Could somebody simplify this Lydiard approach to trainin?

i think that the missing key in the Lydiard-program is the recovery, Lydiard figured out that the best way is to do a "shorter" run every other day and in most shedules I#ve seen this is around 10miles what is too long in my opinion if you really want to absorb the stress of fast 15milers from the previous day.

Training is not only about putting stress on the body but also about compensating this stress=progression.

Benji Durden did 30-40min easy every other day and ran 2:09 with this training and he ran something like 4:50 for the mile in hs.

The most famous Lydiard-coached Athlete:Peter Snell ran less than all the other Kiwis who were coached by Lydiard, he ran max.100miles or less per week including the morning runs.

Agrred about Peter. But he also says that the trick to Arthur's base phase is to do each run easily enough that you're able to do the next day's run without distress. So if you were planning to run an hour on the shorter days and had to shorten it because tyour previous day's 90-120 minute run was too tiring, it would mean that you ran your 90-120 minute run too hard.

Having said that, it worth's noting, as Glenn McCarthy alludes to, that Arthur has coached many athletes who do NOT do 100 mile weeks. He tries to get athletes matched with their best distances and recognizes that 100 is too much for some and too little for others. So if you could well do his base phase and have the 30-45 minute runs you're alluding to.

Everyone always says they ran a fast time after running slowly in high school, yet they never mentioned how hard they trained in high school. If I jogged 15 miles a week in high school I would have probably ended up running a 5 minute mile. Instead I ran 10 miles a day and ended with 4:33. I probably could have run in the low 9:40s for 3200m, but never ran one fresh. How much hope is there hope for someone like me to get under, say, 2:22 in the marathon? I feel like everyone's rags to riches success stories are merely because they were very talented but never trained hard to begin with and then, after training hard for the first time, showed their true ability. Someone please tell me I'm wrong. I want some motivation to run 100 miles a week.

Here is all the motivation you will need:

Here is what Lydiard's guys did before hooking up with Lydiard and after running the Lydiard program:

Examples of Lydiard’s Runners’ Progress Under his System

It took Lydiard about 12 years of experimentation on himself and some of his runners to finalize his system. Here is the progression of his first 3 famous pupils.

Murray Halberg

Age 18 before Lydiard 4:41 mile, 10:22 2 mile

first year age 19 4:17 mile 9:37 2 mile

2nd year age 20 4:04 mile 9:09 2 mile

3rd year age 21 8:55 2 mile

4th year age 22 4:01 mile 8:51 2 mile

eventually he got down to 3:57.5 and 8:30 WR for 2 mile and was Olympic Champion in the 5000. He accomplished all this despite having a withered arm.

Peter Snell

Age 19 before Lydiard 1:54 800 and 4:48 mile

first year age 20 1:48.7 800 and 4:10 mile

2nd year age 21 1:44.1 relay 800 and 4:01.5 mile

3rd year age 22 Olympic 800 champion

4th year age 23 1:43eq 800 and 3:54 mile

Barry Magee

According to Lydiard could never in his career run faster than 58 in a 440.

age 18 before Lydiard 4:50 mile and 11:00 2 mile

age 19 first year 9:50 2 mile

eventually Magee got down to 8:45 2 mile, 13:38 5000, 28:50 10000 and 4:07 in the mile. Amazing for a guy who couldn't run faster than 58 for a quarter. He was ranked # 1 in the World in the 10000 and # 2 in the 5000 by Track & Field News. Also won bronze in the Olympic marathon.

Here is Peter Snell’s Base Building prior to the 1964 Olympics:

Snell's Base Building from 1964 (between April 18 and June 28):

15 miles, 1:30-1:40 (~6-6:30's)

11 miles, 1:08 (~6:10's)

18 miles, 1:55 (~6:25's)

10 miles, 54-55:00 (~5:30's)

15 miles, 1:30-1:40 (~6-6:30's)

22 miles (~6-6:45's)

10 miles, 54-55:00 (~5:30 pace)

As you know 12 weeks later he went on to be the only man to be double 800/1500 champ. And back then they ran 4 rounds of each compared to 3 rounds now.

If you want, I will send you a copy of my Lydiard thesis.

Possibly, but can anyone HERE truthfully run those Finnish 1972 times?

Get real indeed.

Non Race week:

Mon: 3x1500

Tues: 60-90 min.

Wed: Tempo 2k-3k

Thurs: 60-90 min.

Fri: 10x100m

Sat: Tempo 2k-3k

Sun: 90min+

Race Week:

Mon: sprints 100x 6-10

Tues: Easy Fartlek 45-60 min.

Wed: Tempo 1600-2400

Thurs: 6x100

Fri: easy 30 min.

Sat: race

Sun: 90 min.+

This is one Of Lydiard's schedules from "Running to the Top"

It's just like alot of college schedules.

Ditto here. I have never run 100 per week in my life.

Somehow as soon as I got to 80 - 85 the body did'nt want to know.

I discussed this with some of the "old Lydiard" athletes and later Arthur. All said "just get and keep consistency".

Key for me were the long runs on Sundays. I can remember some years I would run 20 plus Sundays in a row of 20 milers or 2 to 2:10 hr Runs.

Got to the stage where I could run those easily at 2:40 marathon pace.

I know of many Lydiard athletes who ran their "Buildups" at 75 to 85 miles a week. All ran well.

Remember : The only time Peter Snell put together 100 per week on a consistent basis was 1964 before Tokyo.