I'm not talking about getting those last few seconds in an 800m event. Obviously, at that point VO2max becomes a blunt instrument of little worth. The point sti

I'm not talking about getting those last few seconds in an 800m event. Obviously, at that point VO2max becomes a blunt instrument of little worth. The point still stands, though: aerobic capacity (as indicated by VO2max) is a necessary (even if not sufficient) condition to be even listed on the same page with these people. No pain endurance in the world can get your feet into the door. Of course, all the boring training doesn't make for a nice story.