Lindgren's Interesting Interview: Percentage of Truth

Billy Mills has said that he felt he was the 2nd best man in the Olympic race (behind Lindgren), and that when people asked him who he thought would win, he told them that he was going to win, after Gerry told him he was injured.

newyork1 wrote:

HRE is totally right here. I bet if everybody here read the interview with Lindgren and the other documents about his training and looked to absorb some of his training advice and not just bash him that everybody could learn something. Im not saying to do exactly what Lindgren did, but to take some of his principles, namely "run more. don't worry about what everybody else is doing. If you want to be good run more miles then you think you possibly can" 99% of runners here would get better.

You're overlooking a big part of Gerry. He didn't think he was the best when he was a kid, heck has he ever said that?

He was running away from his dad all the time, why be in a house-hold feeling like shit, when you can run all day and feel good? He originally took the lead in runs with teammates to help them run faster, not himself. It's inspiring to a point, but he had a great 'talent' in his ability to handle the mileage he did.

His commitment to running was more like a lack of commitment to anything else in life. Running is great, but at his level it was an obsession. This isn't for the average or even above average, just the elite of the elite, but he tries to spread the same message to everyone else.

He talks about courage and heart, but he's only talking about running, not life. He's a gifted runner and did some amazing things running-wise, but his whole disappearing act and bizarre quotes make him come off loony.

While I think he brings up some good points about how to become a better runner, he takes them to extremes which would be counter productive for all but a small group of runners.

Hello Marty McFly wrote:The interview is fake, people. That is not Gerry Lindgren, but a troll who keeps passing himself off as him.

You mean kind of like a Shadow??

I agree. It must be Gerry's Shadow speaking out again.

Sorry I didn't have a chance to get on yesterday to respond. First off thank you to HRE for actually being able to read. To the other idiot I do not say that I was a 14:15 runner in high school. I do however say I was a 15:42 runner because that is what I ran on a legit course. If asked what my fastest time was sometimes I say 14:15 but it was on a messed up course that was probably close to two minutes short and that my real pr is 15:45. Secondly I will agree with some of the things that are said by Lindgren when referring to mileage. High school kids today do need to be running more miles in my opinion. Today they run too much intensity too often without enough base mileage. An example of this is the ever popular PAAVO training that is constantly mentioned on here and just leads to kids burning out. From my experience whenever my mileage went up my times went down. To be honest I can say that mleage had much more of an effect on my times than any workouts ever did. If I could go back I would have done more mileage and fewer workouts. As far as workouts go I think it is much more important for kids to be doing tempos and long fartleks than the numerous 400's that kids pound their legs with. Next time read the post that is written instead of assuming what is being said.

You hit the nail on the head. Ed Whitlock doesnt have any fancy training formulas and holds world records for his age group from 1 mile to the marathon just by running 2-3 hours/day at a slow pace and racing 30 times/year. Nothing fancy or complicated about that. He just goes out and runs. Mark Nenow is another example of a simple approach to a simple sport. With the exception of those 6 weeks of 350 miles/week that everyone keeps talking about, Lindgren's approach is probably pretty close to what todays Kenyans do: lots of long tempo runs. No pilates, yoga, weight lifting, special shoes or drinks or any other gimmicks. You cant buy your way into getting into great shape; you have to sweat and love it. Otherwise be satisfied with where you are or go into another sport.

Lingren is just like letsrun. Lots of BS workouts and exaggerations, but both have some really good info if you filter the crap out.

I have emailed him in the past and he has provided a training schedule for me.

Nothing outlandish , just a meat and potatos common sense plan.

All freely given .

can you email me his address please, i would like some training advice?

A NOTE FROM 'LINDGREN':

When I first started doing long milage there were a lot of people telling me I was going to hurt myself. Some of them were so sure I was wrong to run long they were downright abusive to me. My coach told me I had to ignore the bad press and show people by my actions rather than words. I have lived by that philosophy for years.

Several years ago some trash-reporter wrote a really dirty article about me for a running magazine now defunct. I could have filed a suit and fought for my "reputation" but I didn't go that way. It became 'common knowledge' after a matter of time and now they can say almost anything and I have no legal recourse. So I am stuck with the trashing. It happens. I can live with it. Many sports magazines, television programs, and book writers have 'quoted' that original article and added their own ditties on top of it. Take that "interview" for example. I did talk on line with the guy. I at first did not know I had talked to me cos he came on as a coach of a high school team asking for help. Several of the questions in the interview were direct quotes. Several of them he made up.

I ran track/XC over 40 years ago. When I ran 13:44 for 5K the world mark was 13:38. Now the world mark is around 12:38 and I think the high school record should be around 12:44. Is that so crazy? Maybe! I am HONORED that what I did 40 years ago can still inspire youth today. 40 years ago there was no National Observer rag magazine at the check out counter and no half-truth/inuendo/downright lie journalism. That 40 years later I can still be a target for that kind of lowlife is an honor as well, I guess; but I could really pass on it all.

When I started doing all those miles I decided to give up on myself. I was NEVER going to account to much anyway. I knew that. But if I let my running stand for dedication, hard work, and sacrefice I thought someday somehow runners in the future would be better because of what I put myself through. Winning races was never my thing. I never wanted to be a national champion or to be in a hall of fame. I wanted only to serve as a positive example.

