I bet I could do that in an half hour using LW 6.5 I am use to using Lightwave and I model mostly humans. Teyon is right. If we put you in Lightwave without your having experience with it, it would take you much longer to model. Experience is what counts. 1st knowing how to model and 2nd knowing how to use your program tools to model. Your friend may not have been as adept at using max as you are at using C4D. Shoes wont make you run faster. Only exercise, and practice will. However anyone will run slower in heavy boots. You obviously have the skill and know-how and C4D must be a set of runnings shoes in opposed to something like Ray Dream 3D which are heavy boots.