Mike Murray
Pretty accurate statement. It is interesting to note that most of the elite
level athletes that I have known have thought that their success was mostly
due to hard work on their part. In general, I think they are wrong but they
have that opinion because mere genetics is not sufficient; both that and
hard work is needed. Since the genetic component comes unbidden it is taken
for granted and really only appreciated by those that do not have it. Hard
work, however, is obvious to all and therefore seems more important to those
that are gifted.
There is also a small inaccuracy. With regards to the recent mountain bike
race we are not talking about competing in age group racing. With a few
exceptions, like Masters Worlds, age group racing is just that, racing for
anyone in that age group. If you are that age then you can compete. In the
case of the Chainbreaker what we are talking about is competing in field
that is delimitated by ability. In this case competing in a field below
your ability is comparable to competing in an age graded race in a field for
older riders. Since ability grading, particularly in mountain bike racing,
is less objective than age it is easier to do but I would think that pride
in accomplishment would exceed the desire to place well. Obviously this is
not always the case. Personally I would rather place marginally in race
against riders with higher ability than win a race against slower guys.
Clearly everyone does not feel this way.
Mike Murray
-----Original Message-----
From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On
Behalf Of Brad Cockman, DC
Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2006 15:30 PM
To: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] negativity
Whoops, posted this to OBRArace by accident...
I thought this was an astute observation by Dr. Ted here in Bend:
Bash Steve? It depends on what you believe in. If you believe that race
results depend only upon training frequency and volume, then he should ride
age
group if he's not training. Leave him alone.
OR
If however, you believe that certain people have a genetic gift for aerobic
work, and that these people (even if racing "off the couch") can crush mere
mortals who have to train hard just to finish the race, then such a being
should always race elite/pro. Bash away.
There are genetic differences in people's aerobic capacities.
Mitochondrial
DNA comes from mom, and sometimes a person's mitochondria is so unique you
can see the difference under the microscope. Greg Lemond's mitochondria were
so numerous and active, that a pathologist who reviewed the muscle biopsy
slide commented that, "this looks like the mitochondria of an Alaskan sled
dog"...not a normal human's. However, Greg was getting sick and his
performance
was declining when this biopsy was taken, so does the finding represent an
incidental observation of his extra-ordinary mitochondria or was the freaky
mitochondria part of the disease process? No one knows for sure, and there
are
so few of these truely exceptional humans on the face of the planet, that
science hasn't figured out what exactly makes someone the "one in a billion"
human athelete. I once had a conversation with Steve, and he feels that his
success was due to hard work.
If everyone could become a superstar just by following "the program", some
guru's training regiment, then we would be surrounded by superstars.
Unfortunately, life isn't so fair, and there are a few genetically gifted
individuals
out there who can do more and go faster when they train. Mere mortals
can't even get fit enough to do their workouts. Other pros feel that they
need
to cheat just to be competitive against the few lucky freaks of nature that
are out there racing. The fact that drugs don't replace training, so much as
they can enhance the physiologic response to training, suggests that there
is
a wide variety of potential physiologic responses to a given training
regime.
Another oddity, is the phenomenon that some athelets can actually improve
their fitness and get faster during a multiday stage race. Most mere mortals
get torn down, depleted and sicker with the back to back stress of endurance
stage races. Different people respond differently to training...even minimal
training during the lunch hour.
This concludes my once per year commentary.
Dr Ted
--
Brad A. Cockman, DC
Chiropractic Locum Tenens
Race Director
Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic
www.cascade-classic.org
www.mbsef.org
****NOTE NEW ADDRESS****
20389 Rae Rd.
Bend, Or. 97702
541.280.0777
brad21@gmail.com
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