Straw M Thoroughman wrote:
27 is a long way from 25-26.
At the time that Coe actually did the workout it was reported as being a couple of seconds slower per 200 but the last one was closer to 23 seconds.
He certainly wasn't running 30 200s in exactly 27 seconds.
Try to be realistic.
clueless
"As Seb approached his peak, he was able to run at high speed with very short rest periods and one particular set became his personal measure of readiness for top-class competition. With that set of six or eight 300m intervals, each in around 36 to 38 seconds with only 45 seconds recovery between the runs, we also used a similar session of four 400m runs in 51 to 52 seconds with 45 to 60 seconds rest."
Page 116 of Winning Running by Peter Coe
Gary Cohen: What were some of your favorite training sessions as fall practice began and during the early and mid-season? What did you do to combat the summer heat and runner fatigue and then the fall cold spells?
Joe Newton: One of my favorites is one that Sebastian Coe liked to do – eight times 300 meters with a 100 meter jog plus a little rest. Then the ninth 300 meters is all out. Seb did that workout three times here at York when he was getting ready for the 1984 Olympics. It seemed like he was always doing it on a Sunday, church bells were ringing and it was hotter than hell. He wanted to do it when it was hot because L.A. was going to be hot. The first time he averaged 41.5 and did the last one in 39.5. The second time he averaged about 39.5 and finished with a 37.6. The last time he averaged 37.5 and ran the last one in 35.9. I remember that day he got done and said, ‘I’m fit.’