First - thanks for complimenting a 48 year old runner, who now watches athletes run paces on TV for a mile, that he wonders how he ran that fast.
A few facts: 1996- We all ran slow at the Olympic Trials due to the humidity and heat. I ran 13:58 in the finals for 4th, behind BK and Matt Giusto, and Ronnie Harris. Ronnie and I both went to Europe to get the qualifying standard. Note - my vote would be to let athletes get the A standard after the Trials, as long as Games were 7 weeks away or longer. How could you expect anyone to get an A standard in Atlanta in '96? (check the stats and post it if a male or female, 1500m on up, ran the A standard who did not have it at the Trials in 1996). A standard was 13:29.00. Ronnie ran in Henglo, 13:29.50 (!), and missed by an eyelash. Three days later, I ran 13:24. I remember talking to my coach from my hotel room in Stockholm after the race, 2-time Olympian Mike Durkin after the race, and stating that one has to feel badly for Ronnie. Mike was strong in his reply: "He was beaten by 2 Americans! He should have been racing the other Americans, and not worrying about being a time trialist!"
5 World Championships teams: 1983, semi-final 5k; 1987, 3rd 1500m; 1991, issued a number, but did not start in Tokyo due to injury in the 1500m (ran 3:33, 3:49.82, 3:50 and 3:52 in 108 degree heat in NYC in July - wished I could have stayed healthy); 5th in the 1500m in 1993 Stuttgart, and semi-finals in 1995 5000.
Ran 13:15.86 at age 34, 1994 Berlin. 56 last lap.
1988 - had a stress fracture April 30th, and did not run for 30 days. Race 3:57 early June, and 3:50 at Oslo in July. Was fit, but did not believe in myself. Ran 3:31.01 in Koblenz after the Trials in August.
October 17, 1983 - 2 miles AM w/ roommate Adam Sisson
weight 134.5 10 mile run w/ 1 mile in the middle hard
Long Kinser loop - Ran 6th fastest time for JS that day
Splits: 5:10-5:30-5:21-3:59-4:55-5:27-5:33-5:33-? 51:54
Last 2 miles 10:34, weight 132.5 miles for the day 14.5.
I thought the mile was short, but coach Bell was in the car and said it could only be a second or so off.
The 3/4, 8.5 miles, 3/4 = 10 mile run was on a differnt day: December 14, 1979 (sophomore year). Workout was based on the University of Oregon's 30th street run/drill: Run 3 laps on the track, 60-65-70, then go to the roads for 8.5 miles, and then back to the track for 70-65-60. I ran:
61-2:09(68)-3:21(72), 8.5 miles, and then 3:36 for the last 1200m for 48:29.88 for 10 miles. 18 miles for the day w/ a 3 mile AM run. Only able to sleep 5 hours that Friday night - so shows that I overtrained. Ran 3 miles the next day, and 9 on Sunday. 69 for the week. That was my PR for 10 miles
For Alan, he has many more WC and OG teams that he can make. I would say, that Mike always instilled in me - it was making the final that was important of the WC or OG, not getting there. I would say that he, Ken Popejoy (my other coach) were most proud of the World's in 1993, when I was 3rd at the US champs, than 5th at the Worlds in Germany. We peaked at the right time, and was fit on the day. I took the lead after the 400m to make sure it did not slow like the race did in 1992. I ran the best race I could at age 33.
The goal for AW is not to make Olympic teams. Seb Coe would chime in right now and correct me as well: "Jim, the goal is not to make the finals." Is the goal to make the finals, medal or win? Because that is 3 completely different goals. And when one is achieved, the others are toast.
Thanks for the comments on the web site - I will have to add the 10 mile/1 mile workout next for "workout of the week" page.
js