I apologyze yet for my English, but I hope that is possible for you to understand. I want now to speak about Stephen Cherono. I was in '98-99 the coach of his older brother, Christopher Koskei, winner of 3000 SC in World Ch. '99 in Seville. When we were in St. Moritz preparing Seville, Stephen won Youth Ch. on 2000 SC, and went with Kim McDonald (while Christopher was with Gianni Demadonna). In his first years, Stephen followed the programs of Kim (never of Kiptanui, he never coached Stephen !). After the death of Kim, Stephen moved to me like coach, also pushed by Christopher. I'm his coach from the beginning of 2002. When he came to me, already had the World Junior Record with 7'58"86. When I saw his training, I was really surprised : was the training of an italian junior, not big volume, not high intensity ; only unbelieveble talent ! I spent last year in speaking with him (that is a very intelligent boy, with many interests, not only a countryman) about the need of building his body and his engine, for improving, becoming more consistant, and reducing the damages of a too big talent, that can push his body beyond his current possibilities. So, last year he began a continuous basic training, running about 90 miles per week with a good intensity, using more modulation in training, and moving to longer run with fast progressive finals. He was not able to improve very much : ran 13'11" in 5 km, 7'58"10 on steeple and 3'35" on 1500m (like the previous year). For the first time used circuits uphill for increasing his strenght, variations of speed on track for improving the permeability of membranes (quicker recovery of lactate), and our "medium pace", that is a long run (in his case 25' - 30') at 3' / 2'55" pace per km. For the first time he used also long test on track (till 2000m) that are not part of the normal kenyan methodology.
He doesn't like steeple, so never trains in technique. During winter, for having some more information about his improvement in aerobic power (I prefer to call in this way aerobic capacity), I planned with him a 5000m race. He told me : "OK Renato, I run a 5k, but only against Gebre, or Bekele, or El Guerrouj". So, we decided to meet El Guerrouj in Ostrava (12/6), renouncing to a very big appearance for running steeple, going without any appearance in the flat race. HE WANTED TO HAVE EL GUERROUJ. That's the difference between a good runner and a very big champion. This one wants to meet the number one and is stimulated by difficulties, the other prefers commod and softs situations, escaping from any type of risk.
Also in training, we prepared his type of competition. For example, he used in different periods a type of work based on variations of speed (3 times 2000m alternating speed every lap, 59" / 72" / 59" / 72" / 59" = 5'21" (really, last time was in July, with 5 min recovery, 5'19" / 5'22"6 / 5'24" with 55"8 last lap but about 76" slow laps), and tried to compete using this attitude already in Athens, when ran first lap in 59" killing all the other kenyans, except Nyamu and Misoi, previously informed about his tactic. Also in Paris, we planned to use for 3 laps Saifeldin pushing very hard, then to stay on medium pace, then to improve again after beeing reached by Ezekiel Kemboi. Really, he went alone after only 800m, and when Kemboi reached him, he jogged (1'53" from 2000 to 2600m) back Ezekiel, awaiting last 200m for winning (57"8 last lap). After the race, he told me "I wanted to demonstrate also to you who is the faster in the last 200m".
He's an artist, and his real strenght is a terrible will to win. He's the toughest athlete that I ever trained. In Montecarlo, for the first time he ran in correct way, but his shape was already about 70 %. I think that many of you saw the race : simply, he didn't want to lose. The same race, 20 days ago, could easy bring him to 7'54".
For next year, is not yet sure his Olympic Elegibility. In any case, he moves to 3000 and 5000m flat, reducing the number of races on steeple, because is better not to risk some injury, beeing him very fragile in his muscles.