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From: Paul Ard (injured but on way back!)
Date: 12/7/2002
Time: 6:03:04 AM
Remote Name: 158.125.1.13
There is no excuse for not putting in the miles-I know runners who do 90 miles per week per winter as specialist 800m runners. Unlike the 1500m, the 800m is now very much based on speed hence the leading runners are European or European trained. My point leads on to the fact that this increase in miles leads to a negative effect over the winter to speed, even if attention is paid to 'speed' sessions(speed is counted as prints after any steady run and specific speed sessions). Two good exapmles are Botha and Sepeng of South Africa. As you know, the Australian/South African seasons start in January and carry through to May. They can consistantly run sub 1:45s (which is considered world class)all through the summer by keeping touch of this speed through the winter. You may think that as a distance runner you don't need to keep your alleged 'speed drills' up over the winter but I can tell you that I have done these drills with Matt O Dowd and Paula Radcliffe and they are pretty quick for Marathon runners(even though I nearly pissed my lycra watching Paula's head roll!She had done an 'easy' 10 mile run an hour before though). My example of British Middle distance weakness will be taken from the Alastair Donaldson book. I know Alastair quite well and have regularily trained with him. He recently went to the sand dunes in South Wales and struggled doing half our circuit. He did this with Chris Moss. This shows a lack of strength through speed endurance/endurance because I know for a fact that he doesn't do any 1500m sessions and strictly sticks to his 800m schedule. This example above shows that we are strong enough, its just my personal opinion that not enough of the 'elite' (which isn't a derogatory term, explain latter) runners do not take their track season seriously enough and could do well to use the track season as a speed session training period(even if it means they have to lose a crappy race-you WILL win next year.)
I, Paul Ard, am not above criticism, but at my time at the club I was constantly labelled a 'track runner' (quote from numerous athletes) and yet have finished the highest since the glory days of Faulkner, Siddon et al with 12th in THE national x country and 14th in the inter counties. I am suggesting that if a 'track runner' who participated in Wayne's high quality and quantity(we did run about 10 miles in those sessions but didnt realise it!!) Bradgate sessions can achieve this, what could a 'longer'(because as you can see, I don't like labels!) distance runner achieve by regularily attending Wayne's summer track sessions?(at least for the birds!?!they are coming of age soon!??JOKE!!!!!) As I have said before I am nowhere near above criticim and I'm sure many of you will want to criticise(which is fine-I will take any advice), but the fact of the matter is, as Tim Hutchings has said two essential quotes: 1. 'Being a successful is 10% luck, 10% talent, 80% hard work' I am using this quote for inspiration during a difficult time 2. 'Speed, Endurance, Speed Endurance, Strength and a willingness to make myself feel like quitting helped me to achieve my goal' (Quoted after he won his first medal in World Cross-he went on to come 2nd again in 1989 in a proper World Cross, with Africans, to the legendary John Nigugi). Obviously discuss, but if personal insults are likely to be written at least send them to [email protected]
p.s.I'm not a thick Northfielder cos I'm on for a 2.1 so far this year, so watch out Boycie!