Keith’s recent selfie on Facebook.
Aussie runner
Keith Bateman told me in 2010 that his short-term
M55 goals were “world records for 1500, mile, 3,000, 5,000 and 10,000! Ambitious or what! :-)” Well, yeah. But he did it! In coming months, he set WRs in all five races. (See times below.) Now he’s come out with a book that aims to share his secrets — mainly avoid overstriding. That’s not a revelation, but he certainly has street cred for saying it.
“Older Yet Faster” is just out. The website says: “Based on Keith’s highly successful technique-change sessions, this book deals with a runner’s number one enemy, over-striding. It shows what it is, what damage it causes, and how to fix it so you can run smoother, faster, and further.” Meanwhile,
Margaret Webb is continuing to promote her book,
“Older Faster Stronger.“ The video below shows W75
Christa Bortignon and other older superstars. Makes me want to write a parody called “Older Slower Sillier.”
Here are Keith’s outdoor records:
M 55 4:12.35 Keith Bateman AUS 56 15.07.11 Sacramento, USA
M 55 4:35.04 Keith Bateman AUS 55 18.12.10 Sydney, AUS
M 55 8:56.80 Keith Bateman AUS 55 13.11.10 Sydney, AUS
M 55 15:29.7 Keith Bateman AUS 55 05.01.11 Blacktown, AUS
M 55 31:51.86 Keith Bateman AUS 55 26.03.11 Sydney, AUS
12 Responses
Break them all again in 2016! Not sure over striding matters as much in the 800 on down.
Having just spent some time with Keith and Heidi in Australia, I got to watch him give a follow-up session to some clients. I’m certainly going to see if this can help with foot problems that have sidelined me, many times since high school.
Keith had told one of his friends there, that he and Heidi put everything they knew in the book. They’ve had very good results with loads of clients. Along with Pete Magill, they are the only authors that I’ve been privileged to know…and they all actually practice what they write.
I met Keith when he had the dorm room next to mine at the WMA World Championship in Sacramento in 2011. He had recently set four world records and added the 1500 meter world record at that meet.
Keith is friendly, enthusiastic, and knowledgable. Undoubtedly, one would benefit from his coaching.
I was amused and amazed by something he did at the meet. His first race was the 8,000 meter cross-country, which was held at a venue that was about six miles from the track stadium. Keith won the race.
He then waited for the shuttle bus to return to the stadium to attend the medal awarding ceremony. The bus was late and he became concerned that he would miss the ceremony. So, a short time after the completion of the 8,000 meter race, he ran the six miles back to the stadium for the ceremony. Yes, he did get there on time.
Dude! You may want to do a parody of Margaret’s video, but I think it’s fabulous. It flies in the face of that nut job, Ezekiel Emanuel who thinks we should all kick the bucket at 75. Those women are inspiring!!
Hi Ken — I appreciate all the work you’re doing in support of masters athletes & record keeping and I have relied on your site for my own research, so many thanks. The title of my book, Older Faster Stronger, has become a catch phrase in my own running group that’s been twisted to Older Slower Weaker and Older Fatter Flatulent, among others. So we do have fun with it. But you comment above — brought to my attention by a very angry masters runner — puzzles me. I’m interested in why/how you would do a parody of the book trailer? Christa, BJ, Gwen & Olga are super-star masters athletes & hugely inspiring. They also get precious little recognition from mainstream media outlets for their efforts. As a female journalist, I have found it an uphill battle to write about sports, let alone female athletes, let alone older female athletes who can teach and inspire us so much. Not sure if you intended to throw up yet another road block?
Thanks for posting, Margaret! I’m a big fan of you and all the incredible ladies running records and defying social strictures. (Ask Christa about my showcasing her achievements.)
My parody remark was about writing a book, not creating a video. I was referencing a recent spate of masters writing how-to books. Didn’t mean to offend. Just poking fun at myself.
Check out excerpt from Margaret’s book:
http://www.rodalenews.com/running-anti-aging
Nice to see the video, the late Olga’s laugh…!
I met Keith at Sacramento worlds in 2011 and we have been long-distance friends ever since. Terrific guy to hang out with in Sacto. It is a crying shame as well as incomprehensible that he did not get the masters athlete of the year award in 2011. Not only 5 WRs but look at the quality of the times. That 31:51.8 for the 10k is other-worldly. Plus at worlds he won 4 golds in events from the 1500 up to the marathon. Phenomenal!
He is extremely analytical and smart, so I look forward to reading his book.
Over striding worked well for Long John Woodruff.
It got him Olympic Gold and a World Record in the mile. As a long time “over strider” i disagree with Keith’s opinion. Done properly lengthening your stride really is all about maintaining the momentum more efficiently. But to each his own. Hey I am 56 if i break all Keith’s records is my opinion correct and his wrong?
wilma,betty,barney don’t believe these times possible without some pharmaceuticals.
Ok with fred, impossible to make these times without external “helps”, no athletic passed, 36 mn on 10000m at 50 years, less than 32 mn at 55, 4 or 5 gold titles in Sacramento in 1 week (cross, 5000m, 1500m with world record alone and day after win on marathon), too amazing for being clean. Not enough controls in masters competition and during the preparation !!!
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