The US runners should use the Lydiard Training Program. Long Base periods, no track work outs, no races just pure miles to develo the aerobic base. that's the answer. That's the way the best runners in the world are training and as result they're winning medals in the olympics.
if we went to this system....we would be like soccer...oh...that's right, they aren't doing so well at the Olympics either. Don't buy into that club team crap.
The real problem is that we have all of our great coaches training athletes from other countries.....that makes no sense whatsoever.
Only in track events below 800m and in the field events. Will there even be a "rout" this time around? Not a fluke.
I thought we were talking about distance running. I respect Malmo's perspective, experience, and opinions. Yet, even in your "Malmo's Manifesto" on the Prairie Inn Harriers website, you suggest principles, which I agree with, that just cannot fit in the current system for, let's say, freshmen in high school to seniors in college, if you are saddled with a coach from a different mindset from the outset.
I think we are more of the same mind than working at odds, Malmo. I just offered a big picture plan. You mentioned in the same manifesto that the problem is the coaching, so how do you get all of them to fall into your "trap," as you describe it.
Tomi2Nutts hit it perfectly. Rupp can live in an altitude house for the next four years but that won't get him a medal.
Go back to the basics ... I also think genetics has a lot to do with things, though Americans think that doesn't play in and only hard work will win. Not always, genetics is huge, but Tomi is onto something.
EPO or something better. Hey everyone is doing it, why not us?
I wonder how often any of the US Olympians get their VO2max measured.
What does "meaningless splits" mean?
As someone else pointed out, the best finish by a male so far is the guy with all the bells and whistles.
It would seem that the Rupp system is one that you are calling for. The coach controlling all aspects of training.
I am sure that athletes will flock to Tomi2nutts when he starts his training group.
The American way of life doesn't help. We have very, very few athletes with truly world class blinding type speed (a necessity) and an exceedingly light build and body weight necessary to sustain current world class pace. Of course, the proper training helps (Shorter certainly trained with the best), and so would an Olympic development program, but we just don't have the guys with true legspeed running the distance events, and that is what it takes.
Anyone surprised the final 5k of the 10k today was at 13:12, with a 53/54 last lap? I sure wasn't. Nor was my brother, out with his kids all day and out of the media loop, who surmised that the Ethiopians and Kenyans ran a 55 sec last 400 with a 13:10 5k before even asking the results.
I am not sure there is an easy answer. Fam is a unique guy, but I think he is right when he mentions that the running life style is hardly the American dream.
We may have to cede this game to other nations for quite some time. Galen Rupp, a fine talent, ran a very good race today. But it wasn't the same race the top of the field was running.
So do we have to go back to the drawing boards if Hall Medals in the Marathon and Fam somehow finishes in the top 5 of the Steeple?
Just a question.
- Philip Passen
For whatever it's worth, the Brits didn't need this in the 1970s to dominate in the 8 to the 5k during the 1980s. What they did have was a love of running since Bannister ran his mile (and even before) that we simply don't have here.
terps wrote:
I've been saying for years that the US high school and collegiate system is the problem for US distance running. Too many cooks in the kitchen, random administrators, athletic directors, and, yes, coaches and parents, maintaining their interest in the old English amateurism ethic. You cannot really choose your coaching or competitive/developmental direction through the age of 18 or 19 in America, based on where your parents purchased a house, and who happens to be coaching at that high school's boundaries.
You have a "choice" of colleges, but, as many of you adamantly defend (and even defend at the high school level), it's all about competing at that given level, that given week or season, against these given conference rivals, etc.
As many of you have replied, it's the coaches job, at the high school and college level, to win, not to develop runners for the next level. That's what they get paid to do, and it's your duty as an athlete to buy into that system.
So it is an inherently flawed system, that is too myopic in its implementation, in a sport that has proved to be a long-term development oriented endeavour.
I have always promoted an Olympic Development style program, from the state, regional, to national team level, to identify, train, develop, and compete with youth athletes over a long term period in the developmentally critical years, from post-puberty to junior level (u23?) These coaches would not be self-interested at the local "team" level, they would operate within and have the interest of the national program as the central focus.
Not too hard, just well out of our current mindset as a scholastic-centric sport. It will step on local coaches' toes, guys who have had their little gigs for years, and who are local big-timers, but it would change the focus from weekly or seasonal emphases, to 4-year, 8-year plans, for the identified elite level junior athletes.
When no program, at your given level, is above you to strive for as a coach and athlete, than you settle for the goal you are presented with in your program's system (e.g., high school conference, state championships). When an Olympic development program hovers above the high school program, you now have a system with a different set of goals, set out by an organization and coaches with different motivations.
the top runners should all move to Oregon and train under Salazar.
I agree that our athletes seem to peak at the trials and then have a let down. Maybe if they spent less time doing interviews talking about being on the medal stand and more focus on training we would get somewhere.
Not all top runners share his moral values.
Did anyone really expect an American to be in the top 3 or the top 6 for that matter? Did we really expect Rupp or Abdi or Torres to hit 13:12 with a 54 last lap for their last 5K!? They're all very talented runners and ran extremely well, but for the US to win a 10K medal it would take an unbelievable talent with dedication to match. The training works. I'm sure their training isn't that much different from the Africans.
Less time blogging all about themselves, too.
Adam Smith wrote:
I agree that our athletes seem to peak at the trials and then have a let down. Maybe if they spent less time doing interviews talking about being on the medal stand and more focus on training we would get somewhere.
malmo wrote:
terps wrote:.blah blah blahYes, the same system that routs the world in every other Olympic Games or Worlds Championships is suddenly broken?
It's a good thing no one in charge is listening to you.
routs the world in what? r u insane?
1992 was the last Summer Olympics (i.e. real Olympics) that the US didn't win more medals than any other country. \
Not exactly a rout, but for a nation of fat slobs, we seem to do alright in athletics.
no excuses..... wrote:
this disgraceful and embarassing showing by the US, the richest country in the world, with the best training facilities and opportunities to succeed in the world is BROKEN. Time for a completely new system. Any ideas?
AR...bronze medal 10000m
AR...steeple
PB...steeple
near PB 10000m, steeple
STFU
Go to Kenya or Ethiopia, and train there for 2 years leading up to the next Olympics. Then, you will have nothing to blame it on but yourself and genetics.
Agree wrote:
Rupp can live in an altitude house for the next four years but that won't get him a medal.
.
Hey idiots, Go back and see how I did in my first olympics in 72. Rupp has a long career ahead of him.