Great discussion and I would love to get to the t and f national championship some day. Right now I am focused on making it to south africa in 2010 for the world cup!

What I wanted to say was that to attain elite fitness (as CF’ers), a great deal of athleticism is needed. In order to perform the lifts and movements properly, one has to have a great deal of cordination and bring the fire with that cordination. Now, since we practice those movements many many times, we become more proficient. It’s like saying someone who can’t catch a football is un-athletic (Justin Gatlin, former WR 100m)…not true…he’s just extremely fit and athletic in his domain, his domain isn’t catching footballs. If he were catch a football 100 times a day, I’m sure he’d build the athleticism required for the game.

I’m drifting again…my point is that, a high level of fitness (even running w/ proper technique “pose” method is very difficult) can only be achieved by being an excellent athlete, someone who knows their body well, how to control it, and how to push it harder than their competition. Decathletes are good at what they do across 10 domains. I’m sure if you threw them in a rugby game, a world class deca guy could hold his own with some practice. Would he have to adapt?? Shit yeah he would, just like the rugby player would have to figure out how to jump and throw and shit. So to say that elite level of fitness is non athletic is, in my book, is utterly un-true. Athletes that are uber fit must know their body, adapt it properly according to their games confines, and execute it at a maximum level. That sounds like athleticism to me.

Couldn’t agree (and disagree) more with you brother. Found your site through Rob Wolf’s link…good stuff.

When I was in high school and competing in track/cc, I always hated the stigma attached with my sport. My football buddies would always egg me on saying that “running isn’t a sport”. “Ha, fuck you, come do what I do at practice and see if you can walk the next day,” I’d reply. But it was true. Most of the kids who came out for cc/track were not athletes. They did it because they were too small/weak/uncordinated for other sports. I was the anamoly. I ran b/c I was fast, strong, couldn’t sit still and I loved to compete AND win. I played all sports growing up, track was my choice. Funny, I never hung out with the “runners” neither in college nor high school, cause I felt I just couldn’t relate.

Fast forward to now. After running at the elite level for 8 years, against true “athletes”, you begin to understand the difference b/t the amateur or “very fit” runner and the professional. It’s much the same as pro ballers vs. weekend warriors on the court. When you immerse yourself in the realm of elite track and field, you know you’re surrounded by true athletes. To your point, watch the way they move, not on the track but also off…their body has been developed for nothing but speed and endurance in differing doses. Many of these people, if not all, were not just runners growing up, but excellent all around athletes that found their niche on the track. They are proficient in Oly weights, dynamic plyo drills, agility movements, etc…I challenge you to take a trip to Eugene for the USATF nationals in June and check out the athletes. I think you will agree that to be at this level, although superior fitness is the key, an underlying all around athlete is at the core of each of them.

Anyone seen Dhani Tackles the Globe on Travel channel? Pretty cool concept. 6’2″, 235lbs NFL linebacker travels the world and lives in a country for 1 week to learn a sport, then competes at the end of the week. So far he’s done a kind of Swiss wresting, rugby, jai alai, dragon-boat racing, Thai and Cambodian kick boxing, life guarding games(missed that so not really sure what that is) Irish hurling…fun show and the results are pretty much what you’d expect. Terrifically powerful and strong but still picks up the finesse aspects much quicker than the host coaches expect.

I think the guys like Tiger… are few and far between. it is hard to find that kind of talent along with the drive you need to be successful.

Well put guys.

Anton

For example, if I were to watch the video of Josh Everett’s Isabel with a naturally talented elite athlete and another successful yet mediocre talented athlete I would get two different responses. The naturally gifted guy would respond “wow, that guy is strong” and leave it at that, giving all the credit to his naturally given strength. The other athlete however would respond “wow, that guy is strong. What is he doing to get that strong.” I think many of the “born athletes” aren’t as concerned with the “how” as everyone else is.

I’m not saying that the natural athlete doesn’t work as hard, its just interesting to see the different way they think.

But I will say this, there are absolutely those individuals born with extraordinary athletic gifts (i.e. Tiger Woods, Lance Armstrong, Babe Ruth). However, I believe there is a significant, if not majority percentage of athletes who compete on the elite/professional level, who worked their butts off to become skilled enough athletes to perform on this level. I am not arguing or stating anything about fitness capabilities.

I guess, since I would not call myself a “born athlete,” my interest has become how do I increase my athletic capabilities, just as I’ve increased my fitness capabilities? Beyond the scope of your article and not asking for you to provide an answer…just posting my thoughts.