Olympics Thread
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="reprobate" data-cid="606852" data-time="1471607471"><p>
i've always assumed that it must be over-competitive cockheads who are shithouse at running.</p></blockquote>
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That's beautiful -
<p>There are two reasons people don't try to front-run a race at a (more) even pace:<br><br>
Firstly, you provide your opponents with drafting. Like a cycling peloton, tucking in behind someone saves a lot in terms of aerodynamic drag. Drag scales with velocity squared, so although the %effort saved by drafting in running is substantially less than cycling (I've heard people estimate 30% cycling and 15% for running, which seems about right), for elite level running it certainly still makes a difference.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Secondly, it is easier psychologically to chase someone down than to front run (or run a solo time trial). By leading a race out you put a target on your back; people behind you end up running a PB trying to chase you down.</p>
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<p>This actually partially answers why people become race-walkers: good distance runners at 5k/10k who happen to have no sprint finish often end up as race walkers. Front-running as a tactic works in race walking as you can't change pace as easy (so no sprint finish) and the absolute speed is lower, so drafting effects are minimal.</p> -
<p>I understand these things.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>But the counter is - if you sit back and sit back - knowing that there's plenty of guys who have much better kicks than you - you're not giving yourself any chance. For the top guys who are going to fight for the medals, a key objective is to conserve as much energy as possible, so jogging the first half of the race and turning it into an 800 metre race - knowing they've got the top end speed to cover just about anyone - is ideal.</p>
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<p>But it's the worst possible thing if you're someone like Carson who's going to be on the fringe of the qualifiers - unless you've got a cannonball finish.</p>
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<p>He'll have finished that race pretty fresh - because at his fastest he can be 100 metres further up the track and - in fact - with a personal best time that is fast enough to have won any of the heats. If I was him - and surely his major objective was making the cut - I wouldn't have wanted to come home thinking I could have left a lot more out there.</p>
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<p>So I'm sticking with my assessment that he - and quite a lot of others - ran timid races. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="606870" data-time="1471612110">
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<p>He'll have finished that race pretty fresh - because at his fastest he can be 100 metres further up the track and - in fact - with a personal best time that is fast enough to have won any of the heats.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>That's the thing though - was that PB made when he used those tactics, or was he following?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="606870" data-time="1471612110">
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<p>I understand these things.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>But the counter is - if you sit back and sit back - knowing that there's plenty of guys who have much better kicks than you - you're not giving yourself any chance. For the top guys who are going to fight for the medals, a key objective is to conserve as much energy as possible, so jogging the first half of the race and turning it into an 800 metre race - knowing they've got the top end speed to cover just about anyone - is ideal.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>But it's the worst possible thing if you're someone like Carson who's going to be on the fringe of the qualifiers - unless you've got a cannonball finish.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>He'll have finished that race pretty fresh - <strong>because at his fastest he can be 100 metres further up the track and - in fact - with a personal best time that is fast enough to have won any of the heats. </strong>If I was him - and surely his major objective was making the cut - I wouldn't have wanted to come home thinking I could have left a lot more out there.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>So I'm sticking with my assessment that he - and quite a lot of others - ran timid races. </p>
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<p>
You missed the earlier point about his fastest time being set in a race where he was dragged around by someone else front running - in that instance, an actual pacemaker who was paid to do the job. He can't run that time himself from the front. Read hydro's #1460 post and watch the video.</p> -
This is a bloody frustrating game of hockey<br><br>
- Since when does another country wear black 😥<br><br>
- we are owning this game but can't score for love nor money<br><br>
Prediction: Germany score a goal from nowhere to nick the bronze medal. <br><br>
There is still hope: the ladies aren't wearing Cardiff 2007 grey tops.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="606881" data-time="1471623927"><p>
Bah. Germany win, 2-1. We had about 357 shots on goal.<br><br>
Does anyone know why one of our girls was wearing a red top at the end?</p></blockquote>
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Was the goalie up searching for an equaliser? -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Don Frye" data-cid="606882" data-time="1471624140">
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<p>Was the goalie up searching for an equaliser?</p>
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<p>I thought it might be the goalie, but didn't notice any padding or anything so thought it may be something else?</p> -
<p>Yay that Richie was safely away cursing the chick sticks, and Lydia could shine. A hole in one! She sure picked the right day for a sizzling six under.</p>
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<p>Congrats to the K4 girls too, making their final.</p>
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<p>The less said about the hockey the better. I feel very sorry for Kayla Whitelock, that is a shitty way to go out. Hockey NZ needs to invest in a mental skills coach like the Black Caps did, or if they already have one, that person needs to be used as an unpadded hockey ball stopper, because they fucking suck. The mental fragility displayed at this tournament by both the mens and womens teams has been pretty awful to watch. Especially the chicks, who we all thought had a real chance (and they did). Fucking Germans! (not really, the men and women just played a whole lot better when it counted.)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="606881" data-time="1471623927">
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<p>Bah. Germany win, 2-1. <strong>We had about 357 shots on goal.</strong></p>
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<p>Does anyone know why one of our girls was wearing a red top at the end?</p>
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<p>358 by my count.</p>
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<p>Total lack of poise in the red zone. As Mokey said, a mental skills coach would go a long way. Easily enough chances to win that game 10-2.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rembrandt" data-cid="606846" data-time="1471606383"><p>
How the fuck do people get into race walking? It just looks completely ridiculous</p></blockquote><br>
We've all tried it as kids against our mates though huh? -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="canefan" data-cid="606867" data-time="1471611278"><p>
Lydia makes a birdie on the first hole of the third round. Hopefully she can get hot with the putter and make a big move today</p></blockquote>
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Moving day for Lyds indeed! -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="606883" data-time="1471624275"><p>I thought it might be the goalie, but didn't notice any padding or anything so thought it may be something else?</p></blockquote>
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I think we subbed off our goalie and replaced her with another player. That player wears another colour shirt to signify that they have goalkeeping privileges. Just that we needed her up the field to help us get that elusive equaliser. So no gear on helps -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="606903" data-time="1471637842"><p>I think we subbed off our goalie and replaced her with another player. That player wears another colour shirt to signify that they have goalkeeping privileges. Just that we needed her up the field to help us get that elusive equaliser. So no gear on helps</p></blockquote>
Cheers!
