How are we to View Elite Athletes with Regards to Training and Racing

I needed to get back to writing so to start this off I want to deal with an issue I see often put forth and that is taking the training done by elite athletes and applying it to the rest of us.  When I say the rest of us I mean from the beginner to the more advanced athlete who does not, for the most part, make a living from the sport they participate in.  But just so you know where I come from since some may not read to the end – I am not anti-learn from elites, not anti-science and not anti-technology.  What I am I one that wants people to understand who they are so they correctly apply experience, science and other aspects of training to themselves and not blindly do what is often put forth as “The Way.”

 Another subject I will cover in more depth at a later time is fat adaption (OFM) but I mention it here as there is a cross over with elite athlete training – specifically endurance elite athletes.   Often the argument those in a carb-centric world use to denigrate fat adaption is to point to the success of elite endurance athletes who most often rely heavily on carbs, it is the paradigm that has been around for some time, as a fuel source for events and consume large quantities of carbs on a daily basis.  First, one needs to realize simply because an athlete is “elite” it does not mean they are healthy – in fact many are on the verge of sickness, or susceptible to sickness, as they push the envelope and diet can greatly attribute to this issue. 

 Then is the need to realize that simply because an athlete performs well on a carb-centric diet does not mean they could not benefit, health and performance wise, from being fat adapted but for many elite athletes it is not feasible to transition since it does take time, even though there are ways to transition that can minimize issues during transition, as most cannot afford the needed time to do this as sponsorship relies on results and the risk of less than optimum results is not acceptable to most.  In this mix is to also realize many elite athletes have nutrition sponsors who are carb focused and to move from them would mean the loss of monetary and other support.

 Let me add here that I often see, as an argument for high carb as best, is to speak of Kenyan and Ethiopian runners who have a high, actually very high, carbohydrate diet.  Two things here, first is that many Kenyans just based on lifestyle do a form of fasted workouts as they often run early before eating and thus while maybe not optimal do work on fat adaption to some extent.  But, secondly, and most importantly, is to realize this is simply how they eat as they eat what is available and then add to this their general lifestyle you get a picture of people who look much different from the people who are seeking to do as the Kenyans.  Most simply see carbs as carbs but they eat different than most and add in a lifestyle that is more spartan and active you see a different picture of which most will not copy.  This is a case of a people who do well functioning on the diet they have available and to take that diet as is usually will not end well.  I have actually seen where many Africans that come to the US and begin to eat s we do end up not doing well as the foods they eat do not function as those they ate at home – carbs are not all equal.

 Next is to realize many elites hold their protocols tight to the chest – at least their coaches do – and you cannot believe all you hear.  Not that they are lying but that the whole picture may not be seen or shared.  I remember back when I ran in college the stories of how many miles people ran was all over the place as some spoke of high milage that led to their success while others of how little they ran.  Often the high milage guys did not share how fast they ran as much was done slower and those that ran less often left out such things as warmup and cool down and focused on the main workout.  All this to say what you hear is not always exactly what takes place.

 Let me say that we can indeed learn from elite athletes, and should, but to emulate them without a good deal of discernment that takes into account your differences to them is a different matter.  This is akin to car companies using, say, F1 as a testing ground for car technology and design.  These car companies do not simply copy over the technology from F1, or other racing, but adapt and modify it to meet the needs of the everyday driver.  This is how we should view the elites and learn from them – take principles and adapt them in a reasonable and responsible manner.  What the elite athlete does should not be used by coaches as a blanket support for what they teach.  I have always liked the Lydiard method, and am a certified coach, as taught since it uses his principles but applies them in a one on one basis to the individual.

 The other issue, and truly the main one I have already mentioned, is that we are all different and while there are indeed principles that may cover most people we have to factor in our differences as we are, again, in the end an experiment of n=1.  Matter of fact this is even true of elites since they should not blindly copy other elites who have had some success but need to realize their uniqueness and adapt principles just like the rest of us do.  Now they, elites, may have more they can adapt from one another but they still need to use great care in how they utilize what they learn from others. This adapting does take work as it is much easier to see what one person does and copy it but that in most cases will end badly or at best not help one achieve the best results.  What we need to do is make sure we do not just gloss over the training and generalize it but look at the person, their environment, background, history., health and much more.  This is what we should do in any study as we need to see not only how one ticks but what makes them tick and keeps them ticking.  From this we will get some principles of their training but then even that needs to be looked at more closely.  

 Another thing to think about is that simply because an athlete does well you should ask could they do better.  I once heard, and this is not a comment on veganism, a vegan actually ask the question of themselves as to whether if they changed their diet they would be better and they gave an honest answer as they said something like “maybe so” but they saw the philosophy behind veganism more important than performance – kudos to that answer.  I share this as far too often blindly following what others who get the publicity do without asking serious questions so as to make the correct choices is most often not the best decision.

I mentioned this before but before you decide to emulate an elite you feel you need to emulate please realize that elite athletes are often on the edge, if not over it, of not being healthy.  Simply because a particular rider or runner does not well does not mean it is sustainable and certainly for the non-elite it most often is not.  It is interesting how many really good athletes I have known over my 47+ years running and 40+ years riding that no longer run or ride.  Sure there are some that do but a large number do not.  Often this is simply due to the fact the elite lifestyle with regards to diet and training takes one to the edge and going over that edge a number of times takes its toll.  I know that while I was never elite I did ride and run with a lot of people who were and at least with running I paid the price with injuries, some that I still have.  Thankfully I saw this coming and took up riding which I credit for saving my body so I could run and ride for the long term.

 Let me leave this with you from one who is still at it into his mid 60’s – I will be 63 this year – a long term focus is much better than a short term one for most of us.  Sure if you are elite and willing to push the envelope as your profession that is a decision you need to make.  However for most of us we simply need to take a long term look at life.  Spend more time learning how “YOUR” body works and how others like you function and work to better your self.  Learn principles from the elite athletes you follow but be honest and see how you are different.  Not to minimize yourself in comparison but in truth in the end maximize your potential.