OK,here we go again,who out there remembers George Young? For those who don't recall this great runner I'll give you a little background. He competed in 4 Olympics from 1960 to 1972 where he participated in a total of 3 different events. In the 1968 Games he won a bronze medal in the 3,000 meter steeplechase and placed 16th in the marathon. George at age 34 became the oldest man,at that time,to run a sub 4 minute mile. Blunt and outspoken,I'll have more from him in the not too distant future. The following is for the runners I call seasoned,or experienced, ones who are seeking ways of doing speedwork without getting on a track. The advice given below is not,in my opinion,intended for a runner who isn't fit.It's for the runners who've been around for awhile and always seem to be just a little ways away from achieving what I call optimal fitness. George had this to say: "There's no better way to get in speedwork than by running a race. You talk of speedwork in terms of repeat quarter miles and all those other things,but you don't get the speedwork there that you gain in a race. You just never really reach the pain barrier,or whatever you call it,in any other way than running the race and hurting that way." Young really makes a good point when he speaks about the pain barrier in a practice as compared to a race setting.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
George Young on Speedwork
OK,here we go again,who out there remembers George Young? For those who don't recall this great runner I'll give you a little background. He competed in 4 Olympics from 1960 to 1972 where he participated in a total of 3 different events. In the 1968 Games he won a bronze medal in the 3,000 meter steeplechase and placed 16th in the marathon. George at age 34 became the oldest man,at that time,to run a sub 4 minute mile. Blunt and outspoken,I'll have more from him in the not too distant future. The following is for the runners I call seasoned,or experienced, ones who are seeking ways of doing speedwork without getting on a track. The advice given below is not,in my opinion,intended for a runner who isn't fit.It's for the runners who've been around for awhile and always seem to be just a little ways away from achieving what I call optimal fitness. George had this to say: "There's no better way to get in speedwork than by running a race. You talk of speedwork in terms of repeat quarter miles and all those other things,but you don't get the speedwork there that you gain in a race. You just never really reach the pain barrier,or whatever you call it,in any other way than running the race and hurting that way." Young really makes a good point when he speaks about the pain barrier in a practice as compared to a race setting.
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That's George running behind Pre in the picture above. What a phenomenal accomplishment, qualifying for 4 different Olympics in 3 different events. I was wondering if any other American male distance runner has ever done that,I don't believe so.
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