Nutrition Advice

Today, I came across a article on Runner's World that cited a study about the daily energy expenditure of Rift Valley teens in Kenya. For years it has been said that the reason Kenyans and the rest of the Horn of Africa have dominated middle and long distance running (i.e marathons) is because of what has been called the early training theory. Basically, since Kenyan kids have to run on average 7.5 kilometers to and from school each day they are setting themselves up to become world-class athletes, versus the Western world who drive everywhere and complain at the thought of even running or performing any physical activity from leisure purposes. In this recent study, the early training theory was proven to be wrong since those who ran the most as youths did not have the highest VO2 max scores. Before I even get to what the rest of the study said (which you can find here on pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3689839/ ) let me just jump in and comment on this so-called revelation. First off, Vo2 max while being an excellent indication to one's cardiovascular fitness it has not been fully proven to be the best predictor of competitive performance. Many studies such as: Hagberg, J. M. (1984). Physiological implications of the lactate threshold. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 5, 106-109, state that LT (lactate threshold) is a better predictor of performance. Secondly, regardless of whether LT or VO2max is the better predictor of future success, let's make sure  we stress that these number are only predictors. It would be so close-minded to only look at the numbers, as they are so many other factors to what make a world-class athletes who he or she is. Take for example the NHL draft, during the scouting combine there are individuals who stand out in terms of there performance on the power output test, or the VO2max, or the vertical jump, but let's ask how does that translate into there play on the ice. Well, Ryan Tesink scored the highest VO2 max in the 2011 draft with 67.9 but where is he now - o ya he got drafted in the 6th round (so clearly gm's didn't think much of him) and did not make the NHL roster. Just to let you know where I'm coming from, I don't hold any bias against the LT and VO2 max tests as on the VO2 max I scored in the mid-70s and on the Lactate threshold test my lactate number actually got lower as the test progressed (so I wasn't producing any lactate despite running at a speed well over 18km/h on the treadmill with incline). 

The study went on to say that it seems the real reason behind Kenyan success is their extremely low body weight. Looking at 14 world class marathoners with an average time of 2:07 they had a average height (in inches) to weight (in lbs) ratio of 0.53 (higher number the better). Now, it's not that I don't agree that a lower body weight will equate to a faster race time (less mass to carry over the distance, plus less overall stress on joints), and keeping in mind that I don't have any bias against low body weight as my height to weight ratio is currently 0.554, should we really be encouraging the general population to drop to 120 lbs. This is a quote from the article on Runner's world, "If you're anywhere around .5, you might have a chance against the Kenyans. If you're in the .4xs or .3xs, you should challenge them to a bowling match." Sure most of the population could afford to lose some weight as obesity in kids especially is on the rise, but it doesn't have to be as extreme as becoming as thin as the Kenyans. For the general population, I say forget about what the scale says, being fit and healthy is must more important than any number, and most of all feeling good about your body. I see all sorts of shapes and sizes at my races, and let me tell you whatever your weight is if you finish 42.2 kilometers I don't think you need to worry about being a couple of pounds overweight.