I believe I’m an average Joe. I was 4th and sometimes 5th on my HS team. I was running about 50 mpw at age 18, and 70 in the summer during my Jr and Sr years in HS. I became a true devote of Lydiard and I tried numerous times to hit that magical base plan of his that was 100 miles a week. I hit it and even exceeded it in the summer of ‘79, going 131 miles one week. But I could never hold it. I think I averaged about 80 miles a week during 78 and 79. I had a mimeographed copy of his base plan that one of his staff send me and the 100 was done in all singles.
I’ve never seen anyone actually print exactly what it was on the forums so here it is:
Again, this was base phase. Even with this it was considered Ok to “jog a few miles to keep fresh in the mornings” but I could not do it, it was too much.
Monday = 10 miles (recovery)
Tuesday = 15 miles
Wednesday = 12 miles
Thursday = 18 miles
Friday = 10 miles (recovery)
Saturday = 20 miles
Sunday 15 miles
I hit 15:42 in the 5K in 78 and 79 and 32:12 in the 10K. All these years later I know I could have gone faster if I’d added more speed. I just didn’t believe in it. I got stuck in the high 15:40’s in the 5K, but I could reliably crank them out, sometimes 2 a week for meets through all of 78 and 79. I ran 13 sub 16’s in a row during that time.
Unbeknownst to me during that time, others were doing the same and going much, much faster. That’s why I consider myself an average Joe.
Now, at 61, I’m about a 69 to 70% age group person in the 5K. I’m running very low miles, but am free of injury and actually really enjoying running.
I regarded Lydiard as an almost religious icon. I guess I still do, actually.