Another Amazing Feat

John D Wilson · 06-29-2006, 12:10 PM

I receive periodic e-mails from a fellow selling his bodyweight training course (for about $200). Sometimes his claims stretch my credibility. A few days ago he completely blew me away.

I include a paste from a letter from one of his inner circle chaps from New Zealand -

"I asked around and found this guy would walk for anything
up to four hours carrying this bag of coal. Later, I found out it
weighed sixty kilos, or one hundred thirty two pounds. He
could walk a marathon in under four hours switching it to the
other shoulder on return trip."

Having run 10 marathons, and trying a little speed walking I find this unbelievable.

A four hour marathon works out to 9 min, 15 sec per mile.

1) Most people couldn't walk one mile in 9:15 period. How many crossfitters can? I can't.

2) How many could walk one mile in 9:15 with a 60 kilo backpack?

3) How about 26.22 miles?

Is this preposterous or is there something I don't know?
1) Not many people could

Bob Long · 06-29-2006, 12:24 PM

Doesn't make sense. I've run alot of marathons, but I find it hard to believe anybody can do a four hour pace while carrying a 132 pound bag of coal. Maybe, maybe in a backpack. Maybe. A trained race walker could maintain a 9:15 pace, unladen, but I'd have to see this to believe it.

Peter Queen · 06-29-2006, 12:38 PM

I would like to know how his back and knees are afterwards and what type shoes he uses to walk in. I have run marathons as well and I can barely do a sub 10 for more than 2 miles at a time. Then again I am bigger than the average marathoner. Anyway, that is really amazing. After about 20 miles not only am I ready to throw away my empty camelback, I am ready to take my clothes off also because I can’t even stand to feel them because at that point everything feels uncomfortable. So I can’t imagine running around with a 132lb bag of coal.

Michael Halbfish · 06-29-2006, 02:51 PM

Who is the person and who is the course provider?

John D Wilson · 06-29-2006, 03:11 PM

Brooks Kubik

Kent Sewell · 06-30-2006, 10:35 AM

Brooks used to put out some decent stuff with his Dinosaur Training...but now he has gone into the world of marketing schtick and it's all garbage.

06-30-2006, 11:25 AM

The claim is hard to believe, but I suppose its possible. Just look at "Team Hoyt" - the father/son pair who runs marathons and competes in triathlons. The son is confined to a wheelchair, which the father pushes for the length of the course. Pushing a wheelchair isn't the same as carrying a bag on your shoulders, but its still impressive. Their best time for a marathon is 2:40.47

http://www.teamhoyt.com/races.shtml

They didn't even start competing until the father was in his 40s. They're one of the more inspirational stories out there, in my opinion. I also think I'd rather hear about how the father trains than how Brooks Kubik trains.

Dinosaur Training was a decent book, but Kubik's recent reappearance is waay too full of marketing hyperbole.

-Paul

(Message edited by viking on June 30, 2006)

Gorm Laursen · 06-30-2006, 01:05 PM

I used to walk 9 km home from school in about 1 hour. I'm a quite impatient person so I walk fast. On top of that I have long legs. I didn't try to break any records though, I just walked my normal fast pace.

But ...

... everything being said, I think it's merely a question of testing it for yourself (or pay someone to do it for you ;)). Walk the marathon without loads, and if it can be done in less than 4 hour, it can be done in less than 4 hours with weights, provided you train for it.

06-30-2006, 11:25 AM	#7
Paul Melby **** Profile:** Posts: n/a	The claim is hard to believe, but I suppose its possible. Just look at "Team Hoyt" - the father/son pair who runs marathons and competes in triathlons. The son is confined to a wheelchair, which the father pushes for the length of the course. Pushing a wheelchair isn't the same as carrying a bag on your shoulders, but its still impressive. Their best time for a marathon is 2:40.47 http://www.teamhoyt.com/races.shtml They didn't even start competing until the father was in his 40s. They're one of the more inspirational stories out there, in my opinion. I also think I'd rather hear about how the father trains than how Brooks Kubik trains. Dinosaur Training was a decent book, but Kubik's recent reappearance is waay too full of marketing hyperbole. -Paul (Message edited by viking on June 30, 2006)
Paul Melby **** Profile:** Posts: n/a

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06-29-2006, 12:10 PM	#1
John D Wilson Member Profile: Join Date: May 2006 Location: Ojai CA Posts: 95	I receive periodic e-mails from a fellow selling his bodyweight training course (for about $200). Sometimes his claims stretch my credibility. A few days ago he completely blew me away. I include a paste from a letter from one of his inner circle chaps from New Zealand - "I asked around and found this guy would walk for anything up to four hours carrying this bag of coal. Later, I found out it weighed sixty kilos, or one hundred thirty two pounds. He could walk a marathon in under four hours switching it to the other shoulder on return trip." Having run 10 marathons, and trying a little speed walking I find this unbelievable. A four hour marathon works out to 9 min, 15 sec per mile. 1) Most people couldn't walk one mile in 9:15 period. How many crossfitters can? I can't. 2) How many could walk one mile in 9:15 with a 60 kilo backpack? 3) How about 26.22 miles? Is this preposterous or is there something I don't know? 1) Not many people could

06-29-2006, 12:24 PM	#2
Bob Long Member Profile: Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Bruning NE Posts: 234	Doesn't make sense. I've run alot of marathons, but I find it hard to believe anybody can do a four hour pace while carrying a 132 pound bag of coal. Maybe, maybe in a backpack. Maybe. A trained race walker could maintain a 9:15 pace, unladen, but I'd have to see this to believe it.

06-29-2006, 12:38 PM	#3
Peter Queen Member Profile: Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dousman WI Posts: 1,567	I would like to know how his back and knees are afterwards and what type shoes he uses to walk in. I have run marathons as well and I can barely do a sub 10 for more than 2 miles at a time. Then again I am bigger than the average marathoner. Anyway, that is really amazing. After about 20 miles not only am I ready to throw away my empty camelback, I am ready to take my clothes off also because I can’t even stand to feel them because at that point everything feels uncomfortable. So I can’t imagine running around with a 132lb bag of coal.

06-29-2006, 02:51 PM	#4
Michael Halbfish Member Profile: Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: New Brunswick NJ Posts: 400	Who is the person and who is the course provider?

06-29-2006, 03:11 PM	#5
John D Wilson Member Profile: Join Date: May 2006 Location: Ojai CA Posts: 95	Brooks Kubik

06-30-2006, 10:35 AM	#6
Kent Sewell Member Profile: Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: New Brunswick NJ Posts: 29	Brooks used to put out some decent stuff with his Dinosaur Training...but now he has gone into the world of marketing schtick and it's all garbage.

06-30-2006, 01:05 PM	#8
Gorm Laursen Member Profile: Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Copenhagen ... Posts: 274	I used to walk 9 km home from school in about 1 hour. I'm a quite impatient person so I walk fast. On top of that I have long legs. I didn't try to break any records though, I just walked my normal fast pace. But ... ... everything being said, I think it's merely a question of testing it for yourself (or pay someone to do it for you ;)). Walk the marathon without loads, and if it can be done in less than 4 hour, it can be done in less than 4 hours with weights, provided you train for it.