The other day, as I was being thrashed by a heavy lap swimmer, I once again pondered the difference between a swimmers body and a runners body. I have seen quite a few husky guys, carrying quite a bit of extra weight, who are also very good swimmers. On the other hand, you won't see runners who are carrying extra weight (unless they have just begun running). I think that there maybe a chicken-egg thing here (heavier guys tend not to go in for distance running) but I think that there are other considerations. One of them is that swimming tends to arouse appetite while running tends to suppress appetite.
Having said all that, I just can't yearn for a runners body, even though I would love to drop 5 kgs. I just do not want a body with no arms or shoulders. Also, maybe it's me, but this guy looks like an anorexic model:
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I don't think I've seen that issue of Runner's World yet, but they usually rotate their covers between profiling elite athletes and everyday athletes. I think they provide directions on how to nominate yourself or someone else for a cover shot. For both they have a story on the athlete, their favorite run, a snapshot of their training plan, diet, etc. Have you looked at the profile of this guy?
That said, I certainly don't think a body like that is totally unrealistic. But as others have said, we've gotten used to seeing 40 year old guys who are 6 foot tall weighing 225 or more here in the US.
With a little structure and discipline, plus a dose of good genes, nearly anyone is capable of looking like that.
Agreed. Years ago I had a lifeguard working for me, college kid who wrestled during the school year. He had a six pack that was the envy of every guy at the pool, and he did little to maintain it during the summer, he wasn't a glutton by any means but he'd eat pizza and drink beer... and still had amazing abs. I never understood it until his dad came in for a swim, 44 years old with gorgeous abs. Good genes indeed. :D
I don't think I've seen that issue of Runner's World yet, but they usually rotate their covers between profiling elite athletes and everyday athletes. I think they provide directions on how to nominate yourself or someone else for a cover shot. For both they have a story on the athlete, their favorite run, a snapshot of their training plan, diet, etc. Have you looked at the profile of this guy?
That said, I certainly don't think a body like that is totally unrealistic. But as others have said, we've gotten used to seeing 40 year old guys who are 6 foot tall weighing 225 or more here in the US.
With a little structure and discipline, plus a dose of good genes, nearly anyone is capable of looking like that.
Agreed. Years ago I had a lifeguard working for me, college kid who wrestled during the school year. He had a six pack that was the envy of every guy at the pool, and he did little to maintain it during the summer, he wasn't a glutton by any means but he'd eat pizza and drink beer... and still had amazing abs. I never understood it until his dad came in for a swim, 44 years old with gorgeous abs. Good genes indeed. :D
