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From: Paul Ard
Date: 12/22/2002
Time: 8:21:52 PM
Remote Name: 62.254.0.7
FINALLY!! Meakin Senior has finally got the message with regard to my article-I was not stipulating that middle distance runners should 'bulk up', my comment refered to building strength. I also never said that hill reps should be taken out of the schedule as they provide strength, endurance, speed endurance, strength endurance, leg strength for running fast(because after all, we want to be able to run FASTER than everyone else!)as well as mental toughness to win that battle between mind over matter. Before I got injured AGAIN in april/may (just before I was due to compete in B race of Loughborough international) I was doing 10-14 sessions a week which comprised of 1 high weight-low rep weights session, 1 circuit session of a total of 1-1.5 hours continious, 1-4 track sessions consisting (speed session, lactic session, speed endurance and drill work), plus steady and steady state runs of between 4 miles and 12 miles. Can you see anywhere in the above schedule where most aspects everyone is talking about aren't covered? I will argue totally against your statement though Meakin Junior that speed should be rejected, when I talk about doing speed sessions this can go from doing a sprint lasting 30 seconds at the end of a run of any length, to say 6 reps of 200-300m after a run, to a specific speed session set for the grass or track. You cannot totally neglect speed and then expect to turn it on when we feel like-everyone has natural speed but thjis is not enough in the cut throat world of middle-distance running where split second decisions can mean you either come 1st or last (believe me,I made the mistakes and paid for them i.e. AAA U20 800m was won in 1:56 seconds by Ricky Soos. I was well placed at 550m to go in 5th with a perfect run at winding the pace up with a clear run towards a [possible medal placing. I deciced not to go and ended up trying to keep up with a last 300m run in 35 seconds and finishing 7th!)