Recurring Beliefs On Training

So who out there knows who Joe Vigil is? Joe was Track and Field and Cross-Country coach at Adams State College in Alamosa,Co. for nearly 30 years. Vigil led teams in both sports to a total of 19 national championships. His overall record at Adams State stands at 94.2% with 3,014 wins and 176 losses. He produced 425 All-Americans and 87 individual national champions during his time at Adams State. He coached Cross-Country superstar Pat Porter who won 8 consecutive U.S. National Cross-Country Championships as well as Deena Drossin who was a silver medalist in the marathon at the 2004 Olympics. I could go on but you get the picture,Vigil can coach. In addition, he is an exercise physiologist who actually has a record of producing athletes that achieve national and international success. So as I have said in the past regarding certain other coaches and athletes, when Joe Vigil speaks,runners that desire success should listen. The following quote will be familiar to readers of this site but is well worth reading again coming from yet another person who knows training. Universal truths do not change because we are in another era or because some author thinks he's found a new and better way. Joe gave this advice to his runners: "You've got to eat as though you were a poor man. You've got to do endurance training daily. And you can't let your mind go to seed. I think if runners would observe these three things,they would have a complete life, in which they would get satisfaction from their world." One thing that struck me about the above is that Vigil, like Cerutty, recognizes that the ideal athlete is one who also develops his mind.

Another Way to Train,pt.2

We continue to look at Van Aaken's Program For Distance Runners which began yesterday. As I said previously, his recommended mileage,even with walking breaks,seems at times to be overwhelming. Again, you can maintain the essence of his program while adapting it to you. About 20 years ago I did an amended version of the Van Aaken program and ran better than I had in many years and probably better than I have since. Something I think helped me to run so well was dropping 10% below my "normal" weight. There was no way I could reach his recommended 20%.I will begin by repeating the last sentence. "The training ration of endurance distances in relation to the tempo distances is 20:1. The mileage is shortened or extended corresponding to the racing distance preferred. For marathoners the mileage can be up to 40 kilometers and an 800 meter runner between 15 to 20 kilometers per day. The tempo runs are determined by using the runner's best racing times. A 5,000 meter runner,capable of 15 minutes will frequently do 5x1000 meters in three minutes, a 1:44 800 runner will do 6x200 in 26 sec.,etc. The tempo for the part distances will after practice be set by instinct without using a stopwatch. It is also advisable for all athletes to train for the next above racing distance. An 800 runner should be able to reach a reasonable time even in the 5,000. The longest distance to be performed in training, many times longer than the racing distance, should be run at the beginning or end of the week. For the 800 exponent this would be at least 12 to 15 miles; for the marathoner 36 to even 40 miles, to build the foundation to last through the 26 miles at racing speed. In the first years such distances should be covered in parts of 2-3 miles with walking breaks." As many are planning their training for the fall marathon season, maybe this would be a good time to try something different. The Van Aaken Method is one of those books that every serious runner should have. Coming later this week,Recurring Beliefs on Training and Live Like an Athlete.

