Five Lessons Learned From Alberto Salazar

Good god I hate the format of their site. It's almost as bad as runnerspace.

i like it.

Most of the things he learned are either a tautology or are wrong.

Aiden Burley wrote:

Most of the things he learned are either a tautology or are wrong.

which one is wrong?

1) take a long term approach

2) find good training partners

3) work on your running form

4) learn how to sprint

5) train your mind

3) work on your running form - unless you are just starting to run it doesn't work. It leads to more injury and less efficiency.4) learn how to sprint-Not really necessary unless you are a professional runner

running is better wrote:

Aiden Burley wrote:

Most of the things he learned are either a tautology or are wrong.

which one is wrong?

1) take a long term approach

2) find good training partners

3) work on your running form

4) learn how to sprint

5) train your mind

Shouldn't "run a lot of miles" be on there?

I learned weight training can be really important

Aiden Burley wrote:

3) work on your running form

- unless you are just starting to run it doesn't work. It leads to more injury and less efficiency.

4) learn how to sprint

-Not really necessary unless you are a professional runner

running is better wrote:

which one is wrong?

1) take a long term approach

2) find good training partners

3) work on your running form

4) learn how to sprint

5) train your mind

The point of the article is how to become a better runner. Those 2 points will make you a better runner. If you are running for general fitness or to hang out with the soccer moms at the annual charity marathon, none of the points pertain.

I don't get why people are so amazed by these "revelations". Really, they aren't groundbreaking. In the past have people been caught up on short term approaches and learning how to run slowly?

mellorunner wrote:

I don't get why people are so amazed by these "revelations". Really, they aren't groundbreaking. In the past have people been caught up on short term approaches and learning how to run slowly?

People aren't amazed. Every running publication relies on a constant recycling of the same material over and over.

Work on your form = slower, more injuries. This is proven

mellorunner wrote:

I don't get why people are so amazed by these "revelations". Really, they aren't groundbreaking. In the past have people been caught up on short term approaches and learning how to run slowly?

Yes and no. I don't think enough coaches take the long term approach into account or their athletes aren't patient enough (ex Webb). I also think a lot of coaches look for short cuts as well and mileage is usually the victim. Even though Salazar promotes having a strong core he still doesn't sway away from a firm belief in mileage.

So no nothing groundbreaking but obviously the guy knows his stuff.

Aiden Burley wrote:

Work on your form = slower, more injuries. This is proven

In what sense is it proven? By whom? Where?

On here, posters praise almost no mileage. Because then it "means" more potential later- never mind the runner's lacking training to build from later. Posters also praise no speedwork. They think a couple speedwork sessions at the end will allow someone to pace fast like Farah & kick like Manzano. Speed sessions beforehand supposedly eliminate a good peak & improvement.

Small Town wrote:

I don't think enough coaches take the long term approach into account or their athletes aren't patient... a lot of coaches look for short cuts as well and mileage is usually the victim.

The problem is the US system where the education system has been saddled with the task of developing athletes. Every middle school coach wants to win a city championship to be able to work a high school gig. High school coaches want a state championship for the resume. College coaches want to go to NCAA's to prove their worth and keep a job. The athletes are never developed but exploited in 4 year cycles. I have been preaching for several years that Galen Rupp will become a great champion. Luckily he has broken free of the establishment and has been given an opportunity to develop at his own pace. If only the rest of us had been so lucky.

6) get thyroid meds

7) get asthma meds

8) put EPO expert Stray-Gunderson on the payroll

This thread has gone off course nicely.

I think he's mixing up work on your form with change your form.

Aiden Burley wrote:

3) work on your running form

- unless you are just starting to run it doesn't work. It leads to more injury and less efficiency.

4) learn how to sprint

-Not really necessary unless you are a professional runner

and your list of medal-winning, record-setting runners is how long?

i too am interested in the plethora of studies demonstrating that improving your running form makes you less efficient and more injury prone.