that Armstrong trained and lived in France for most of his professional career and so was subject to all the french authorities doping checks that the French riders were and yet whenever one of the French riders was caught out there were always snide remarks about Lance.

It's sad that we now don't seem to be able to see any great sporting achievement without automatically believing it to be drug assisted.

fredurie - I'm curious how you define training properly or well - I sure as **** don't plan on any 150 mile weeks (or even 100 for that matter!) and I've never seen Lance say anything other than he plans to run a marathon and enjoy it, but he's realizing that running is different from cycling. He's not saying he can breeze throug training and pop a 2:30, he's acknowledging the difficulty and admires people that do this.

As for the doping allegations - I certainly understand skepticism and doubt, but you really do not bolster your argument by quoting anything from Le Monde. That newspaper doesn't even justify a response. I suppose the investigation that cleared his '99 samples (or more accurately pointed out the shoddy handling that couldn't produce any reliable test results) has no merit whatsoever? It seems there's nothing conclusive on either side so everyone's free to make up their own mind, but without proof I don't see how you can be so certain. Call me naive if you like, but it's hard to prove innocence when people completely buy conjecture, hearsay, and innuendo.

Personally I'm curious to see what he can run - I've got my money on somewhere around 2:50-3:00 - I think he'll train reasonably hard but not kill himself, but he's got some natural ability and a lot of competitive drive. These people that think he'll go 2:30 - I just don't see that. Takes lots of speed background that he simply doesn't have. It'll be interesting.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by joplus:
Lighten up, dude.

<HR>

This is the CW, not jog a marathon world.



http://This message has been edited by fredurie (edited Jul-11-2006).

Fred,

I agree you should chill out and go for a run or something, release some of that anger you have for Lance.

The guy is trying to give us (runners) credit as to how hard what we do is, and then you jump on his case about drugs. What does that have to do with him running NY?

To be honest with you, Lance is a hero of mine for what he has over come and the struggles with cancer, etc. and he has NOT been proven guilty of drugs or anything else as far as that is concerned, and for you to bash or say so, is only an opinion of yours, which you are free to express, but I don't understand why you would want to bash on an american icon, and someone who is a hero to so many around the world.

I haven't followed the Lance doing a marathon story at all, but if he chooses to race it, I think he could run under 3 hours, and I KNOW he doesn't have to run 100-150 miles a week to run under 3 hours.

It will be interesting to see how fast Armstrong could run for
marathon if he trained for it. Giving his cycling background
and all the obstacles he has overcome he could probably run
a decent marathon or do well at the triathlon. He will never be
a world class distance runner though and I think he is doing it
just for fun. Regardless of what the media has written about him or what has maybe happened in the past the guy is an amazing athlete. Track and field/running isn't exactly a clean sport either.