Lance Armstorng Is running the 2006 NYC Marathon

[P-funk]

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ROME, Ga. -- Look out, New York. Lance is ready to run.

Lance Armstrong told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he plans to compete in the New York City Marathon on Nov. 5.

"We were looking at the Chicago Marathon, but a conflict arose with the date, and New York seems to fit our schedule better," Armstrong said in a telephone interview. "I've been training some, but I wouldn't call it serious. It's just something to fill a void in my life after I quit competing as a professional cyclist."

Armstrong, preparing for his first marathon, retired from cycling after winning an unprecedented seventh straight Tour de France last year.

Before committing to become a full-time cyclist, Armstrong competed in triathlons as a teenager. He indicated he has no plans to run marathons or enter triathlons professionally, at least not at this time.

 

[section8]

Wouldn't that be the shit if he won!

 

[maxpro2]

Awesome man

 

[P-funk]

Wouldn't that be the shit if he won!

he wont come close to winning. running and cycling are two different beasts.

 

[I Are Baboon]

he wont come close to winning. running and cycling are two different beasts.

weRd.

Still pretty cool that's he running though.

 

[BoneCrusher]

he wont come close to winning. running and cycling are two different beasts.

You really feel that the dif's between the two sports are that great to put ol' Lance in the "he wont come close to winning" class? I don't agree. The guy's got the road work skills and dedication. Pain is just not an issue, nor is timing and pacing himself. Fact is his unique skill set qualifies him to do very well ... he may just win the damn thing.

JMHO ...

 

[P-funk]

You really feel that the dif's between the two sports are that great to put ol' Lance in the "he wont come close to winning" class? I don't agree. The guy's got the road work skills and dedication. Pain is just not an issue, nor is timing and pacing himself. Fact is his unique skill set qualifies him to do very well ... he may just win the damn thing.

JMHO ...

that is cool. but it is not my opinion. It is a tested thing.....elite cyclists adn swimmers VO2max were tested in running trials and they were totally washed out. Because of training specificity adn runner economy.

Lance was however a tri-athlete before he did the tour so he is a good runner.

But no, I still don't think he will come anywhere close to winning the marathon. those guys are doing it in a smidge over 2hrs. Lance can probably get 3.5hrs and if he trains hard maybe break 3hrs. He has a good base to work from.

But still.....the movement is different. the exercise economy is different....the training specifictiy is different.

It is like saying a great deadlift can be a great olympic lifter.....just not so.

 

[SuppAddict]

he wont come close to winning. running and cycling are two different beasts.

you never know, he could do it or at least come in the top 10
he's in good shape
either way, its still aspiring that he is doing it

 

[Dale Mabry]

you never know, he could do it or at least come in the top 10
he's in good shape
either way, its still aspiring that he is doing it

He will be lucky to finish top 100, he is 34 and his body will take alot more pounding in a marathon. Add to that that you need to run it in 2:40 to break the top 100, coupled with the fact that when he ran triathlons he was never a top 10 in the half marathon.

He ran a 5k a couple of weeks ago in 18:20. If he managed that pace over a marathon, over 8x the distance, he would finish in 2:40, good for 107th.

http://www.doitsports.com/newresults3/client/22068_22102_2006.html

P is right, completely different ballgame. I hope he does well, but doubt it.

 

[GFR]

Wouldn't that be the shit if he won!

you never know, he could do it or at least come in the top 10
he's in good shape
either way, its still aspiring that he is doing it

He wont even beat the top 10 women runners.

 

[thefutureisnow]

Doesn't Armstrong produce more red blood cells or something?

 

[P-funk]

I think everyone is missing the point though. He even states in the article that he wont be training that serious. He is just doing it to do it. He has no thoughts of winning.

 

[PreMier]

The point is P-funk could beat him in a marathon race.

