Looking for anyone who happens to have a copy (or a vivid memory) of Robert Gary's presentations at the 2004 and 2006 USATF Distance Summitts held in Las Vegas.
In '04 - I have heard he had a manual for improving distance running in this country that drew the ire of Brooks Johnson. What was contained in this manual?
Also - what was the nature of his presentation this past December?
Thanks.
Anything that draws the ire of Brooks Johnson is okay by me!
anyone with any info out there?
If it got a rise out of "Legend in his own mind" Brooks Johnson, it must've been good.
What's the matter with Brooks Johnson?
I'm not a follower of Brooks Johnson per say, but I'm curious about your implications on his reference.
I was there Call me at 816- 7213252.
Brooks Johnson was the one who theorised that American distance runners were getting eviscerated on the world scene because they lacked closing speed no?
He pointed out that whenever the pace picked up over the final laps of a championship race, the Americans would drop off, evidently because they just couldn't handle the increased tempo.
His prescription? Flying 50s, sprints with a parachute, and other things of that nature.
I'm sure his system is much more complex than you imply, but I'm going to start a new thread to avoid hijaking this thread's topic...thanks for the reply.
bottom feeder wrote:
I'm sure his system is much more complex than you imply, but I'm going to start a new thread to avoid hijaking this thread's topic...thanks for the reply.
no, it isn't. brooks knows so little about distance running he can't keep his job with all the great talent he convinced to go to stanford.
Yes it is...
Early Development Stage - top tier athlete (my terminology)
Monday:
AM 30-90m easy
PM "standard" intervals (400 - 1600 depending on event)
Tuesday:
PM 90m [45m steady/45m strides*] strides are not defined but I'm assuming they're 100-150's
Wednesday:
AM 30-90m easy
PM *Variations on what he calls the "success segment" of the final 25% of the event... 100's - 300's followed with specific efforts over said success segment distance.
Thursday:
PM 90m [45m steady/45m strides*] strides are not defined but I'm assuming they're 100-150's
Friday:
AM 30-90m easy
PM 6 x 2000 [1600 steady - final 400 "very hard"]
Saturday:
AM or PM 60-90m easy
Sunday:
Rest
2004 was awesome when they got into it. When Brooks asked him if he had hurt Gary's feelings when he theoricized that there is more distance running "talent" in Ohio than there is in Kenya, Gary claimed something to the effect that he was really trying to figure out how NOT to throw a chair at Brooks to knock some sense into him.
The basics of the manual, which was really honest and ultimtaely placed a good deal of blame on our current athletes and he included himself as a template of the "problem" which was nice to hear someone admit.
2006 was much more subdued except Gary did remark straight to Brooks that he realized we may be lacking in closing speed, but we don't have anyone yet who can handle the pace changes of Championship races so the end kick doesn't matter because we're 100+ meters down when all that starts! Brooks and him seemed like they got along fine for the most part.
Gary went on to cite a great deal of Mark Crogan's approach, training and tossed in some Brian Diemer which was really cool. He had a couple actual training blocks 6 weeks long where he illustrated different ways to getting to the International stage.
He talks way too fast however, but he was really engaging and drew in a number of the other speakers points throughout his presentation.
I would recommend the Meeting for next year for sure.
Thanks for a thoughtful response.
What's mark crogan's and brian diemer's approach?
Gary needs to be coaching his new track team instead of giving clinics; he doesn't currently coach any great distance runners!
"summit"
Brian Olinger, Rob Meyers, Dan Hueling, and some pretty good OSU runners. Wouldn't say nobody!
bottom feeder wrote:
What's the matter with Brooks Johnson?
I'm not a follower of Brooks Johnson per say, but
"per se"
wolverine Bo wrote:
he doesn't currently coach any great distance runners!
Hmmm, so I guess you don't consider a 3:53 miler and a 8:19 steepler "great"??
Please tell me what you consider great??
There are few coaches that have ANY sub 3:55 milers...let alone a sub 3:55 miler and a sub 8:20 steepler.
Go back under which ever rock you have been hiding under.
Olinger didn't even win an NCAA title.
Meyers lives in St. Louis. Gary doesn't coach him anymore.
Olinger is the fastest American college steepler EVER. (That means since the begining of time!!)
I never knew that a NCAA Championship was a requirement to be considered a great runner. I'm sure guys like Webb, Lukezic, etc...are really depressed to hear that they are second rate.
And MYERS lives in Columbus, Ohio and IS absotutly coached by Robert Gary 100%.
Not sure where or who you get your information from, but...