bearing in mind his comments about Paula Radcliffe.
I'm glad he's running a marathon though, but he should go and run it in a hot climate. I don't want you to get the wrong about me, because I would not say this about many other peopel, but I hope he doesn't finish, because it might deflate his ego. How dare he speak about her like that about something he knows hardly anything about?
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I got told off! here
he's a decent runner and has set himself a tough target. clearly he's not the same class of runner that he is rower but its not like he's said he's going to run 2.05 or something.
actually i didn't think he came across as arrogant at all. i thought it was quite interesting to hear how someone from another sport intends to go about marathon training.
His biggest danger is that he has a very high VO2 max, yet the muscles, tendons et al involved in running have not been built up. This means that he'll improve fitness wise very quickly, but potentially injure himself as the faster speeds will result in greater impact without the abiltiy to absorb that impact efficiently.
His comment re. Paula was just sheer ignorance. His sport involves MUCH shorter distances and higher intensities. More to do with managing very high lactate levels and almost nothing to do with managing ever decreasing glycogen levels. He has in all likelihood never even been close to the TYPE of exhaustion that Paula suffered in Athens.
As a result he spoke out of turn and made himself look arrogant and ignorant.
Nevertheless I hope he does well at FLM - he may learn some humility regarding the event in the process. Especially as he seems keen to race it rather than just complete it.
He's already done a 1.25 half so he's on target.
One of Britains top cycling time triallists ran a marathon the other year and didn't manage to break 3 hours - not sure what training he put in though.
He can say what he wants to say, he was right Paula should not have dropped out.
ner ner ner ner ner!
Just wanted to say that.
Could she have walked it? Done 10min/mile pace? Perhaps, but if you think she should you know little of the serious and possibly permanent damage she could have done.
He's "taking a year out of rowing" - yeah right. If he retired he would be forgotten. By "taking a year out" and getting on the sports page headlines he is maximising his earning potential.
BTW I listened to him on Radio 5 live and boy is he pleased with himself (think of Prince Charming in Shrek 2).
Re original question on bad taste - frankly I think it would be best just to ignore him.
If he has done a half in 1.25 that is fast for a guy over 15 stones.
I think he is brave to set himself a target of 3 hours regardless of what he may have said about Paula.
Subsequently, I hope he does'nt break three hour, but I know he most probably will. I hope he hits the wall big time and has to walk and finish in just behind me !
BTW we had a very good rower in work last year who did New york, and he was dead fast at distances up to about 16 miles (did the 16 mile Kingston breakfast run in 1hr 45 mins). However in the marathon, he blew up at 20 and finished in 3:18...
Mr. Cracknell no doubt will have a good coach who will ensure he continues to develop some decent aerobic endurance though..
Typical pompous upper class twit!
<nrk runs for the exit>
I think there are bigger things to be concerned about.
if you disagree with this view, then good for you. but why bother getting hysterical if people have different opinions?
it doesn't matter what joe public, james cracknell, BBC2's "biggest loser of the year 2004" panel, or anybody else thinks. don't take it so personally.
oh not sorry so forgot that a marathon was 26.2 and didn't finish.
And yes I've read the book (dull dull dull) and still have the same view of quitting
They're behind you!
Oh no they're not because I've just sat down at the side of the road and they've all overtaken me.
can we stop having threads/replies about Paula and the Olympics.
Nobody cares any more.
If he is such a great athlete why doesn't he have an individual olympic medal? In my view Paula as athlete is a completely different league. How many people row and how many people run? Winning the Olympic marathon is 1000x tougher and more competitive!