Another look at "Body Type" (Page 3)

My issue with your whole post is that you likely have NO IDEA if you have a gift or not until you attempt to use it.  And attempting to use it in endurance sports requires a LONG time horizon and a substantial commitment to work.  You have set your mind that your 'body type' will not allow you to compete with some others (you added the 'elite' part later, which of course narrows the probability that you--or anyone else--could ever get there).  Your ability and willingness to train (both in the future AND in the past) is a much bigger barrier to getting to your friend's 38:00 10k than your genes.  If your friend was running a 30:00 10k, then genes become a MUCH bigger factor.

Said my peace.  Enjoy your weekend.

I agree w/JohnnyKay.

IMO, most people can be lumped into 1 of these 4 scenarios:

Good Genes + Hard Work = Elite Performance.

Good Genes + Limited Work = Good Performance.

Bad Genes + Hard Work = Good Performance.

Bad Genes + Limited Work = Bad Performance.

This thread was from last May and I'm going to update it because it was one of the more enlightening, motivating things I've read on BT (oh, and because this will give me an opportunity to brag).

Before I this thread, I sincerely thought that my run could not get much faster based on my age (43) and my body type (not real heavy but would never be mistaken for an endurance athlete).  But reading about the experience of other folks on the thread really made me challenge that assumption.  I got a coach and lost another 10 pounds.  Since then, I took 3rd AG in a regional 70.3 last fall (my run was not a weakness), PRed a sprint tri run at a 6:40 pace, and yesterday PRed a HM at a 7:10 pace.

I finished the race yesterday and wondered if I could ever get faster.  I suppose I should stop asking myself that question.

Awesome reason to resurrect this thread.  Congrats on your achievement!

Nature vs. Nurture.  Have you taken a look at the upper class kids of Kenya and Ethiopia?  Most are chubbers.  I bet they won't be winning any distance races.  Do they have different DNA than their skinny fast cousins or do they just have more access to crappy food and sedentary lifestyles.....? 

Just on personal observation (which is what is being thrown around here) the big people I know came from families who ate big.  My immediate clan are all thin and fit.  When we were kids we never had junk food in the house.  If you were hungry between meals you were told to eat an apple or drink a glass of water.  Most of my cousins on both side are overweight to obese.  They had access to a lot more crappy food as kids and continue to eat the same way.  Same genes, different upbringing.