Lindsay proves he is a legend once again.
The mention of Charlie Spedding got me to dust off some old notes and write up some of what Charlie said when he was at a conference a while back. Bud got him and Ingrid Kristiansen to talk about some of their training and racing and I was writing shorthand as fast as I could:
Going back to the difficulties teachers face in the classroom, take a look at this recent report on the difficult situation teachers face when dealing with anti-social behaviour by pupils in school, and the (up till now) little control that teachers had to combat the problems.
In the past many athletes selected teaching as a viable profession, but that is no longer the case, and something needs to be done.
Check this:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article1867904.ece
Ghost
coach:
I'm confused now....
:(
so, is a teaching a good profession for a runner or not????
Correct me if I'm wrong but I'm sure the roles, responsibilities and duties of a teacher are not, and have never been, defined with world class athletes in mind.
ghost wrote:
Going back to the difficulties teachers face in the classroom, take a look at this recent report on the difficult situation teachers face when dealing with anti-social behaviour by pupils in school, and the (up till now) little control that teachers had to combat the problems.
In the past many athletes selected teaching as a viable profession, but that is no longer the case, and something needs to be done.
Check this:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article1867904.eceGhost
coach:
christophe_moulton@yahoo.ca
Ghost do you do any coaching yourself these days?
bmc manchester wrote:
think you'll find most of the main protagonists at Watford will be looking to tune-up for the trials at Manchester. What British runners will break 14:00 at sport city?
Nicholls
Deakin
Tickner
Sharp
Wicks
Geele
Ford
Ward
any others?
Don't forget Dave Webb. He's in good shape and made us look like a load of joggers over the last km at the inter-counties.
You are a jogger
and it wasnt difficult the speed you were going
who will be top UK finisher in the 5000m at Sport City?
Will James Thie surprise the top distance men?
What will the winning time be at the Watford 10k?
I work as a teacher trainer in Korea now, and still do a bit of coaching, but I am more involved with 'joggers' who keep fit, and who wish to lose weight. There are no serious runners where I am posted (a semi rural area in Gyeonggi Do Province, near Pyeongtaek city, about 1.5 hours from Seoul).
Korea, despite the proximity to Japan, does not have a big "running culture", and few youngsters select the sport, despite names like Hwang (Olympic marathon champion in Barcelona) and Lee Bong Ju (Boston winner, and 2:07 performer). Lee won the Seoul marathon this year, in 2:08, at age 38, and hopes to place well in Beijing.
Most of the people who look like potential runners
spend all their spare time playing war games on the computer. The big heroes in Korea these days for the youngsters are the Computer 'Gamers', so much so that there is a professional league in Korea. Running is basically not popular. Older folks jog for fitness, and that is about it.
Soccer and basketball draw some interest, and both have professional leagues, but the depth in running in Korea is very low. You have a very thin elite level in Korea, and most of those (like Lee Bong Ju) are sponsored by companies like Samsung.
As I look at the thousands of potential champions (Korea is one of the 'thinnest nations' on earth, thanks to a very sensible diet) it is sad to realize that few, if any, of these youngsters have any passion for the sport we love (distance running). Number one sport in Korea is Tae Kwan Do, followed by soccer and basketball.
It is sad, because Korea could produce a lot of running champions. Korea is far north enough (in Asia) to have distinct seasons, with nearly ideal running conditions for most of the year, except for 2-3 months in summer when it gets pretty hot and humid. In addition much of the country (Korea) is covered by mountains and hills and forests - ideal for training.
And even Seoul has a surprising amount of green areas, and river paths to accommodate serious runners - surprising, perhaps, for Asian cities.
Ghost in Korea
We will have vacancies in 2007/2008 for 'teacher-trainers'
Good salary and benefits, including free accommodation and approx. 8 weeks paid vacation per year.
Anyone with B.Ed/M.Ed. or equivalent, encouraged to apply. PGCE is also acceptable. You will teach Korean English teachers how to improve their English Teaching skills. Very interesting job. Ideal area for running, with forests and trails, near the Institute. 1.5 hours south of Seoul.
Please send resume by email:
Lindsay, what training would you suggest for a 17 or 18 year old athlete whom is of a decent standard and focuses on 1500/3k/5k?
Just got an e-mail from a friend reminding me about Peter Shaw, who ran 28:50 for 10.000 and finished 12th in the AAA champs. when Steve Binns and co were at the front. This was back in the late 70's, I think (sorry cannot remember exact date).
Peter's job at the time was to stand for 8-10 hours a day in a factory putting the tops on bottles of tomato ketchup! He sometimes did overtime. Poor Peter, often complained of tired legs, but he still put in the training. But 28:50 in his day was nowhere - he would be at the top (or close) in the British rankings at 10.000 these days.
