Blue Grass Day
In category of blog it while it's on one's mind: Just got back from the YMCA gym--6'4" black athlete comes in and opens up with about 20 pull ups. Perfectly proportioned obviously elite type dude. "Where did you play in college?"--such and such university (basketball). "Where did you play in the pros?" Never made it in pro ball.
Raising the Q with this fellow with physique, proportion, balance, obvious quickness and reaction time of an elite athlete yet falling inexplicably far short of that standard--what makes them "elite"? This guy makes Los Angeles Clipper all NBA point guard Chris Paul look like a chump physically.
My thought is that at some point in perfect physical development, raising one's game to the top level involves a mental element--the discipline perhaps to improve one's game, work on one's weaknesses, perfect the skill set instead of stubbornly doing the same thing every day. It was Tom Ivers who commented on the conventional trainer--they have 1 year of experience repeated 20 times.
This is Todd Plecher and almost all the conventional trainers. You hear one of them--kiss of death to the horse--a month out from the Derby pronounce--he's fit--all we gotta do now is keep him happy. Result generally is a happy as a lark horse who is far short of optimal performance on Derby day and an injury--hopefully other than catastrophic, waiting to happen.
Mystery to me why smart guys like Plecher fail to get it.
How do you get that optimal performance. Imo--many different ways to peel the apple. Was considering this morning concerning Wise Dan and his off day gallops where trainer notes the horse slow gallops in :14s and :13s--is there something to be said for racing about every 10 days and off day galloping in :14s with an occasional burst. Avoid exceeding fracture limits, of course with appropriate rest. Yours truly off to today's training. Winter clothes around here all the way to 4/12.
posted by rather rapid at
1:20 PM
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1 Comments:
Lately RR there has been a lot of talk about Kenyan marathon dominance and the genetics vs training debate. Arguments on both sides. My view is that athletic success is 40% genetic, 40% training/environment, and 20% luck.
If you are born to a specific tribe in Kenya and train at altitude do you have a better shot? Yes, but still white boys from Oregon can compete on the world stage. However, ALL kids born to a certain tribe in Kenya get world class training at altitude, and less than 1% of white boys born in the US receive the same. Basketball is so complex, athleticism probably only impacts 20% of the plays. Just like a guy can be born a 6'6 jumping jack, so can a guy like Paul be born to see the game on a superior level. Fascinating.
Back to horses, Pletcher is coming around. He has nearly every Derby horse break away from the pony and complete a good thorough warm up. His 4-5F breezes are probably 2F longer when you count the gallop out. Like Lukas, I am told his off day gallops approach 15sec/f paces.
BUT, like you mention repeatedly, neither him nor anyone else has figured out the frequency angle. Top Dubai trainer goes a race pace 2-3F after a 2min lick mile 2-3x per week with his stock. So do many Aussies. Certainly that 'closers only' racing style is more suited for that practice.
I'd like to see a return to the old days of Assault: long 6-8F works weekly, interspersed with short 'bone' works of 3-4F weekly.
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