General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Curious, are there any top triathletes that have a high lbs to inches in height ratio (> 2.6) Rss Feed  
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2010-09-17 11:54 AM
in reply to: #3104136

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Subject: RE: Curious, are there any top triathletes that have a high lbs to inches in height ratio (> 2.6)
JonnyRingo84 - 2010-09-17 9:24 AM There's exceptions to everything.

For instance, many people consider super fast sprinters to be stocky muscular guys that can just absolutely power their way through 100m....enter 6'5" Usain Bolt.

A lot of people think big time power pitchers in baseball have to be 6'5" like Roger Clemens and Nolan Ryan....enter 5'9" Billy Wagner.

It's all about making the best of what you've got.  Lance Armstrong may be the greatest cyclist ever at 5'9" 175lbs (2.54 so borderline to your 2.6 threshold).  Compare that to Andy Schleck who's 6'1" 150lbs (just barely over a 2.0) and Alberto Contador who is 5'9" 130lbs (1.88!!).  While Schleck and Contador are great, I don't think anyone would say they're better endurance athletes than Lance ever was just because they have the more "typical" build.


It's not that simple, to compete in any sport at a high level you either have the ability that can be tapped or you don't.  Using Lance as your example while he lacked the prototypical physical build he was genetically gifted enough cardiovascularly(sp) to compensate.  That does not even take into consideration his mental desire to succeed which cannot really be taught or learned either.


2010-09-17 2:31 PM
in reply to: #3104136

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Subject: RE: Curious, are there any top triathletes that have a high lbs to inches in height ratio (> 2.6)
JonnyRingo84 - 2010-09-17 7:24 AM There's exceptions to everything.

For instance, many people consider super fast sprinters to be stocky muscular guys that can just absolutely power their way through 100m....enter 6'5" Usain Bolt.

A lot of people think big time power pitchers in baseball have to be 6'5" like Roger Clemens and Nolan Ryan....enter 5'9" Billy Wagner.

It's all about making the best of what you've got.  Lance Armstrong may be the greatest cyclist ever at 5'9" 175lbs (2.54 so borderline to your 2.6 threshold).  Compare that to Andy Schleck who's 6'1" 150lbs (just barely over a 2.0) and Alberto Contador who is 5'9" 130lbs (1.88!!).  While Schleck and Contador are great, I don't think anyone would say they're better endurance athletes than Lance ever was just because they have the more "typical" build.


LA doesn't actually race at 175, normally.  More like 165, down to 160 or lower by the end of a multi-stage race.  Under "2.4" by the terms we're using in this thread.  I've seen indications out there on the Interwebs that his ideal weight during competition in his prime was as low as 150 (2.17).  Still a higher BMI than a lot of other premiere road cyclists, but nowhere near "stocky."  I don't think Lance is a particularly good example of a short, stocky guy who is fast.

(What he is, though, is a good example of the sort of physique for which BMI is misleading...densely muscled with very low BF.)
2010-09-17 3:13 PM
in reply to: #3101677


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Subject: RE: Curious, are there any top triathletes that have a high lbs to inches in height ratio (> 2.6)
Maybe I chose a bad example, but my point is that although there are stereotypes and common builds for various sports, they aren't 100%.  There are tiny dudes in the NBA, skinny guys in the NFL, non-Canadians in the NHL (it's a joke...laugh!), guys with thigh muscles you can see from a mile away that can't jump a curb while guys built like crickets jump through the roof.

That's all I'm saying...just because someone is short and stocky doesn't mean tall skinny dudes like me are automatically starting with a higher ceiling.
2010-09-17 4:30 PM
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Subject: RE: Curious, are there any top triathletes that have a high lbs to inches in height ratio (> 2.6)
irontritoe - 2010-09-17 9:12 AM
jasonmkennedy - 2010-09-16 7:17 PM

When I was 32 and in my best shape I could swim sub 25 and run low 6 minute pace.

Pool 1650 time was 16:30
Track 5k time was 17:50

-j


Dude, your swim times don't add up.  a pool 16:30 is not even close to a sub 25:00 1.5k.  Plus, USMS has zero registered 16:30's or faster in the 30-34 age group the last 7 years as verified through USMS: http://www.usms.org/comp/meets/toptimes.php.  In fact, only 3 people in any age under 35 have broken 16:30 in the last 7 years.  All this does not count elite US swimmers, of which, as you should know, a 16:30 is not; so they would be much faster.  If you swam a 16:30 "back in the day" (HS or college) that's one thing, but otherwise...just sayin'


The pool 1650 was at NAIA nationals in college and the 5k was in a college track meet.  The sub 25 minute oly was in Cour'd'alane Idaho in 1985 in open water.   All of those were at the same height/weight ratio.

Cheers,
-jason
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