Training Tips

Have you ever thought "Why can't I run as fast as Ian Steel ?"  Ian Steel
has to substitute Moses Tanui or whoever.  This is a very complicated
question but the answer can be roughly divided into:-

1 ) lack of training
2 ) lack of talent.
3 ) physical shape

There's not much can be done about 2 or possibly 3),so over the next few
issues of the Newsletter I will be passing on some of the training
techniques that I have experimented with since I started running; not all
of them have worked of course. Under training I will include, diet, race
techniques, kit, coping with injuries, pre and post race excuses  etc.
I have been asked to produce six tips per issue, so I will start with
motivation.

1 Setting your Goals

Who do want to run faster than and over what distance ? It's important to
know over what distances you want to race  and tune your training
appropriately. I will race any distance between 1500m and  Marathon . I
also want to cross-country and hill races, but don't care how badly in hill
races; both these events require skill and practice, more so than
road-racing. Marathon running requires special attention. 1500m and up to
5000m  also requires special attention. You can run  "under-distance" quite
safely, but not "over-distance", however I wouldn't attempt anything
shorter than 400m unless either I did some training for those events or
were coerced into doing them at the S&NWL (Mr Begley). So here are six tips
on setting goals.

1) Plan your races up  to six months in advance. This has the advantage
that you can avoid getting roped into the Division 1 5000m because you know
it clashes with the Ben Oovie hill race or whateffer.

2) Divide them into important and not important. ( The important ones are
the ones I have a day off before eg National. The not important ones I will
probably have trained earlier in the day or done a set of hill reps the
night before.)

3) Avoid racing on a Sunday - You miss your long run, you can't train on
Saturday and you have to stay sober on Saturday night.

4) Be prepared to run badly. You can't peak for every race. This is where
you have to use the "pre-race excuse". examples:-
a) I've had a cold all week.
b) I've been decorating the house.
c) My knee has been playing up again. (remember to limp slightly) etc.
If you do well you can say you ran well in spite of above.

5) Get a hold of race results. These are invaluable source of form since
you can compare times and positions of your rivals.

6) Pre-enter races where possible. This is good for the motivation. Having
paid good money you won't want to miss it even though its lashing with rain
or a force 10 gale.


Having done all this you are raring to go, and who do you want to run
faster than; easy - the guy that pipped you on the line at the last race.

Next issue "The Training Schedule- who needs them ?"