Nick Symmonds Gives His Base Training Plan

hunting/fishing?

"Second, the workouts that my OTC teammates and I run are provided to us by Coach Gagliano and because he creates them I feel that they are his to share and not mine. So, I will not go into much detail regarding the workouts, but I would like to share what a typical week of my base training looks like."

No wonder he crapped the bed at the Olympics. I know high school kids who have a better work ethic.

If you think you know HS kids that have a better work ethic than Nick Symmonds, you are mistaken. Seems like a pretty decent "off-season" program for an 800 guy.

Hunting? Fishing? Swimming? I'm surprised he doesn't list his Jogger's World modeling, too.

How much running do you want an 800 guy doing. I love casual distance runners or just bad distance runners that think the key to success is a lot of slow mileage.

Should I be doing hunting/fishing once a week too?

Symmonds hunts with a knife. And he hunts the ultimate prey.

Well, for starters, Nick is not really an 800m guy. Oh, he thinks he is, and he has had a little success with it, but in reality he is a 3:31-3:32 1500m guy if he has the guts to go after that event. The bottom line is that he just doesn't have the raw acceleration that is needed to be in the event that he currently is pursuing. Some of you will ask, "How can you say that, he's gone 1:43!" It's very easy if you look at the masters of his event. To be a real threat in that event, and have longevity, the bottom line is that you need :45-:46 second 400m speed. Why? Because that's what the 1:41-1:42 guys have, and that is where you want to go if you stay in that event. Well, that's my opinion, and I'm stick'in to it.

Runner Z wrote:

Because that's what the 1:41-1:42 guys have, and that is where you want to go if you stay in that event. Well, that's my opinion, and I'm stick'in to it.

Not that I disagree with most of what you said, but the fact is that there are NO 1:41 guys in competition right now. None. Best out there is a mid 1:42. If Symmonds can run a 1:43, and the best guys in the world are 1:42, he is doing damn well. 1:43 was a bit flukey and he hasn't been consistent there, but damn if he doesn't at least have a shot at it. 1500m guy or not, every time he toes the line for an 800, he is a threat.

Runner Z wrote:

Well, for starters, Nick is not really an 800m guy. Oh, he thinks he is, and he has had a little success with it, but in reality he is a 3:31-3:32 1500m guy if he has the guts to go after that event. The bottom line is that he just doesn't have the raw acceleration that is needed to be in the event that he currently is pursuing. Some of you will ask, "How can you say that, he's gone 1:43!" It's very easy if you look at the masters of his event. To be a real threat in that event, and have longevity, the bottom line is that you need :45-:46 second 400m speed. Why? Because that's what the 1:41-1:42 guys have, and that is where you want to go if you stay in that event. Well, that's my opinion, and I'm stick'in to it.

actually symmonds is a 400 guy, or perhaps even a 200 guy

he's racing way too far, he could go like 43.10 to 43.257

utter bs... borza has gone 45, and he's about the fastest, You think you run 1.42 with acceleration... its about avoiding deceleration. 46 is plenty fast enough... ask Cram, Coe, Kipketer etc... I think Symonds could go 46 if he was req'd

Happy Wok wrote:

No wonder he crapped the bed at the Olympics. I know high school kids who have a better work ethic.

"Oh, no! He´s not doing 100 mile weeks, 20 mile long runs and 10 mile tempos. That is enevitably a recipe for disaster."

Wow, there are a lot of idiots on here. He can't compete with the best because he's only run 1:43... Uh, have you followed the 800m at all the last few years? I believe 2008 was the first year since at least 2004 that someone went under 1:43. Rashid Ramzi had the fastest time in the world in 2005 with a 1:44 low. Besides that, Nick has not done anything to suggest he's a 3:31 guy. He's very big for a 1500 guy, and he's "only" run 3:55 (or 3:56?) for the mile. He might be capable of running 3:31-3:33, but even so, is that any better than 1:43?

correct. and the world is full of 3.31-3.33 guys.

Symmonds has not run 1:43

Anything can happen in the 800m. I'd say it's the most unpredictable event in T&F. That's why he should stick to it.

kewajnm wrote:

Symmonds has not run 1:43

PB: 1.44,10

Wow. Someone mentioned earlier about the number of idiots posting on this board. I couldn't agree more. Perhaps they should post their PR's or training schedules or number of stamps on their passports. But I'm sure that all the nay-sayers have never had a disappointing race in their lives and their lack of "world class athlete" status is certainly not their fault. Nick is living the dream and has more talent in his little toe than any of us do. And for the record, he did just clock a 1:43.8 in Monaco against the worlds best. Hopefully this thread can get revived and some other Symmonds believers will step up.