It is hard to be a positive example when all the crazies out there are taking potshots at me, but that too is my burden to bare. All I want to say is that running well is simple. You get in the miles, you get in the hard miles, you run well. You don't get in the long miles, you don't get in the hard miles, you don't run well. What is so hard to understand about that?

Does my personal life have any bearing on the truth? Do you have to get a second opinion on races I've run or milage? Get a life, armchair critics. Criticism and negativity kill initiative. The board should be positive and non-critical.

Damnit, that was me who defended you. Though HRE does rock, so high fives all around?

So you were you being "postive and noncritical" when you said Americans today don't have "courage"?

Yes, it is crazy to believe the high school record should be 12:44. And more to the point, it seems to suggest how out of touch you are with distance running today.

the difference between 12:44 and 13:44 is like playing basketball on an ice hockey rink. two entirely different sports. not even comparable.

Question, Gerry: Do you think Mottram should increase his miles to 250 miles per week, and by doing so will allow him to run 12:44 or better? Is an increase in miles the answer to every runner?

It's just not that simple. Not any more.

I know Gerry from recent events we have done to try and bring his name out of obscurity. It is troubling to read something like this from Gerry.

I will state this was Gerry Lindgren in the interview. Whether he believes these things is of no consequence, some things just don\'t need to be stated. What Gerry did was close to character assasination.

I believe the extent of the release of this interview was not fully realized by Gerry at the time of this interview.

Listen guys, I grew up idolizing this guy for his accomplishments, not necessarily how he trained for them, rather what he did, 4:01.5, 8:40.0, 13:44, 27:11, 3-time NCAA 3 mile champ, 3-time NCAA 6 mile champ, 3-time NCAA cross country champ, 12:53 for 3-miles, most of his times were seconds off of world records.

This is hard to understand why he continues to walk in deep waters. Lets try not to crucify the guy, he has built his own nightmare. Gerry, please, please, please, come back to reality.

I do think everyone needs to step outside the US High School athlete box for a moment and realize the following:

An 18 year old did this:

12:53.66 Augustine Kiprono Choge KEN 21 01 1987 4 Roma 08 07 2005

Two 17 year olds did this:

12:54.19 Abreham Cherkos Feleke ETH 23 09 1989 5 Roma 14 07 2006

13:09.38 Ibrahim Jeilan Gashu ETH 12 06 1989 3 Huelva 20 06 2006

These seemingly teenagers are close to 12:44, so in terms of looking at the facts world wide, Gerry Lindgren wasn't all that off.

Legitimacy of age is a problem in the case of many of these individuals however when by and large the worlds (outside U.S.) are drastically superior to U.S. high schoolers someone needs to make those types of claims.

I for one agree that to have only 1 high schoolers break Gerry's 13:44 5K in 40 years is a joke. If Gerry ran 13:44 over 40 years ago, and 8:40 40 years ago, why are we so complacent to think that those tiems should not be drastically lower....when the rest of the world is lowering them.

Gerry stepped over the line, but what he said was not far from the truth.

Some more to think about...

MILE (Look at Ryun and Webb)

3:50.25 Alex Kipchirchir KEN 26 11 1984 2 Rieti 07 09 2003

3:50.39 James Kwalia C'Kurui KEN 12 06 1984 1 Hengelo 01 06 2003

3:50.41 Noah Ngeny KEN 02 11 1978 2 Nice 16 07 1997

3:50.69 Cornelius Chirchir KEN 05 06 1983 5 Roma 12 07 2002

3:51.3 Jim Ryun USA 29 04 1947 1 Berkeley, CA 17 07 1966

3:51.68 Cornelius Chirchir 2 London 23 08 2002

3:53.15 Graham Williamson GBR 15 06 1960 Oslo 17 07 1979

3:53.29 Hillary Chenonge KEN 30 05 1985 5 Hengelo 01 06 2003

3:53.43 Alan Webb USA 13 01 1983 5 Eugene, OR 27 05 2001

800 (Look at Ryun)

1:43.64 Japheth Kimutai KEN 20 12 1978 3r2 Zürich 13 08 1997

1:44.27 Majed Saeed Sultan QAT 03 11 1986 1 Incheon 04 09 2005

1:44.3 Jim Ryun USA 29 04 1947 1 Terre Haute, IN 10 06 1966

1:44.3 Joaquim Cruz BRA 12 03 1963 1 Rio de Janeiro 27 06 1981

1:44.33 Yuriy Borzakovskiy RUS 12 04 1981 2sf2 Sydney 25 09 2000

GerrytheJogger wrote:

Does my personal life have any bearing on the truth? Do you have to get a second opinion on races I've run or milage?

That is an interesting point. One thing that is certain anonymous people are taking shots at Gerry Lindgren. Who are they to judge this man? Where do we draw the line between sport and person? I don't have answers, but I'm not going to take a swipe because, at the very least, I remain relatively anonymous here. We know who Tom Derderian is (well regarded coach and author), and maybe a few others, but most posters remain hidden behind nicks.

I see no reason to criticize Gerry for his comments. He has been making them since his running days.

In addition, I would like to remind posters that another 18 year old, Canadian Bruce Kidd, ran 13:44 on the same dirt track and also in the first half of the 1960s. Why haven't there been at least a handful of 18 year olds on this continent running at least 13:44 on our faster modern tracks in the 40+ years since those fantastic times?