Another Way to Train

We all know that there are many different ways to train. Although the Lydiard system, and variations of it, are recognized by most as a time tested and results verified system,there are other ways to go. Dr.Ernst Van Aaken, who has been featured in previous posts, has another way that is quite different from Lydiards'. When I read Van Aaken's system I think of the words,kinder,gentler.I realize that lots of people dismiss the easy distance running that comprises the bulk of Van Aaken's program as junk miles and a waste of time, but I always laugh when people rip Lydiard as being a purveyor of long slow distance.Comments like those always reveal a total lack of understanding as to his training principles. Critics have either not read or skipped over the words, "building a maximum aerobic threshold". But I digress. In some aspects, Van Aaken offers a less stressful way to train that is easy mileage based, and as I said,much different from Lydiards'. We all want to pick a formula that will work for us. The failure of many training systems is usually due to one of several factors: 1.Not following the progression of training as laid out in the system. 2. Racing throughout the training. 3. Going to the next level without physically accomplishing the goal(s) of the previous level 4. Not evaluating your training as you go and making the adjustments and modifications as needed. What follows is a condensed version of the Van Aaken method that was published in either a very old copy of Track and Field Technique or the Track and Field Omnibook. To those who dismiss the value of volume(miles) over intensity I suggest you Google the name Ed Whitlock for starters. His Masters records held at a variety of distances are simply incredible. From what I have read, the heart of Whitlock's training,is an easy 2 hour run a day around a park. It may have even said a 3 hour run. Obviously, most of us do not have the time to follow the volume of miles that comprise Van Aaken's Method but we can adjust it in spots while keeping the essence of the program. For the skeptics I say this,Van Aaken was a physician,athlete and one who had a profound influence on many notable athletes. Some of those athletes were: Manfred Steffney,Jacki Hanson,Joan Ullyot,Joe Henderson and Harold Norpoth.Here goes, Program For Distance Runners by E.Van Aaken. "The endurance training method for middle and long distance runners can be reduced to a simple formula: Run every day,run slowly and with walking breaks. Run many miles and always many times the racing distance.For instance: one who desires to race 5,000 meters should train 25 kilometers a day, 10,000 meters-- 30 kilometers a day. Perform tempo runs over parts of the racing distance with the speed not exceeding the racing speed. Get your weight down to 20% below the so-called "normal weight" and live like an athlete--don't smoke,drink no alcohol,or if you do,only in moderation. Eat moderately,bearing in mind that breathing is more important than eating, and that continual breathlessness during your training runs overtaxes you, destroying your reserves. The Training After a Preparatory Period of Two Years Should Look Like This: #1. 12 to 30 mile runs through forests or on level roads with or without walking breaks. #2. Runs of 6 to 9 miles through forests followed by 3x 500 meters at the racing speed on the track, example--a 5,000 meter runner who can cover 1500 meters in 3:42 may run 500 meters in 74 with 3 minute jogging or walking recoveries. #3. 5 miles warm up,followed by 15x700 meters at the 3000 meter racing speed with 100 meter walking recoveries,or 10 x 800 meters, or 10 x 1000 meters. (The 1000 meters not faster than the 10,000 pace).#4 In forests or on the track 6 to 9 miles with slight accelerations over 80 t0 200 meters with jogging recoveries of the same distance. #5. 800 meter runners warm-up over 10,000 meters,followed by 4 to 8x 200 meters at a speed seven seconds slower than the 800 meters average of their best performances.
The training ration of endurance distances in relation to the tempo distances is 20:1. The mileage is shortened or extended corresponding to the racing distance preferred." As mentioned previously in a post about Van Aaken, he believed the training he espoused was condusive to a long healthy life and that it was something everyone,young and old, could do. Hard training and racing year after year does not lend itself to a long healthy life,Van Aaken recognized this decades before Dr.Kenneth Cooper wrote about it. Part II will follow tomorrow morning.

What Running Can Be

The other day I mentioned Dr.George Sheehan while posting a quote by Joe Henderson. Sheehan was a runner,physician,writer and philosopher who provided some great insights into running.Most importantly though,the man loved to run. His book,Running and Being, is a classic which should be read by everyone who lives for the run.I would encourage anyone who hasn't read it to pick up a copy.What follows is a quote that reminds us that racing is not the be all, end all, to the running experience. He wrote: "For every runner who tours the world running marathons,there are thousands who run to hear the leaves and listen to the rain,and look to the day when it is suddenly as easy as a bird in flight. For them,sport is not a test but a therapy,not a trial but a reward,not a question but an answer." May all of us recognize the profound truth in the above quote.

What Running Is

What follows is a quote by Joe Henderson.For those who might not know,Henderson joined Runners World magazine as editor in 1970 and remained there for 33 years. His bio says he was RW's first full-time employee and is credited with bringing the legendary Dr. George Sheehan on as a contributor in the early 70's. Henderson has written somewhere around 30 books on running,give or take a few. His knowledge and love of running is unquestioned.In the 70's, during the early days of the running boon,running was viewed as a solution to a whole host of things,even cancer. Joe cuts through the hype and writes what running,at least in part,can be. "We need to praise running for what it is. There are safer ways to exercise than this,better ways to meditate,quicker ways to get high,truer ways to find religion,easier ways to have fun. I don't deny that running gives some of those things. But praising them too highly hides what we really have here--a sport which like all sports has both pain and joy,risk and reward." Well put. The beauty of running is its simplicity. Sometimes trying to achieve through running what Henderson mentions above can detract from that simplicity.

