Japanese Marathon Training

Tinman,

This is how they train:

http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=525012

It is simple but effective, they probably run three sessions a day and marathon specific runs, longer. the principle remains the same... a ton of aerobic (easy) stuff with a few speed infusions here and there. By doing this you become a machine, you turn it on and off as you please.

Two more things:

1. They believe and trust in the training program

2. They are consistent

Yes they jog a ton. Often 3 times a day....but always ridiculously slow and with 3 sweat suits on!!!! Never or rarely to they go to the track or do intervals. Occationally do tempo type runs....long runs are often timed, splits given and the coach rides the van along side.

But not surprisingly the countries results reflect this training.....very few world class 1500m runner, a few more at 5000m, more at 10000m and a plane load at the marathon.

Marathoning is a reflection of their society. They take great honor in being able to suffer and suffer for a long time. There is greater honor in swollowing your pride(i.e.suffering) rather that standing up for yourself.

gaigen wrote:But not surprisingly the countries results reflect this training.....very few world class 1500m runner, a few more at 5000m, more at 10000m and a plane load at the marathon.

It does seem that the emphasis on the marathon is at the expense of some very good talent at these other distances. I was astounded at some of the times I saw middle-school and high-school kids running for 800m when I lived there (e.g. an 8th grader running 1:54). But it seems that these kids are either funneled into the marathon/ekiden machine or dropped altogether.

It helps at lot, too, to have such a well developed system of corporate teams, although I hear that it's been tougher to get on those teams since the economic bubble burst.

gaigen wrote:But not surprisingly the countries results reflect this training.....very few world class 1500m runner, a few more at 5000m, more at 10000m and a plane load at the marathon.

It does seem that the emphasis on the marathon is at the expense of some very good talent at these other distances. I was astounded at some of the times I saw middle-school and high-school kids running for 800m when I lived there (e.g. an 8th grader running 1:54). But it seems that these kids are either funneled into the marathon/ekiden machine or dropped altogether.

It helps at lot to have such a well developed system of corporate teams, although I hear that it's been tougher to get on those teams since the economic bubble burst.

Oh yeah, and 1000 km / month in training.

I saw somewhere the listing of workouts for a Japenese marathoner who ran 2:06:57 and he jogged a lot of the days. He ran some long runs with marathon pace in them. What was that guy's name and where can I find the training schedule. It seems like it was on Bob Hodge's website, but I just looked there and didn't see it. Any ideas? Thanks. Tinman

their philosophy is "capillary dilation"

Therefore they believe they can achieve that by staying up on their feet for long periods of time - 4hr runs, 6 hour hikes, lond tempo runs and long intervals, etc

lobos wrote:

their philosophy is "capillary dilation"

Therefore they believe they can achieve that by staying up on their feet for long periods of time - 4hr runs, 6 hour hikes, lond tempo runs and long intervals, etc

How about their diet? Very strict? Tons of eating decently healthy food?

Think it was probably Seko.....or the Soh brothers....they are from the Hodge era.

Oops...didn't see that 2:06....that wasn't Seko....how about Tanaguchi(sp)?

Takaoka's the only Japanese 2:06 marathoner that comes to mind.

To refresh your memory, there have been 3 sub 2;07 Japanese gents:

1999: Takayuki Inubushi, 2:06:57 in Berlin.

2000: Atsushi Fujita, 2:06:51, Fukuoka.

2002: Toshinari Takaoka, 2:06:16, Chicago.

cordner nelson's "advanced running" book mentioned that seko completed 6-hour training runs.

I think this is what you are looking for.

http://www.bunnhill.com/BobHodge/TrainingLogs/inubushi.htm

man, fujitu only once under 2:10, never broken 28min for 10k and this guy runs a 2:06...very strange, inubushi never broke 28min and has a 2:06, a 2:08 no other performance under 2:10, i dont want to say that they were on drugs but thats atleast very strange.

I think that is very harsh. They do not come from the same background like in the U.S.,where you run the shorter distances and then move up when you start slowing down or have maximized your potential. They focus solely on the marathon and don't train for the 10k. I have no doubt that they could run a little faster in the 10k. But they choose to completely train for the marathon. Which is the event they think they have the best chance at doing well.

Tinman,

What do you think about the training philosophy of the Japanese? I read once that Lydiard thought they spent too much time jogging.

they are on EPO

Seko in 1977:

http://www.bunnhill.com/BobHodge/TrainingLogs/seko.htm

Do you know how fast or slow the "jog" actually is? Also, when he ran, say, 25km and the log doesn't say jog, how fast is he going?

Hodgie-san wrote:

Seko in 1977:

http://www.bunnhill.com/BobHodge/TrainingLogs/seko.htm