The differing training styles of Ethiopians and Kenyans is Interesting

The word you're looking for was 'Briton".

Wow, you contributed to the discussion in a great way thanks

The Kenya and Ethiopia debate has been going on for a long time.

However, I'd like to look at the different training methods. It seems that the Kenyans' signature workout is a fast-paced long run or a grueling fartlek. Then in races you can see it: they go out fast, paces bouncing up and down, and have great mental strength and endurance. Then when you look at Ethiopians, they seem to do loads of drills a lots of hills and strength training while doing a lot of speed endurance interval sessions. Then in races they often out-kick the Kenyans, or if they try to push from the start they often can't keep it up for a long time. Let's take Kamworor for example, and then Gebriwhet. Of course there's outliers, but it's interesting to look at the different effects of training.

Meanwhile Americans and Britons seem to do loads of race pace training, so they can keep up great pace but never want to increase the pace, and lack the basic cardiovascular endurance. Not saying there 'b]aren't great Americans or Britons but it's something to think about.

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What strikes me mostly when I take over the coaching of a Kenyan runner is that they often use progressive intervals at pace. Not the best way to hold an even level pace. And often they use what they call Fartlek but is only a interval session at road (The original Fartlek by Holmer ,Sweden, is more variation with not decided recovery jog and length of runs in beforehand).Another thing is that they often use 2 speed sessions per week with the same effect that they at both workouts only develop the maxVO2-pace ability ( and in that case 2 maxVO2-workouts is 1 to much).They often lack the pace between maxVO2 and distance aerob pace, the important treshold pace.

COACH J.S wrote:

What strikes me mostly when I take over the coaching of a Kenyan runner is that they often use progressive intervals at pace. Not the best way to hold an even level pace. And often they use what they call Fartlek but is only a interval session at road (The original Fartlek by Holmer ,Sweden, is more variation with not decided recovery jog and length of runs in beforehand).Another thing is that they often use 2 speed sessions per week with the same effect that they at both workouts only develop the maxVO2-pace ability ( and in that case 2 maxVO2-workouts is 1 to much).They often lack the pace between maxVO2 and distance aerob pace, the important treshold pace.

lol. Yeah, you know more than them. Holding an even level pace doesn't win too many races, which they are trying to do.

If the even level pace is better then anyone else in the race they win it.

I guess the topic of this thread was too complicated for the typical Letsrun idiots.

Except for the by kenyans often used so called "Fartlek" there is not so much difference between ethiopians and kenyans training. If you check Kenenisa Bekeles training schedule it`s obvious. If it`s Kenya or Ethiopia who have the very best runner changes over time. It`s a matter of talent more then who have the best training system.