More From Ron Clarke

I got alot of good response as a result of the Ron Clarke post I did the other day. Many told me that they had heard of him but did not realize what a great runner he was. Others said he was known as a guy that came up short in the "big" races. This is an unfortunate and inaccurate statement. We mentioned previously how many records he set but didn't note that he was a bronze medalist in the '64 Olympics(10k) and that he competed in about 760 races,winning 650. That's an incredible 85% winning percentage. Clarke,in response to those who thought he did poorly when the races"counted", told Brian Lenton the following during an interview: "I thought I competed more than anyone else in history. I sought out people and ran against them over their distance in their country and circumstances and at their racing peak.I raced all the time and loved it." Compare that to what goes on today among elite distance runners in the world. When asked whether he felt too many athletes are preoccupied with high training mileages and forsake competition, Clarke offered some good insights into training and preparing for competition: "One's total mileage is just not relevant. An individual running 60 miles a week could experience the same training effect as someone running twice as far. You can run too long just as you can run too hard and fast particularly on a track.Training is always a delicate balance between doing too much and too little. Of course most individuals don't do enough." So true. Each athlete is unique with different training strengths,weaknesses and needs. As Cerutty wrote,the athlete must be willing and able to look at himself and recognize what he is and where he is at physically and mentally. There are many reasons why Track & Field is relegated to the back pages of most sports sections of the newspapers. One of the big reasons for this is because we don't have guys like Ron Clarke around.

The Master Writes

What follows is a copy of a letter I received from Arthur Lydiard sometime in 1997. I should start by saying that I did not have some sort of friendship with him where we corresponded on a regular basis. That was one of the many nice things about Lydiard,he would write back if you wrote to him. I knew several other runners who also corresponded with him also. I can't help but wonder how many other coaches and authors on running these days would be as gracious as he was in responding to letters. In the early 90's, I was very fortunate to be able to attend an all day seminar he gave at Chesnut Ridge Park outside of Buffalo. It was there that he lectured and actually showed us the drills for hill work and sprint training.In addition, he also evaluated our form. Later in the evening he gave a talk and answered questions at a Buffalo area hotel. He begins the letter by responding to a question that was being asked by many at the time,why aren't U.S. runners performing better in world competitions? Lydiard wrote: "Unfortunately the U.S.A. has a dismal record in middle distance and distance running these past few decades and those who were successful were influenced by Bill Bowereman using his version of my training methods. Still; we are not in the sport to get accolades,but to gain pleasure in achieving optimal results for ourselves and others. I guess that training is really too simple to understand and a lot of academics try to make it appear too complicated to understand. The best runners in the world in these events do not have scientific laboratories for testing and experts in the various scientific fields to assist them but just run lots and mainly in bare feet instead of the GUM BOOTS we call specialized footwear that keep making millionaires out of podiatrists. The sooner the U.S.A. coaches get back to basics and learn how to use anaerobic training: then the better. They do not seem to understand that the performances are governed by the aerobic threshold rather than the anaerobic development. That champions are developed with aerobic training and excessive use of anaerobic training can destroy the young people's potential. Of course you understand this. I hope that you have a successful 1997. Every good wish, Arthur Lydiard"
I like the line where he says that "training is really too simple to understand" and then he references certain others who make it(training) appear more complicated then it really is. How true! Arthur Lydiard was a passionate and tireless spokeman, for decades he travelled all over the world teaching others about the greatest and purest of all sports, running.

Ron Clarke on Running and Racing

All of us know about Ron Clarke right? I have posted about him before but as a refresher I will mention a few career highlights: In a period from 1963-1968 he set 21 world records,indoors and out,at distances ranging from two miles to the one-hour run. This is a quote from Brian Lenton's Interviews book, "Ron's 10,000 meter world record(27:39) in Oslo 1965 without a pacemaker and on cinders(sometimes in lanes 2 and 3 because of the condition of the track) is still regarded as one of the greatest athletic performances of all time. No one else in the world bettered 28 minutes until 1971." I could go on but you can see that Ron could really race. He authored many books and worked at RW for a while in the 70's. When he speaks, all runners should listen. The following is from a lengthy interview he did for Brian Lenton: "Athletics is a hobby in which I'm free to do anything at any time. A coach would want me to adhere to a rigid schedule and to follow his advice. I like to please myself how and when I train so that my hobby doesn't intrude on my business career. And it really is a hobby; a personal recreation rather than an international project.One doesn't run for the world,but for oneself." That's part of the beauty of the sport,participation and enjoyment only requires one runner. On racing: "Sitting is the easy way to win races.Athletes get the glory from it. A race as a spectacle deteriorates because everyone wants to win it the easy way. If someone runs a 49 second last lap and wins a 4:20 mile,why should he be praised?" How true! For us racing fans,is there anything more disappointing than watching a big race where all the competitors sit and then take off with less than a lap to go? On being a full-time runner: "I had to rearrange job schedules to fit in the training. Some of the Australian distance runners who have taken up to a year off to prepare for the Olympics must be bored to death. I cannot understand it. One can spend too much time sitting around thinking about running." Again,so much for the frequent complaint from some quarters that say elite runners must be subsidized in order to excel. On running,racing and self-evaluation: "Running is fitness,as everyone knows, and the fitter you are the faster you run. But the other test of fitness is recovery and the fitter you are the faster you recover from any effort. If you're running flat out and you record a poor time you shouldn't get out and try repeating it. Rather you should recover and find out what you're doing wrong." An often forgotten point,the fitter we are the better is our recovery from hard runs and races. On elite runners not racing that often: "What I don't like about a lot of runners is that they don't race as often as they should. I'd like to see distance runners be a little less worried about their so-called reputation." Amen to that Ron!

