I think Jon and the parents and the coach may have missed something about
the school girls who were sprinters in the spring, ran cross-country and in
the subsequent spring, could not sprint as well. I suspect they just grew.
They got bigger and heavier and slower. The fiber type didn't change, just
the load did. The science would know their weight before and after.
Something which I we don't know. But that seems the simplest answer.
Tom, who is much older, heavier, and slower.
----- Original Message -----
From: Jon Entine <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: t-and-f-digest <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; Track and Field
List <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2001 8:33 PM
Subject: t-and-f: Re: Fast twitch/slow twitch question?
> Paul:
>
> The coach and the parents of these girls do not know what they are talking
> about. Here's a few relevant paragraphs from "Taboo."
deleted stuff from Taboo, because you should have the book on your
bookshelf.
> > I coach cross country in the fall at one school and
> > track in the spring at another school (very small).
> > While watching some of the girls running the 4 x 400
> > relay (from the team that I coach cross country with,
> > but not track), I saw some new faces that were running
> > about 61 and 63 second splits.
> >
> > I made reference that we should try and recruit these
> > girls for cross country in the fall to try and help
> > rebuild our team (defending state champions). Some
> > coaches and the parents of these girls heard me say
> > this and ALL had the following response.
> >
> > "If these girls run cross country they will lose their
> > fast twitch muscles while developing slow twitch
> > muscles. When spring comes around for track season,
> > these so called sprinters will not be the same because
> > they cannot regain the fast twitch muscles that they
> > lost".
> >
> > The parents of these girls told me that their doctor
> > had told them this theory when they had specificaly
> > asked him the question. The parents are somewhat
> > interested in having the girls run cross country, but
> > don't want to see them run slower during track because
> > of cross country.
> >
> > This same theory was also told to me from one of these
> > girls coaches. He says that "Time and time again he
> > has seen sprinters join cross country in the fall to
> > try and stay in shape, and then not be the same
> > sprinter the following spring because of what cross
> > country did to them".
> >
> > I would greatly apprecriate any research that has been
> > done on the subject, and you may either reply to me
> > privately or to the list.
> >
> > I'm not an expert on the fast twitch/slow twitch
> > muscle thing, but based on numerous years of coaching
> > and T & F education I can't say that I agree 100
> > percent to their theory.
> >
> > Since I am not an expert, I am looking for those in
> > the "know" to just clarify things for me. I'm not
> > trying to prove anyone wrong, but I just want to be
> > 100 percent positive on my facts when I present my
> > case. :)
> >
> > Paul Nisius
> > Bigfork, MN
>
> --
> Jon Entine
> RuffRun
> 6178 Grey Rock Rd.
> Agoura Hills, CA 91301
> (818) 991-9803 [FAX] 991-9804
> http://www.jonentine.com
>
