Two years ago, questions swirled about whether U.S. long-distance running could be saved, and how? Coming into today’s New York City Marathon, the answer is a resounding yes.
The solution was as much about changing the way the runners felt about the competition as they felt about themselves. For the first time since the halcyon days of Alberto Salazar and Bill Rodgers, several Americans will be real contenders – a charge led by Olympic medalists and Team Running USA partners Meb Keflezighi and Deena Kastor, who both live at Mammoth Lakes (Calif.) and epitomize the running revolution.
Both are national record-holders that moved up to the marathon in their prime, instead of being forced into it by age. After Kastor ran a U.S.-record 2:21.16 last year in London, she came from behind to earn bronze in Athens.
Keflezighi’s silver was one place better, the first U.S. man to medal in 28 years.
“[Winning] is possible. Anything can happen. Tell me I can’t, I’ll prove you wrong,” said Keflezighi. “It’s great to . . . bring the positives we used to have in the ’70s and ’80s. When I got out of UCLA, I said I want to be a positive influence in U.S. running, and I have been.”
Six years ago, the top U.S. 10,000-meter time was a pedestrian 28:15.02; but now Keflezighi led six runners that reached the Olympic A standard of 27:49, the third-most of any nation. Several are running today, including Bob Kennedy in his Marathon debut, and Abdi Abdirahman, whom Dan Browne swears can run a 2:07.
“Americans get comfortable, don’t like to leave home. That hurts us. [Africans] have camps and go away and prepare. We don’t. We need to change that,” said Kennedy. “After Deena’s success, people Say, ‘Hey, we’re not so bad at this.’ Athens put an exclamation point on it, demystified the rest of the world.”
One USATF official said Americans have gone from making excuses why they couldn’t beat the Kenyans to finding ways to beat them, and CEO Craig Masback agreed, also using the demystifying term with regard to Kennedy training with the Kenyans in 1994 and challenging them in the 1996 Olympic 5,000.
Belief wasn’t the only key. It’s been assumed that East Africans have innate advantages because of a preponderance of slow-twitch muscle fibers and a life spent at high altitude, but U.S. runners are combating that. In the case of Browne, his house is equipped with a device that simulates 12,000-foot altitude.
Altitude increases the size and number of capillaries (that bring oxygen to the muscles) and mitochondria in the muscle fibers (that burn the fuel). And of the fast-twitch fibers they have, they’re designing ways to train the Type IIA fibers more toward the Type I slow-twitch fibers, increasing endurance.
“The talent is here. There’s no reason why 2:08 can’t be broken, have Americans run 2:06,” said Dieter Hogan, Kennedy’s renowned coach.
“They have to step up and do a few things, but four, five years from now, you’ve got guys who can run 2:06. It shouldn’t be a problem.”
Post picks
Women
MARGARET OKAYO, Kenya
After negative-split win in 2001, she set course record (2:22.31) last year and won London this year. She will prove that dropping out in Athens with Achilles injury was nothing more than blip.
PAULA RADCLIFFE, 30, Britain
World record-holder will wear her lucky bib 111 – the number she wore in her Marathon debut – but we’re picking the fast-starting Brit to get caught not because of her Olympic DNF, but because first-timers here haven’t fared well.
DEENA KASTOR, 31, U.S.
After taking third last year in London and come-from-behind Athens bronze, third sounds about right. Experience gives her an edge over Marathon debutante and world cross-country champ Benita Johnson.
Men
MICHAEL ROTICH, Kenya.
No, not the same Kenyan Olympic 800 runner; but he might be better, with a 2:06.33 win last year in Paris that is the best time in the field and makes us overlook that its his first try on this tough course.
TIMOTHY CHERIGAT, Kenya
Now training in Boulder, Colo., with renowned Dieter Hogen, he won Boston by 1:12 in hot weather and is running well.
MEB KEFLEZIGHI, U.S. Bid too early here two years ago and faded to ninth after leading at 19 miles; he didn’t fade in taking silver in Athens, and is clearly in form, giving him edge over 2002 runnerup Chris Cheboiboch.
TV: Ch. 4 11 a.m. -3 p.m.