A Few More Thoughts on Food and Diet

America has become a food and diet obsessed country. You only have to turn on the television and you can watch the Food Network and cooking shows as well as dozens of infomercials that deal with food preparation,losing weight and getting fit. Take a trip to the local Barnes and Noble and you will see shelves upon shelves of books about those same subjects. As mentioned previously, surveys reveal that 60% of the U.S. population is significantly overweight. Although as runners we may be exempt from having weight problems, there are some things that we need to keep in mind. One, is that being thin or within your normal weight range is not a license to eat whatever you want. Another is that many of the ailments that plague us,especially later in life,arise from a chronically poor diet and eating habits. This is just one of many truths that were once dismissed as food faddism several decades ago. Something else,most of us eat too fast and too much. We should not feel "stuffed" after a meal because we ate more than we needed to. A book that was written awhile back, I believe it was called The China Study, confirmed what most health enthusiasts had long suspected, that eating less was conducive to a longer,ailment free life.It's important to remember that youth, or being relatively young, can cover a multitude of dietary sins for many,many years. Also, it's become a cliche but another point to keep in mind is that, "we are what we eat." I'd add,"and drink" to that quote. Cerutty wrote way back when: "I am certain neither nature or God,ever anticipated that man,after many centuries,would ever devise,manufacture and market the debased and denatured substances that pass for food." It only takes a stroll down a few aisles of your local 7-11 or supermarket to confirm this statement.Why as runners are we eating the same junk food that most other people do? A cliche that we should follow is: "Eat to live,not Live to eat." Now all of us may be aware as to the truth of what is written above, but, does it really influence how and what we eat? Do we still believe that the many miles we run a week make it OK to treat our bodies like a garbage can? Cerutty was right, optimal fitness,AND,feeling good mentally and physically, can only be achieved by attention to food and diet. As for those of us who live for the run,we must do more than just run to be truly healthy.

Be a Rebel by Percy Cerutty

Before I begin I would like to say that today is the 100th post for Live for the Run. I would be lying if I didn't say that that at times it seems like there is just so much one can write about running. Heaven knows I don't want to rehash things that you can find all over the Net,or worse yet,expose readers to some excerpts from my training log ( "as I made my way down the hill,I surged,taking off down the path, I then......."). I have weird stuff(articles) that date back to The Stotan News days but that may have limited appeal,so, like publishing accounts from my "log", some things are probably better off staying where they are. I do however have materials that will inspire and offer insights, things that come from an era that is pretty much ignored these days.I believe,like Cerutty did,that ideally the athlete should also be an intellectual. I'm not speaking here of your need to be a "brain" or anything, I'm referring to an athlete who has developed an ability to reason,comprehend and judge.This is of course is a lifelong process. A thinking athlete is one who will ultimately have the most success in running and fewest injuries.By success I also mean enjoyment of the sport as well as competitive success. Cerutty often spoke about going against the norm in an era when it was not so common to do so as it is today. He was not only talking about doing this in athletics but in one's daily life as well.The following is an excerpt from his book, Success in Sport and Life: "Be a rebel against the perfunctory, the orthodox,the traditional,even the secure,the safe,the satisfactory,the conforming. It takes courage with a blend of so-called stupidity to burn one's bridges.I would hazard a guess that all great men at some time in their careers,burnt their bridges,said Good-bye to what looked to others sane and sensible. It is true that not many will not pay the price.It would be awful if everyone wanted to stand on the summit of Everest at one and the same time! But many can,if they rebel against mediocrity and complacency." We get back to a saying that has now become almost a catch phrase,"leave your comfort zone." I expect to see it written on a Nike or NB running shirt soon. It is worthy of consideration though. With a little over 30 years working in the psychiatric field I've seen the effects brought on by people living a life or having a mindset of "going with the flow" or doing what others expect. Things like frustration,unhappiness, and damaged relationships, along with alcohol and drug abuse, are often the consequences of suppressing who you are and what you really want to be. The bottom line is this, be who you really are and live the life you love while respecting others and being responsible.

