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Whatever It Takes:
Todd Reeser Is Doing It
All In His Quest To Rise To The Top Level Of International Distance
Running
by Robert Johnson
posted: November 10th, 2000
 After
graduating from Division III Rochester with the terribly modest
running PRs of 15:16 for 5K, 32:13 for 10K and 25:05 for 8K in
cross country, Todd Reeser made the decision that most people
in his predicament would never even contemplate making - he decided
he would be a professional, full-time runner.
Imagine you were in Reeser's shoes your senior year of college.
Your PRs are very modest even for the division III level. At the professional level, they would only
merit attention if you were a female, not a male. The thought of being a full-time professional
runner does not cross your mind, does it?
Probably not, because it's
basically a ludicrous thought. However, this is the predicament
that Todd Reeser found himself in the Spring of 1996 and he
chose the unconventional path. Rational observers may have though
Reeser had not a prayer for success, but Reeser's leap of faith
in himself is starting to pay heavenly rewards.
The top US male runner on
the roads early this Fall, Reeser is being honored as the second
LetsRun.com Runner of the Month (although
we haven't done it each month).
No Big Deal
Reeser downplayed the boldness of his decision to be a full-time
runner after college. "I had experienced enough success
in high school and college to know that I could get to the next
level," Reeser told LetsRun.com in mid October. "And
I had enough support from my coach, family, physical therapist
and friends to make it possible. I had the support (that I needed)
and thought my talent was at least enough to try, so I did it.
When you're young, that's when you do these things (that others
may call crazy) and that's the decision I made."
Since Reeser decided to devote
himself to running four years ago, his dedication to the sport
has bordered on the fanatical - even by the extreme standards
of successful distance runners.
No single aspect of Reeser's
training regime jumps out as being outlandish. Only when one
takes all of the elements together does one fully appreciate
the level of his dedication and realize his entire existence
is centered around being the best runner that he can possibly
be.
His weekly mileage, which
hovers between 100-110 miles per week most weeks, isn't all that
high for marathoners. However, when one considers that Reeser
only runs six days a week, it becomes a little more impressive.
Even more impressive is the
fact that Reeser says approximately 40% of the mileage is done
at marathon race pace or better and everything else is at 6:00
pace or better. Still more impressive is that Reeser will throw
in a 150 mile week for one or two weeks at certain points in
the training cycle and even did 170 miles one week this Fall
on just six days of running.
The chart below shows a fairly
typical hard week for Reeser when he is in the peak of a training
cycle, gearing up for a major race. (Reeser says this comes directly
from his training log from early October).
| Day |
Workout |
Total
Mileage |
| Sunday |
AM:
7 Miles.
PM: 12 miles on treadmill at 5 minute pace. 3 mile warmup/3 mile
cool-down. |
25 |
| Monday |
12-13
miles spread over 2 runs. |
13 |
| Tuesday |
AM:
7 Miles.
PM: 6 mile tempo run in 28:18. 4 mile warm-up with strideouts,
5 mile cool down. |
25 |
| Wednesday |
Day
off.
1.5 hour in pool. 4-6 hour massage in PM. |
|
| Thursday |
AM:
7 Miles.
PM: 6 x 1 mile @ 4:20 pace (3 minute rest) 4 mile warm-up, 5
mile cool down. |
22 |
| Friday |
AM:
7 Miles.
PM: 12 miles on treadmill at 5 minute pace. 3 mile warmup/3 mile
cool-down. |
25 |
| Saturday |
Easy
days. 12-13 miles spread over 2 runs. |
13 |
| |
Total Mileage |
123 |
Of course, focusing on just
Reeser's workouts or mileage misses a lot of the uniqueness of
his training. One shouldn't fail to take heed of the 5-6 hours
a week that he runs in the pool most weeks, or the weekly six-hour
long massage that he receives (sometimes Reeser says he gets
a "short" massage that only lasts four hours), or the
daily two-hour weight sessions that he puts in the middle of
his training cycles (weights every other day when tapering for
a race). Also don't forget that Reeser sleeps in an altitude
tent each night and has just recently started walking around
in an 18-pound weight vest on days he's not running a workout.
"It's just like a bulletproof
vest and no one can tell you're wearing it. It's kind of neat
because the muscles in my legs think I weigh 160 pounds when
I only weigh 140 pounds," said Reeser.
Taken all together, Reeser
estimates he spends 7-8 hours a day (50-60 hours per week) in
some running related activity, although his coach estimated Todd
spends even more time on running related activities.
"I think he's probably
the hardest working distance runner in the United States. He
puts in 10-12 hours of training in a day, seven days a week,"
said Reeser's coach and manager John Luther. "There aren't
a lot of people who could do what he does."
"He's a kid who's making
the required sacrifices with the understanding that it's going
to take time (to be successful) - there's no quick fix. He's
been willing to live on $5,000 dollars a year for a couple of
years just hoping that it's going to pay off down the road,"
added Luther in mid-October.
"He's lived the life
of a pauper, like most distance runners, and has been at or below
the poverty line for several years. His mother's helped him out
tremendously and we have a couple of corporate of sponsors for
him. Hopefully after his performances this Fall, he'll get a
nice shoe contract."
Living With Mom
When asked about the many obstacles he's had to overcome and
sacrifices he's had to make, Reeser downplayed the difficulty
of it all. "There definitely were some pretty lean years.
(For example), you're calling me at my mom's house, because I
had to move back in with her (due to a lack of money). But I
think (all of the struggles) have made me a better runner, though.
When every meal could be your last if you don't run well, then
it makes you want it more," said Reeser.
Financial obstacles, while
large, haven't been the largest obstacles Reeser has had to overcome.
Injuries have been by far the largest barrier to his achieving
success at the elite level.
A high school wrestler, Reeser
started his running career reluctantly his junior year of high
school when ordered to do so by his wrestling coach, who wanted
him to lose weight. Reeser showed a great deal of promise from
the get go (9:41 for 3200 meters and 4:42 for 1600 meters as
a junior) and by the time he was a senior, he had given up wrestling
and was running year round. In his first full year of running,
Reeser finished second in the New York state cross country meet
and put up the fastest prep 10K time in the country in the Spring
when he ran 32:13 (For more on Todd's high school career, click here).
Due to his inexperience, Reeser
decided to attend Division III Rochester, as there would be less
pressure than at a Division I school and he'd have more time
to develop himself as a runner. Additionally, he was drawn to
Rochester because they had won the Division III national championship
the year before and because it was located in his home-town.
Unfortunately, Reeser's college
career never materialized. After earning Division III All-American
honors as a freshman in x-c, he spent his remaining three years
injured for the most part, never being healthy enough to even
get in a full track season.
Reeser described his injuries
as being "overuse stuff". "I kind of went overboard
and did too much too soon," he said. "Plus there was
poor communication between myself and the coach (at Rochester)
which is never good."
Click here to continue with Reeser's life after college.
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