At the time, nearly all the Northern runners in the UK were hard working working class men, who thought nothing of working 8-12 hours a day (most did overtime) and running before and after work. This left almost no time to do anything else, but it was their choice and they took it. But despite the hardships at work those lads were putting in times on the roads and the track which were substantially higher compared with the best runners of today in the UK.
There were many other UK runners just like Peter Shaw, toiling in northern sweatshops for measly pay, in Victorian type work conditions, where you had to get 'permission' to leave the workshop floor to go to the toilets! I know this, because I have spoken to many of those runners.
Do you remember 'tiny' John Sheridan (London Irish) a 49/10mile, 2:17/marathon man. He used to work as a painter and decorator, and ran to and from work, much to the amazement of his beer swilling fellow Irish workers. John told me that by the time he got home at the end of the day, he would not have enough energy to make a meal. He would buy takeout food like 'fish and chips.'
ghost
coach:
which juniors/u23s are chasing euro 5000m qualifying times next week at manchester?
what were Sheridan's 5k and 10k times? I remember him being a bit of a road relay specialist for Shaftesbury in the late 80s/early 90s
what juniors made it into the 5k at manchester?
Sheridan was not that fast. I think his best times for 5000/10.000 were around 14:17/29:30 for the track. But he had guts and would run his heart out for London Irish. Also he placed top 50 in the National cross country which in the 60's and 70's was a superb achievement.
His training was interesting.
Mostly fastish 4-5 miles to work, and fastish 4-5 miles home. With 15-20 miles on Sundays, with people like Gerry Staunton (2:16 marathon) and other Irish clubmates, from West London Stadium out to Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park.
John is over 60 now, and can still run sub. '18' for 5km road! The fact that he's very small (about 5.2) and light (110 pounds) has helped him. A lifelong bachelor, John has always seen running as an escape from the drudgery and constraints of life in London.
Ghost
sorry- I am getting him mixed up with John Sherban (former SB runner)
Holy Moly wrote:
UK athletics has no money, that is not their fault they are competing with sports which are not true world sports like Rowing and Cycling.
So where does all of the money go from 'Unattached' road runners entry fee's. I reckon UKa are coining in tens of thousands every week. A half marathon I work with had to write over a cheque for 4k in February. Where does all of this cash go?
Thanks for that nob cheese. So who are you then? Was you at the race? I think not! Put it this way, I haven't done many cross races in condisions like it was in that race. Plus it was a race and everyone wasn't out for a time, just looking to get a win or medal.
Hinchy dont rise to it you're better than that! How did Tipton do today?
I know mate.
Don't know how they got on. Wasn't running myself.
Bob Treadwell, Surrey Beagles
Many selections in British cross country team.
Won Surrey Cross country champs as a vet.
Countless times representd Surrey in Inter Counties cross country. Loved the mud and hills and nasty conditions. Tough as nailes in rough conditions.
A true harrier. A natural on the country.
About 6.1 tall, and 10 stones, skin and bones with finely defined calf muscles. Not an ounce of fat on the man. His only weakness - mars bars after lunch.
World Mountain running champion, beating stars like Karel Lismont and Marcus Ryffel.
Amazing cross country runner in the mud, but not so good on fast 'dry' courses, hence his low placings in world cross
Bob usually only trained 35-40 miles a week throughout his
career - and this was usually a nippy 5-6 miles run, either to work or home from work
The only time he increased his mileage was the year he ran the London marathon in 2:15, and his mileage went up to 50 miles a week then
Bob had pretty modest track times, of only around 3:59/1500, 8:20/3000/, 14:20/5000, and 29:30/10.000, but on muddy cross country courses he could easily beat people much faster than him on the track.
Bob had a huge stride, absolutely massive, and he looked like a 'white Kenyan' when he ran.
A graduate of Cambridge University, and civil engineer by profession, Bob always looked on running as a hobby, hence the low mileage and fun approach to the sport. He was and is still modest, self effacing and extraordinarily modest about his incredible achievements, especially as a cross country runner in Surrey - one of the best ever.
A size 11 shoe, and a healthy appetite for mars bars were some of the things notable about Bob.
Bob still competes in the occasional 5 mile race, at age 50 plus, and can still run around 28 minutes for 5 miles on about 12 miles a week!
His main sporting activity now revolves around tennis.
Many tennis players are not aware of Bob's past sporting achievements, as he never mentions them as a matter of course. A quiet and thoughtful man. Epitomizes the well educated, decent British gentleman.
Rode his bike to work for years in South Croydon.
ghost