John Davies,pt.2

If you haven't had the chance to read last Sunday's post about John Davies then I would encourage you to do so. A great runner and coach he was, today is part two of what John called his "Training Considerations." As I said before, it's very clear as to who influenced his training philosophy.Here goes: "#13. Evaluate everyday's training and train by daily reactions,using the schedule for guidance." They call it listening to your body. The athlete has to be thoughtful and motivated enough to understand the benefits gained from evaluating your training on a daily basis. "14. Balance in training must be maintained between aerobic/anaerobic and speed development. 15. It is a fallacy that anaerobic training develops speed. It in fact counteracts speed. 16. Training can be done too fast or too slow,too much or too little,at right or wrong times." Another reminder that you should know the hows and whys as it relates to your training. John also stresses this point later. Arthur Lydiard said and wrote many times that if a coach can't give you an explanation as to why you are doing a particular workout then you need to get another coach. The same goes for the books and schedules you may buy. "17.Understand the how and what of training as well as why each day's training is important physiologically and mechanically. #18. Co-ordination of training is important. #19. All middle distance and distance athletes require: a. A high aerobic threshold. b. Anaerobic development. c. Speed,and d.Co-ordination. One development follows another. Training needs to be systematic. #20. No one can determine exactly what an athlete should do in anaerobic training. The athlete should determine that in each session and not train to hypothetical figures. #21. Anaerobic development requires volume training, i.e. longer repetitions, not short sharp ones or short intervals. After three weeks of heavy overload anaerobic training, the athlete needs to decide whether to back off during the fourth week and start the shorter sharper workouts. This is to maintain the fourth week and start the shorter sharper workouts. This is to maintain the anaerobic development achieved but not sacrifice good condition at the same time." To all of the above I say, Runner, know thyself !

The Sometimes Forgotten Aspect of Success

Success isn't always measured by races won and pr's set.Percy Cerutty describes something that can be forgotten in our quest to succeed. The following is a quote from his book, Success: In Sport and Life: "Perhaps the greatest success is found when we achieve victory over ourselves. And that, perhaps, is the greatest reward that can be obtained from participation in athletics and sport,generally--the victory over our own nature,our weaknesses,our tendency,perhaps,to rush to alibis, palliatives,and excuses,rather than to admit our moments of weakness: of capitulation(surrender). So we come to the realisation that the qualitative factor in success is purely personal, and that it is not something that can be measured only by the distance ran,the time recorded,the weight lifted or thrown,the height jumped,or the victories achieved over others. In this way success is subjective although the aims and ambitions may appear purely objective." Well put and insightful.

Random Thoughts While Out on a Run

I'm sure you can all relate to how your mind wanders,ruminates and thinks about a variety of things while out on an easy run. As someone said, and I have mentioned previously, how true is the statement,"I do my best thinking when I'm running." What follows are some thoughts I had while running down the beach the other day. 1. It seems that as each year passes I see more people,men and women, with bigger and more numerous tattoos covering their body. It's my belief that these people would be better off working on their physical condition instead of disfiguring their bodies with tattoos that fade and age very badly.Heaven knows, most I see with them need to. But then again,conditioning takes dedication and committment. From a Stotan point of view,tattooing is simply a vain and self-serving act.With that said,many years ago I got one for the reason just mentioned and regret doing so. 2. What's with the recent obsession with exposing Lance Armstrong as a drug cheat? Granted,my knowledge of professional cycling is not extensive but from what I understand, is that no one reaches the upper echelon of this sport without some type of "enhancement." I am not condoning drug use here. You've got to appreciate Lance running 2:48 in his second marathon while running fewer miles in training than I'm sure most of us did before ours'. 3. Put the cellphones down! Forget the warnings,I was doing a trail run last weekend and some of the other runners were wearing them during the run. Other runners went to their cars looking to check them as soon as the workout was over,at first I thought they were going to get water. Give yourself a break,that's part of the reason for getting out there in the firstplace. 4. I don't find many interesting articles to read in Runnerworld magazine but enjoy many of the things they post and offer on their website.5. Most of you are probably too young to remember but the yearly U.S. vs. U.S.S.R.(Russia) track meets held yearly in the '60's were riveting.This was a time when the "cold war" was going on between us and them.Pride and nationalism,as well as tremendous competition captured the whole nation's attention. It surpasses any type of competition you see in the Summer Olympics these days. It was high drama. Someone should right a book about those meets. 6. A nice thing about the barefoot,minimalist shoe trend,besides more business for the companies, is that it validates what Lydiard advocated many decades ago. Arthur said runners needed light,flexible shoes, not the "gumboots" produced by most of the companies. He also said that the shoes you train in should be no different than the ones you race in. Remember the school of thought back then that said you train in the heavier shoes and race in the light ones? 7. Now that the billionaires and millionaires that make up pro football and pro basketball seem destined for respective lockouts with no seasons forthcoming,do you think the media might devote more time to Track and Field? Give me a break,there was beyond minimal coverage in my area of the Pre meet. Why do I think there is little chance of that changing? Talk our sport up to others!

