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From: Tom Meakin Senior
Date: 12/23/2002
Time: 10:13:46 PM
Remote Name: 62.254.0.7
Yes Richard, obviously work and studies takes priority for most club runners and training must be adapted to individual circumstances. But from observation of myself when younger (a real scrubber), moderate club runners and top class performers. More miles, usually means better performances. Only this year P. Radcliffe as improved her track times on the back of a higher weekly mileage. I have no doubts that if she had competed at 800m she would have reduce her P.B by 2 seconds! To quote Sam Goldwyn “Nothing succeeds like excess”.
In the our world with the pressure of earning a living or the restraints of social obligations then 70-80 miles should still be a reasonable target. I recognise that for some runners that this could be too much particularly if sleep time is compromised, or the occupation of the runner is unduly arduous. The demands of running high mileages would be difficult for say bricklayers or young hospital doctors. For the runner without an unduly physically demanding job, that lives say 4-7 miles from work, a weekly total of 45-50 miles by running to and from work could be obtained fairly easily in terms of time required. Another 25 miles could be added at the weekends.
In the seventies there was a culture of high weekly mileages in most club with even the most moderate runners aiming for at least 50 miles. In those days an inability to beat 57 mins for 10 miles meant finishing outside the top 30-40%, this made even the scrubbers were dedicated. Consequently standards were higher from top to bottom. In clubhouses perhaps a board recording each athletes weekly total mileage could be a motivational tool during the winter conditioning period.
With regards to the 14 sessions a week to run 80 miles, the standard Lydiard program required only ONE SESSION A DAY! This involved runs of from 60-90 minutes and 2 hours plus run at the weekend. These 80-100 miles would obviously only be possible for a runner capable of training at a consistent 6 minute per mile pace.
With reference to weights and strength training there appears to be more the one method to obtain increased power. I would suspect that the individual build of the runner and his/her parade event would set the type of strength training requirements. Explosive power is not very important in the marathon.