 

[P-funk]

The point is P-funk could beat him in a marathon race.

lol...I was telling people at work this (mostly the trainers there that specialize in marathon running and endurance shit.")

me: did you hear lance is running the marathong?

them: yea! pretty cool. he will do okay but he probably wont do as great as most people think because he is a cyclist.

me: fuck....if he can run it then I can run it. i will do it this year and run in front of him and periodically look back and say "come on lance! you fucking suck."

them.....walking away shaking their heads thinking "what an asshole"

 

[PreMier]

Thats classic. I got this calf workout you have to try.. mine are so sore I cant even put my fucking legs straight!

 

[Bakerboy]

There is no way that Lance Armstrong will place in the top 100.

Long distance running and cycling are very different. I know he started out as a tri athlete, so there is no question he can run but his main focus for the last almost 15 years has been on developing the ideal body for cycling not running.

You use your body in completely different ways. Running focuses more on your hamstrings and calves, and requires years of practice to develop good technique: stride, a light strike, a powerful push off, running relaxed, developing a flow etc.. The best marathon runners are graceful and glide, it's an amazing thing to watch, not like most of us who stomp when we strike the ground. The harder you strike the ground the more your body has to impact that strike. Cycling on the other hand uses more of your quads and hips, the impact on your body negligible. Cycling is a lot about making circles (developing an effiicient and seemingly effortless spin) it's not about hammering up and down. Look closely at a professional cyclists legs then at a top marathon athletes legs, they are developed very differently.

Sure Lance has a competative mind, tough from pushing himself in cycling and beating cancer, which obviously will act as a bonus, but the top marathon runners have that too. His lactic acid recovery/ and ability to fight through the pain, while still keeping a level head will all be factors in his placement. Hee also has legs the are the exact same length (most people don't) which is great when on a bike because if one leg is longer than another, even a bit, you will eventually notice it over a long ride, which sometimes causes problems when you tire ( because one leg will be stronger and doing more of the work) and your body will end up trying to compensate for this, pulling with your lower back, usually on the side of your weaker leg. The more balanced your body is the better it can do its job. It puts you in an advantage when participating in activities, like cycling and running...

Still, I hope he does well............

 

[topolo]

Thats classic. I got this calf workout you have to try.. mine are so sore I cant even put my fucking legs straight!

Premier.....please post it!

 

[GFR]

Thats classic. I got this calf workout you have to try.. mine are so sore I cant even put my fucking legs straight!

Premier.....please post it!

Just give up, it's over.

 

[Dale Mabry]

Premier.....please post it!

More gheyness for your anus. Homo.

 

[topolo]

f both of you, I am looking for a new workout for my bitch calves

 

[section8]

I think everyone is missing the point though. He even states in the article that he wont be training that serious. He is just doing it to do it. He has no thoughts of winning.

Damn, I didn't know that I had to read the article! I really didn't read it, just skimmed over it. And you are right he will not even get close to winning, but still it would great if he did.

 

[Bakerboy]

Lance Armstrong is a competative guy, but smart too. Of course he will play down his participation in the NY Marathon as "not serious" but I bet he is training like crazy, the guy only has one gear, the big gear. I still think he has no chance in in winning or even coming close to the top guys, but I garantee he will show up in fighting form. He has been a competative athlete at the top of his sport for so long that I think it would be impossible for the guy not to be searching for another sport to excell in. 34 years old is old for a lot of sports but not for high endurance sports like marathon running. A lot of people say that you don't peak as a distance runner until you hit your thirties. The only reason why there are a lot of marathon athletes that are winning in there twenties is bcause they start training, serious training when they are so young, (Martin Lel of Kenya began running at age 10 he is now 25) but they also can burn out their careers quicker because of this...

Martin Lel, 2004, Boston Marathon

 

[P-funk]

wow! he looks great....very healthy!

 

[Bakerboy]

Not a lot of baggage................ Light and quick like the wind.........

Armstong would like a heavyweight next to the top 10 guys......