It’s Mike Smith’s World and We’re All Living In It

Someone made an excel with NAU training + some guys post on strava, main elements imo were:

1. continuous subthreshold (10 mi @ a ~MP, maybe faster)

2. threshold intervals of 1-2 miles, total 6 miles. Top athletes doubled to get up to 10-12 miles in a day, ie: 5x1 mi AM and 2-1-2-1 mi PM. with 1 min rest

3. high volume short interval work: combination of relaxed 200s, 300s with short rest. Not super intense, maybe around 1500-3k pace but a bunch of reps.

4. hard workouts, mixed paces but overall pretty fast with long recoveries. here's an example from drew bosley's strava, before running 7:36. also check some of the youtube videos with luis and abdi nur

5. high mileage : 80-100 mpw.

So nothing crazy inventive, mostly good aerobic work with some fast stuff for mechanics and turnover, and then harder sessions that mimic a race effort with pace changes to prepare for races. Philosophically similar to any top distance group, just a different style, using double thresholds (vs single) and different types of intensity sessions. I would say his success is really due to his personality and how athletes trust him - just listen to any podcast from a NAU athlete and you'll get it.

Nope. I don’t think altitude is ‘just a tiny part’. Nope.

That would be comparable to seeing several East Africans on the distance podiums at World Championships, reflecting back on the times they missed the podium, and concluding living and training at altitude was ‘just a tiny part’ of their success.

They also have a really great performance coach who talks to them a lot about mindset. Running is definitely how fit you are and how you train but there’s also a lot mentally that really can mess with you or bring out the best.

- it’s not the volume or the intensity it’s the volume of the intensity

- this sh•t is gonna hurt

- night night go to sleep

- you can do this ALL DAY

- spooky workout

*what I glommed watching me flotrack workout of the week vid*

Maybe it's Mike Smith's nation...

But currently, it's Jakob Ingebrigsten's world.

He's a once in a generation type coach. for real, brah. He's already changing the way other coaches coach. they'll never have his magic tho

Doesnt Luis G run for Guatemala? If so what kinda freeloader shvt is that?

*you're

Are you honestly that stupid that you don't know the difference between "your" and "you're"?

If you look at the list of runners that qualified for worlds, it’s surprising how evenly the medals were distributed. The only team that seemed to consistently under perform to expectations was the Very Nice Track Club. maybe the Michigan should be replaced by double thresholds.

Grijalva is a legit metal contender. Closed well for 4th last year, and he’s in WAY better shape than he was (or appeared to be) last year. Check his world athletics profile. He peaked well last year, so either he’s peaking early (I think this is unlikely he’s got a great coach with out a ton of lactic work) or he’s a top 3 guy in the world. His speed is much improved as is his endurance. I think his highest finish at diamond leage was 9/10th for like ~13:05 compared to 3rd and 5th with a 12:55 and 12:52.

He just ran a pretty bad 3000m so hopefully he turns it around.

Grijalva is a "Dreamer" He's been in America his whole life but cannot run for USA. I would love to see USA on his jersey. And yes, he trains with Mike Smith in Flagstaff.

They were National Champions before Mike Smith arrived. And usually a top ten team. The biggest difference is Mike Smith recruited better athletes.

Bump after Nico Young’s collegiate record.

GOAT