Sebastian Coe: 1984 Olympic 1500m

141-212-329-347 wrote:

Ran in the LA 1500m final wrote:

A few thoughts to be added -

When looking at different championships, make sure to compare what days the heats, semis and finals were run. Los Angeles was Thursday-Friday-Saturday. I floated through the heat in 3:40.58 w/a 55.07 last 400m; Then making sure to be in the top 4 for the semi's the next day, 3:36.53, 54.16 last 400m (just missing my PR by a few tenths); and then 3:36.07 PR in the final with a very tired 56.26 last 400m (2:54.0 @ 1200m). When Ovett dropped out with 350m to go (he was in 4th), my race was over. I looked up, and instead of focusing on the back in front of me (Ovett), there was a gap. My legs were soooo tired. I even wrote in my long book the next day, August 12th: "Closing ceremonies... tired." And still tired the following Friday when I finished 5th in Berlin (3:54.07 mile). Compare this sequence of Championship races to Barcleona, when we ran Monday (1115am), Thursday (PM) and Saturday Final. With a lot more rest, everyone was fully recovered for the final, even though we went out in 2:07.

Cram's calf - I asked Steve in Rieti about his thoughts to wearing Spike orthotics, to help correct his foot plant and help his oft injured calf muscle. His response was that "this is the way I have always trained." You can compare multiple pictures of Steve running, with his one foot toed out, creating torque on his calf muscle. I wore spike orthotics since 1984 in races, and Seb Coe was the first (1983). Marcus O'Sullivan flew to Chicago to see Dr. John Durkin, and he too wore the orthotics.

Abdi Bile - I am surprised that no one mentions his 1987 World's Final. I ran 25.2 for 200m from 500m to go to 300m to go, and lost ground to Abdi who ran 24.9. I also saw him run on TV an 800m in Helsinki, where he negative split 53-49.9 or something like that, but was under 50 for his last 400m.

1996 Olympic 1500m final - Morcelli won. One must not forget that the 7th place finisher in Barcelona, came back to win in '96 - yet, El G fell with 400m to go and looked to be in top form going into the Games and running in the Semi's.

On the day, you can argue about what training was missed in the winter, injuries in spring, lack of races, etc. For myself and I would believe other Olympic finalists - we knew what we needed to get race fit in a short period of time: Regardless the negatives. I trusted my coach, Mike Durkin (1976, 1980 USA Olympian 1500m) to have me ready on the day - regardless what training I had missed. And looking back, he always had me ready, even when I failed (1988 Olympic Trials). One has to have faith, sit in the chair when the workout is given, and put in the training that is required.

Jim Spivey

Jim--did Coe, in your opinion, blood dope?

Ran in the LA 1500m final wrote:

A few thoughts to be added -

When looking at different championships, make sure to compare what days the heats, semis and finals were run. Los Angeles was Thursday-Friday-Saturday. I floated through the heat in 3:40.58 w/a 55.07 last 400m; Then making sure to be in the top 4 for the semi's the next day, 3:36.53, 54.16 last 400m (just missing my PR by a few tenths); and then 3:36.07 PR in the final with a very tired 56.26 last 400m (2:54.0 @ 1200m). When Ovett dropped out with 350m to go (he was in 4th), my race was over. I looked up, and instead of focusing on the back in front of me (Ovett), there was a gap. My legs were soooo tired. I even wrote in my long book the next day, August 12th: "Closing ceremonies... tired." And still tired the following Friday when I finished 5th in Berlin (3:54.07 mile). Compare this sequence of Championship races to Barcleona, when we ran Monday (1115am), Thursday (PM) and Saturday Final. With a lot more rest, everyone was fully recovered for the final, even though we went out in 2:07.

Cram's calf - I asked Steve in Rieti about his thoughts to wearing Spike orthotics, to help correct his foot plant and help his oft injured calf muscle. His response was that "this is the way I have always trained." You can compare multiple pictures of Steve running, with his one foot toed out, creating torque on his calf muscle. I wore spike orthotics since 1984 in races, and Seb Coe was the first (1983). Marcus O'Sullivan flew to Chicago to see Dr. John Durkin, and he too wore the orthotics.

Abdi Bile - I am surprised that no one mentions his 1987 World's Final. I ran 25.2 for 200m from 500m to go to 300m to go, and lost ground to Abdi who ran 24.9. I also saw him run on TV an 800m in Helsinki, where he negative split 53-49.9 or something like that, but was under 50 for his last 400m.

1996 Olympic 1500m final - Morcelli won. One must not forget that the 7th place finisher in Barcelona, came back to win in '96 - yet, El G fell with 400m to go and looked to be in top form going into the Games and running in the Semi's.

On the day, you can argue about what training was missed in the winter, injuries in spring, lack of races, etc. For myself and I would believe other Olympic finalists - we knew what we needed to get race fit in a short period of time: Regardless the negatives. I trusted my coach, Mike Durkin (1976, 1980 USA Olympian 1500m) to have me ready on the day - regardless what training I had missed. And looking back, he always had me ready, even when I failed (1988 Olympic Trials). One has to have faith, sit in the chair when the workout is given, and put in the training that is required.

Jim Spivey