Brian Sell-Talent or Hard work?

Brian Sell Inverview:

RW: Does this validate your position as one of the top American marathoners?
BS:
I guess the proof is in the pudding. In high school I was probably a
minute and something slower than these guys in the 2 mile. I'm just so
happy today. I hope every kid out there who's not a state champ or
district champ looks at what I achieved today and says: Hey if I put in
the work, I can do this. This is the happiest ending I can think of.

Source: http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-239-399--12289-0,00.html

If you take into that account his contemporaries were running 8:45-9:00, that puts him right around 10 flat.

>-Militia-XC-> wrote:Brian Sell Inverview:

RW: Does this validate your position as one of the top American marathoners?
BS:
I guess the proof is in the pudding. In high school I was probably a
minute and something slower than these guys in the 2 mile. I'm just so
happy today. I hope every kid out there who's not a state champ or
district champ looks at what I achieved today and says: Hey if I put in
the work, I can do this. This is the happiest ending I can think of.

Source: http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-239-399--12289-0,00.html

If you take into that account his contemporaries were running 8:45-9:00, that puts him right around 10 flat.

10:07, from what i heard. relient k is a good band BTW.

BagoXC25 wrote:I understand all of your viewpoints, I really do, but I just can't concede to the fact that some people are born better than others. Call me an optimist, but I just don't think it is right to sell someoene short right off of the bat.

+1, nice viewpoint. I'd like to think that too, but I know that talent/genetics play a role in how good a person can be. but a lot can still be accomplished from hard work. as my swimming coach said, hard work beats talent that doesn't work hard.

ive always wondered what pros times were like at our age too. sell still makes me happy cause he gives the rest of us hope.

runner_dude wrote:I think it is a number of things. Firstly, he could just be a later bloomer than others. Secondly, perhaps he didn't work that hard in HS, or had other commitments etc that prevented him from running great times. Thirdly, as funrunner said, the marathon is an entirely different beast then the 2 mile. They are almost as different as the 55m and the 2 mile.

not really, they are fairly similar actually

55m - 1% aerobic
2 mile - 90% aerobic
marathon - 99% aerobic

i can't tell if your sarcastic or not..i hope you are though ha.

BA_Sadie. wrote:i can't tell if your sarcastic or not..i hope you are though ha.

Why would he be sarcastic? The difference between the 2 mile and 55m in his data is 89%, while it is only 9% when comparing the 2 mile and the marathon. And in high school track the 2 mile is the longest event.

he said the 2 mile and 55m are similar

He was talking about the 2 mile and marathon.

oh okay..nvm then. i guess i misunderstood.

BA_Sadie. wrote:oh okay..nvm then. i guess i misunderstood.

NO U WUR JUS RONG.

AudienceOfOne wrote:

BA_Sadie. wrote:oh okay..nvm then. i guess i misunderstood.

NO U WUR JUS RONG.

haha
fine i admit it i was wrong ha.

Well I have a different perspective on this as I was a teammate of Brian's at Messiah College before he transfered. While it takes some genetics I will say Brian was by far the hardest worker I've ever seen in a distance runner. He would push imself as hard as he possible could and still work to find ways to get better every day.
Brian is and always will be a class act. Kudos my friend.