As I understand it, swimming coaching is very disciplined and structured. Yes there is also the social side to it as well, and possibly young swimmers have a better social life than young runners?
Regarding the phsyical stresses on a young runner's body, surely 70 miles per week is enough for a 19 year old but not too much (after a few years of build up) that they break down?
I think in future years, this is the way forward for young non-African runners, to train well in groups like swimmers do, and have a decent social life so they don't feel like they are missing out on the really important stuff that young people do.
Thanks for the info about young Wanjiru Nobby, do you have any more please?
What we have is very interesting:
Samuel Wanjiru Marathon Training
In an interview with Japanese Asahi newspaper and re-posted in Japanese running news, the guy shared his marathon training plan as he trained for the 2008 Beijing Olympic marathon.
(1) July 9: 38 km cross-country at a slow pace around 4:30 per km
July 10: easy day
July 11: speedwork (400 m x 10)
(2) July 20: 30 km pace run on flat ground in around 1 hour 34 min.
July 21: easy day
July 22: easy day
July 23: speedwork (3000 m x 3)
(3) July 30: 38 km cross-country at a slow pace around 4:30 per km
July 31: easy day
August 1: speedwork (400 m x 10)
(4) August 10: 30 km pace run on flat ground in around 1 hour 34 min.
August 11: easy day
August 12: easy day
August 13: speedwork (3000 m x 3)
Daily Workouts
Other than that he also runs about 15 km at 7:00 am or 8:00 am in the morning before he eats breakfast. He start’s around 4 minutes per km, drops it down to 3:30 in the middle, then ends up down at about 3 minutes 5 seconds.
Doe he do any Strength Training?
” I never do any strength training. You can get enough strength from running on cross-country-type courses.”