What I referred about Kimwetich and "Jogo" Koskei is what really happened. When an athlete, able to transfer his sensations to the coach, tells you that "I feel better", you must use this regeneration when he wants and needs.
But I'm surprised that many don't understand the difference in regeneration AFTER VERY HARD LACTIC WORKOUTS (where the level can reach 20 mml), needing 2-4 days for recovering, and after a LONG FAST RUN of 35 km. In this case (that long run is at Threshold level or lower, and the lactate level doesn't overtake 4 mml), it's better to speak of re-integration of what we use during training : mineral salts,liquids, amino-acids.
So,in this case, to use LONG REGENERATION RUN can be useless, if not damageous.
You must always remember that, HIGHER IS THE INTENSITY, LONGER MUST BE THE RECOVERY.
So, if we have marathon runners as Kibet and Kwambai, they use a very high percentage of SPECIFIC MARATHON SPEED in their training : 80 km per week, it means a percentage of 60% of specific speed compared with the full volume.
In case of Marathon runners using high volume (220-240 km per week), the quantity of SPECIFIC TRAINING is lower (no more than 60 km per week), and the percentage VERY MUCH LOWER (25-30%).
If there are athletes needing this volume,there are athlete not needing it, too. Or, better, NOT NEEDING IT AT THE MOMENT.
I can give data regarding the average, during fundamental and special period, of the weekly km of Shaheen during the years :
2001 : 90
2002 : 120
2003 : 150
2004 : 180
2005 : 150
2006 : 130
But, at the same time, after building a very good aerobic base, the volume of specific high intensity training continued to grow.
One day of 2006, before running Zurich meeting (he was in a very better shape than when he bettered the WR in 2004), we used a SPECIFIC BLOCK like this :
Morning : 4 x 1600m (rec. 4'30") in 3'56" / 3'59" / 3'58" / 3'57"
Afternoon : 2 sets of 5 x 300m (rec. 30" between tests and 2'30" between sets), average of the first 5 : 38"3, times of the second set : 39" - 37"3 - 37"2 - 37"3 - 37".
Somebody can think that, during a week including that Specific Block, the mileage is high ?
For exalting the quality, we need to increase the MODULATION, and all the top Champions need to exalt the quality.
About the marathon, now we start to see some new athlete having the same goal : to exalt the SPECIFIC quality (running fast with great extension), while there are still other specialist using lower quality with great volume.
This can happen because, at Marathon Speed, the border between SPECIAL and SPECIFIC is not very well defined, and we can take advantage ALSO from SPECIAL VOLUME, with an intensity a little bit slower than SPECIFIC SPEED.
Why only now we have these type of athletes ?
I think because, finally, very young and talented athletes move to marathon. Before, top runners spent a full career on track, moving to marathon only when old and, already, consumpted and no more able to run fast like before.
Now, because the event of 10000m practically disappeared from the meetings, and also on road there are a lot of HM and Marathon, but very few competitions of 10 km with good money, many young runners able to run about 27' move immediately to longer distances, BECAUSE THIS IS THE ONLY REAL MARKET FOR EARNING GOOD MONEY (If you are not one of the top 4-5 in the world in 10000m).
To be more young, it seems also to have different attitudes in recovering. But we speak about this another time.