malmo wrote:
runn wrote:Thanks. I have to admit, I lost a little respect for a childhood hero with that "stupid" remark. You know, we loved what we did back then. We were "local class" runners and loved running together and hanging out. None of us were stupid. We all have advanced degrees and are professionals earning a good living.
Sorry Malmo, I still admire you as a runner and I love the advice you give here- I use it with the kids I coach. I even like what you said about easy being a feeling and not a number on a watch. But, stupid?
Yes, stupid.
Let me repeat myself again, this time in caps:
"HAMMERING EVERY DAY IS STUPID. I'VE SEEN IDIOTS DO IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN."
Perhaps you didn't understand back then, but if you haven't gotten the message by now then, yes, you are/were STUPID, and, yes, you are/were an IDIOT.
Over the years I've seen many idiots try to force it by hammering themselves into the ground. Most times its those who are on the cusp and are trying to hang with better runners under the misguided assumption that they will become better that way. Ultimately the only thing that they accomplish is that they workout better for awhile. They race like shit, then soon they start training like shit. The purpose of training isn't to prepare to train, it's to prepare to race.
Training can, and SHOULD BE, very difficult at times. Chronic training at 95% won't allow you to get those occasional 99.5% efforts needed to exploit your own potential. A runner needs to train at his own level to improve, not someone elses.
A few years ago I was having a drink with a masters distance runner. Back in the day, he was a good solid runner at Oregon -- not even a conference scorer, but a 4:00 miler nonetheless. Without any prompting from my part he said to me, "... twenty years ago you used to tell me the same shit that you're telling me now and I didn't listen. I didn't get it. Now it's as clear as daylight to me. I get it now." I took that as a compliment. I don't think I ever was his "childhood hero" nor do I want to be one.
If you loved what you did back then (hammering), and are offended that I would call it stupid today, then I don't see how you could possibly have the psychological makeup needed to be a coach.