Mihaly Igloi

Hi all,

Very interesting topic, and many thanx for sharing these experiences.

I would have a question:

How would you replace a 40 min- 1 hour easy (but not recovery) run with a plan including the essence of the method (Iglói)? (Still can use the 100s ,200s reps on the track, or grass field, with lower speed?)

thanx

To Sum up: Igloi workouts could be reduced to every-other-day-training involving multiple sets of 100-200 meter sprints, with the other days being whatever you wanted to run, then?

Is that it, if you wanted basic simplification?

bump

Thanx,

Not really.I just wanted a basic sample.Like in practice how would you, experts replace a simple 40-120 min easy or steady run with those 100s-200s?

You wouldn't be replacing anything. More just taking a different approach to what is required for better racing.

The workouts can be any intensity or duration you choose, straight through or in sets, on track or away, rep distances varied or fixed, recoveries walking or jogging depending on the level of the athlete.

Think soccer match without the ball and read this:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SOCCER_VS_JOGGING?SITE=WIMIL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Notice that two workouts of identical duration and average HR gave very different results, one adding muscle and being considered fun even though much harder work. This, more or less, is the essence of Igloi.

This thread is fascinating, but confusing.

bump

From 1968 to 1971 I was a teacher and an assistant track coach at Loyola High School in Los Angeles, Ca. Coach Igloi was there for the three years I was there as a cross country and long distance coach.

I recall his tremendous sense of motivation and inspiration that was always transmitted to the runners that really wanted to succeed and not just play around with the sport.

Workouts always started with "shakeups" where you gently jogged at a slow place relaxing all of the upper body and torso to drain out the "knots" and the tension of everyday.

Then the runners (obviously all teenagers) would do an assortment of walking and running exercises: run the straightways and walk the curves for a more intense warmup. Depending upon the runner's conditioning, there would be 440's 880's and a mixture of endurance exercises.

I have his original handwritten notes.

I formerly coached Track and Cross Country at Loyola High School in Los Angeles, Ca. Mihaly Igloi trained his runners at Rancho La Cienega Stadium when he came down to L.A. from northern Ca. Our team practiced there also. We nodded "hello" each day but made no overtures for a couple of weeks before making formal contact. Despite rumors to the contrary Mihaly was quite friendly, but a language barrier was an initial impediment. I had generally had very good distance runners, but I watched his training and noticed some similar drills. He did far more repetitions than we did and more variable speed drills, as I then called them. One of my runners was the son of a Hungarian professor who knew Mihaly and asked if he could go over to talk to him. I agreed. That broke the ice and led to a lasting friendship. When the L.A. Track Club manager took off with the club funds "Mike" was almost penniless. I was able to get him two P.E. classes and a slot as asst. coach. Was I the lucky one! We continued almost daily correspondence after he left for Greece. I have his distance schedule for complete seasons supplied by him.

bump.

Magness posted some good Igloi info a couple days ago:

http://stevemagness.blogspot.com/2010/02/interval-training-why-its-misunderstood.html

knowing myself as I do, this training is perfect for me. Had I read this 15 years ago I may have had a much more successful running career.

Thanks for all of the information guys. Very interesting reading.

I ran with coach igloi for less than a year, however, I have used parts of his system for over 40 years with competitive and recreational runners. One of his secrets was recovery within the workout by allowing the runner to recover momentum and float through mixing fresh and good swing. What has been lost over the years is his idea of good speed which was a shorter step with an up and down motion- arms were used for rhythm rather than power. I an sure his runners in Hungary, like Iharos, Rosovogi and Tabori had more freedom in their training- one never knows- i never got through the full periodization but it was a wonderful experience especially if it was dark and moody and he would be in the background watching-- we ran 25 quarters in 61 seconds but he didn't time the rest so you never knew if you could match a particular workout-- also one workout was 12 times 100 all out with no rest period- i think he was mad at me that day- i wrote a short story about him over 30 years ago but never published it although have written about him in my books--

I spent my first night in LA, age 19, in that apt with Bob Schul, Merle, Joe and someone...

My favorite...

If he thought you were running too slow, a sharp whistle, or a cry of

"John, why do you sleep?"

In LA, our interval days started with a 6 lap jog and 15x100m ez.

Most sessions ended with 20x100m at whatever speed coach decided was appropriate. They were usually easy, but could be buildups, or even all out.

For one week after my wedding, the training was easy. Day 8 finished with 20x100m all out. Honeymoon over.

:)

In an email exchange with Amby Burfoot, he asked if one could do full bore Igloi training today.

I replied that no, because Ig was gone.

Each of us learned a great deal from him, and each of us modified his methods to suit our own needs, and/or the needs of the athletes we were helping.

A good post John. I bumped this thread for a new generation of runners.

Bump.