Discussion: NY Times article
in: Orienteering; General
Feb 24, 2009 6:51 PM
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One of the closest branches to orienteering on the Tree of Running is trail running. For those of you who haven't seen it, there is a very good article (with accompanying video clip) in today's NY Times about trail running legend Matt Carpenter, who, at the ripe age of 44 (is he only now just beginning to hit his prime? ha!), continues to make most anyone else he races against look mostly ordinary.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/24/sports/otherspor...
I met Matt some years ago while I was doing a long run on the Barr Trail on Pikes Peak. I had run to above treeline and was on my way back down to the trailhead when up ahead I saw a pair of lungs on two stick legs, walking up the trail with a huge backpack. I had never seen any picture of Matt but I had heard him described before in almost those exact terms--as being a pair of lungs on two stick legs--so I had the thought this just might be Matt. I stopped and introduced myself, and it turned out my guess was spot on. He was on his way up to Barr Camp, where he was going to spend a few weeks training for the upcoming Pikes Peak Marathon (as I recall, this was in July, with the race being in August.) I remember he commented it was extra important to train as much as possible in the highest zone of the race--the part above treeline. Specificity in action.
He was quite friendly and willing to talk to a complete stranger, and struck me as being a thoroughly nice guy. After talking for a few minutes, we each went our way.
To see Matt is to understand he is a genetic abnormality. 1 in a million? 1 in 10 million? 1 in a hundred million? Whatever the case, he's a *very* rare specimen. The article discusses that a little, but also the more important factor. Genetics/innate talent may be a necessary ingredient, but it is not a sufficient ingredient. As with anyone who has been exceptionally successful in a chosen field, Matt has worked incredibly hard at it. No shortcuts taken there.
A truly neat thing about Matt is that he has given a whole bunch back to the running community in Colorado Springs, where he lives.
(A small detour down ego/memory lane and a correction to the article: the article states that Matt has never been beaten in the marathon on Pikes Peak. That's not quite right. It's true that he has hasn't been beaten often or by many. One year I finished 5th, the fellow in 6th would be best described as a pair of lungs on two stick legs...)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/24/sports/otherspor...
I met Matt some years ago while I was doing a long run on the Barr Trail on Pikes Peak. I had run to above treeline and was on my way back down to the trailhead when up ahead I saw a pair of lungs on two stick legs, walking up the trail with a huge backpack. I had never seen any picture of Matt but I had heard him described before in almost those exact terms--as being a pair of lungs on two stick legs--so I had the thought this just might be Matt. I stopped and introduced myself, and it turned out my guess was spot on. He was on his way up to Barr Camp, where he was going to spend a few weeks training for the upcoming Pikes Peak Marathon (as I recall, this was in July, with the race being in August.) I remember he commented it was extra important to train as much as possible in the highest zone of the race--the part above treeline. Specificity in action.
He was quite friendly and willing to talk to a complete stranger, and struck me as being a thoroughly nice guy. After talking for a few minutes, we each went our way.
To see Matt is to understand he is a genetic abnormality. 1 in a million? 1 in 10 million? 1 in a hundred million? Whatever the case, he's a *very* rare specimen. The article discusses that a little, but also the more important factor. Genetics/innate talent may be a necessary ingredient, but it is not a sufficient ingredient. As with anyone who has been exceptionally successful in a chosen field, Matt has worked incredibly hard at it. No shortcuts taken there.
A truly neat thing about Matt is that he has given a whole bunch back to the running community in Colorado Springs, where he lives.
(A small detour down ego/memory lane and a correction to the article: the article states that Matt has never been beaten in the marathon on Pikes Peak. That's not quite right. It's true that he has hasn't been beaten often or by many. One year I finished 5th, the fellow in 6th would be best described as a pair of lungs on two stick legs...)
Feb 26, 2009 10:04 AM
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Two things struck me from this article:
1. How do you tell whether this guy is a genetic anomaly, or instead a product of adaptation over a lifetime of dedicated high altitude distance training?
2. Does he really have a treadmill that will do a 3:20 mile pace at 27% incline? Who would make such a goofy thing? What would the utility be? Even this guy, as amazing as he is, would be launched onto the back wall by such a machine.
1. How do you tell whether this guy is a genetic anomaly, or instead a product of adaptation over a lifetime of dedicated high altitude distance training?
2. Does he really have a treadmill that will do a 3:20 mile pace at 27% incline? Who would make such a goofy thing? What would the utility be? Even this guy, as amazing as he is, would be launched onto the back wall by such a machine.
Feb 26, 2009 1:35 PM
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I would guess that such a high performance treadmill might also be able to simulate downhill running (i.e. negative incline) where sub 4-minute pace capability might be needed for someone with Matt's talent.
Mar 1, 2009 11:35 AM
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From Jonathon Vigh's site "According to an archive story from the NYTimes (April 4, 1982), the (unofficial) world record at the time for the fastest downhill mile is held by American Steve Scott who ran a timed mile of 3:32.25 in a mile race down the main street of Auckland, NZ. The course dropped 200 feet over that distance. Mike Hillardt of Australia took 2nd with 3:32.25 and Ray Flynn of Ireland third in 3:32.75".
This discussion thread is closed.