I was thinking about this from the other recent 800m training thread and decided to carry it over. I'm NOT an 800m runner (I'm 5k +) but I do want to be a collegiate coach someday, and I'm not a big fan of coaches who coach all runners in similar events as if they were the same athletes.
I have almost zero understanding of how to set up training for a 400/800 specialist. I'm fairly comfortable w/ 800-1500 types and up, but the training seems so different.
Johnny Gray and now his athlete, Duane Solomon, seem like the perfect example of this type of runner. In a recent FloTrack interview Gray says Solomon was running things like a 300 TT going through in 21.x and a 500m in 60.x...those are FAST winter training runs, and since he talks about also doing repeat miles, I'm just wondering how this sort of training set up looks for a whole season.
Obviously an 800 guy needs strength work, even if they are a 400 type, but it's clear to me that it looks different (type of strength work, volume, percentages of different kinds of work) than a more traditional middle distance runner like LetsRun's used to. It must also look different than a true 400m guy (with 200-500 type range, as many have).
Anyone have thoughts?
I'd love to see a lively discussion about this type of training/athlete.