John Davies?

You know you are getting old when during the course of a long, easy Sunday run with friends you casually mention the name of a favorite runner from decades back and they respond by saying,who? How many people,especially younger ones,know who John Davies was? If you know, then you are obviously someone who loves the sport and knows it's history. John was a protege of Arthur Lydiard. He won the bronze medal in the 1500 at the 1964 Olympics, finishing behind winner and fellow New Zealander, Peter Snell(see pix above). John later turned to coaching and was an immense help to many athletes. Among the notable runners he coached were: Dick Quak, who won silver in the 5k at the 1976 Olympics as well as Lorraine Moller,bronze medal winner in the marathon at the 1992 Olympics. Moller by the way,did this at the age of 37 and also ran in four Olympics. To my knowledge, Dick and Lorraine went on to coach other runners and Lorraine is on the staff of the Lydiard Foundation. Writing about this makes me think how important it is to pass on our love of running to others. I'm sure we've all had, at one time or another, friends,neighbors and kids asking about our running or coming to us looking for advice. Good advice and encouragement go a long way in establishing a lifetime connection with running. Well,as I say,I digress. The following are some of what John Davies calls,"Training Considerations": "1.You need to be at a peak for the day. It is not necessarily the best athlete who wins,it is the best prepared." How true this is,if you follow the competitive side of running you will see evidence of this all the time. 2. "Choose the event that bests suits you,basic speed is the governing factor." As they say,it's a no-brainer. How many times have you seen runners struggling to excel at distances they don't have the footspeed for? 3. "The aim is to develop sufficient endurance to maintain the necessary speed over the race distance to be successful." 4."In middle distance and distance events,a high aerobic threshold is necessary." How many of us really obtain optimal aerobic fitness in our training? 5. "Stamina can be continually developed." 6."Aerobic development is a limited factor." 7. "Once anaerobic training is started,it must be continued,otherwise development is lost." 8. "Once conditioning is finished, the performance level is determined." Again,the necessity of building a high aerobic threshold is evident. 9. "Conditioning requires many kilometers in training.It can only be accomplished aerobically." The value and proper way to train aerobically is one of the most misunderstood principles of distance training. 10."It is a mistake to use anaerobic training during the conditioning phase." An understatement if there ever was one. 11. "Anaerobic development only takes 10 to 12 weeks to achieve maximum levels." You mean I shouldn't do "intervals" week in and week out? 12. "Anaerobic training should be done in relation to reactions,not by using hypothetical figures such as number of repetitions,etc. The athlete should decide how many reps is enough." Each athlete is unique,they have their individual strengths and needs training-wise. Slavishly following a workout schedule and ignoring how you feel is pure foolishness. Part 2 to follow soon.

On Training By Herb Elliott

During an interview Herb Elliott was asked,could you give us some of your thoughts on running and training? He said this: "People today seem to be looking for complicated explanations. We tend to be overawed by scientific explanations to training. Running is simple,it really is." How true that statement is. People have a tendency to be attracted to new training systems that come out periodically touting "a better way". As you have read here before,there are fundamentals of training in every sport and distance running is no different. Preparing the body gradually to handle increasing work(stress) is the key. This system of training is logical and progressive. You don't have to be an exercise physiologist to understand the hows and whys of proper distance training.