rojo wrote:
Runners Tribe has an interesting article up where Bideau talks about how 1500 runners like McSweyn and Ryan Gregson have different strengths and therefore need to train and race differently.
https://www.runnerstribe.com/features/nic-bideau-on-speed/
Please don't take this so literally.
I rarely did 400m repeats in training before the first time I got under 4:10 in the mile, but I was doing tons of 150's, 200's and 300's. Often at sub 50-second 400m pace. 400's take a lot out of your legs, even if you don't realize it. They catch up to you.
Also coaches (and some runners) love to mess with other runners in interviews so they can smile while everyone goes off and examines what they said. They don't necessarily tell the truth.
I had a string of good races and was highlighted in the campus paper - my coach said I switched my diet to Mountain Dew and was eating chili cheese dogs after the bars closed at 2am. Completely made up.