Wello wrote:
the 1000-800-400-.. workout is at the same pace(slower) than the first workout but only 1/4th of the volume, a normal workout for someone capable of 7:25 as the Komen workout is normal for someone capable of 3:29/7:20/12:39, also runnning an 8k-time trial at about 10k-pace..normal,
but running 9,6km faster than 3k-pace and that at altitude..
may be your informant wasnt lying maybe the track was/is short, what is not unusually in East-Africa.
If the workout is correct..as i said..Gebre must ne the worst racer in history.
El-Guerrouj does workouts as 8x1k starting in the low 2:30s and finishing the last just under 2:30 and he is faster than Gebre in the 3k, now Gebre does workout that are far beyond of what El-G is capable doing and still he is slower than El-G in 1500m and 3k?
Wello, perhaps you do not read my replies. The first thing is that no recovery was given. If the recovery was long enough, he could definitely do it.
Also, I sincerely doubt Gebrselassie has done 10+ years of training on a short track. That is absolutely not plausible.
Also, I have read that the Ethiopians do many interval workouts in "cut-down" fashion, running the last portion of a repetition much faster than the beginning.
So, hypothetically, Gebrselassie could do 4 1200's averaging 2:55 with the firt 800 in 1:59-2:00 and the last 400 accelerated to 55-56. This with maybe 3-5 minutes rest.
Perhaps a full recovery after the 1200's. The rest then is very easy for Gebrselassie, a 1:46 800 runner and 3:31 1500 runner. 4 800's in sub-2:00 and 4 400's in 55 is not a problem for a runner with his speed. The toughest portion is the 1200's, but doable with enough rest. If you cannot see otherwise, you lack knowledge about the training of champions.
El Guerrouj's workouts are not being done at 100% of his capabilities. He can probably go about 2:43-2:44 flat-out for 1200 (he split 2:44.75 in Rieti 2002, his fastest ever 1200). 4 1200's for him in 2:55, with a good rest, is quite feasible. 2:00 800's and 55 400's are not difficult at all for someone who averages 54.92 per 400 for 1500. And El Guerrouj would have attempted (and probably broken) 7:20.67 this year if not for post-Olympic fatigue.
Also, the other workout as I said I forgot the number of repetitions. He did MULTIPLE 1000's in 2:28 and MULTIPLE 800's, 400's, and 300's (I do remember he did 2 200's in 25, not 1). So the volume was very near 9.6 km as well, and at speeds as fast or faster.
And for you to say Gebrselassie is "one of the worst racers in history" is absolutely, bar none, the most idiotic comment I have yet heard expressed on this message board.
Read the book first, then give an opinion.