🚀 go-pugleaf

	I am (or at least was!) a US distance runner.  I've also lived
in Kenya about 5 out of the last 15 years, during which time I competed
regularly in road races, on the track, and in cross country.  Some 
observations based on this experience:

	(1) The differences cannot be primarily genetic since Kenyans
from many different tribes have excelled internationally.  Richard Chelimo
is no more closely related to Paul Ereng or Yobes Ondieki than he is 
to most American blacks.

	(2) Kenyans train exceptionally hard, in terms of both mileage
and intensity.  They seem to be able to train above the level at which 
most Americans would get hurt.

	(3) Top-notch Kenyans are frequently training together and 
racing each other.  The best runners gravitate towards the Armed 
Forces, where they are stationed together and can thus train together.
Richard Chelimo lost more races than he won during the Kenyan cross
country season last year.

	(4) Running has become to young Kenyans what basketball is to
inner-city Americans.  A large number of kids dream of becoming great
runners; that is the only way for many of them ever to make more than
$2000 per year.  

	So what can be done to improve the pitiful state of US distance
running?  Some ideas:

	Thinking about (2) above: Kenyan kids spend virtually all of 
their childhood barefoot.  Is this the reason that Kenyan runners have
virtually no problems with over-pronation, and why they can train so
hard without getting hurt?  Should we encourage young kids to run
-- particularly to spring -- barefoot to develop stronger and more
flexible feet?

	As for (3): In order to be the best in the world it is necessary
to train with and frequently compete against the almost-best in the
world.  What distance talent we have is spread much too thin in this
country.  I would encourage any 22-yr old American who wants to compete
at this level to go live in Kenya for a couple of years.  The Armed 
Forces team is delighted to have others join them in training.

	Finally, Americans have to think higher.  Todd Williams is a fine
runner, but he seemed satisfied to make the final and come in 10th 
at the Olympics (he only came in 10th because Kenya couldn't send the
next 20 runners who would have beaten him), as he was looking ahead to 
the future.  He seemed to forget that Chelimo and Kiptanui are 2 years
younger than he is!

	Sorry for the length of this post.

	Coty Pinckney			Thomas.C.Pinckney@williams.edu