Donavan Brazier Training: 20-30MPW?

There is more than one way to train for an 800 dude.

I wish i could run sub 18 on 30 mpw

no contradiction here wrote:

There is more than one way to train for an 800 dude.

Don't be ignorant. 20-30 mpw for a 1:43 guy is breaking new ground. No 1:43 guy in history's trained off that low of volume.

Here's the link re: his training. Scroll down halfway.

He did say you guys know nothing so maybe 20-30 mpw is better

No aerobic mileage is needed for an 800m specialist.

So then why do all of the elite 800 guys do a lot of mileage in base phase and continue with the higher mileage in later phases, dropping it some, but not all the way into the 20s? Brazier is using a totally different approach, and it's working. Does anyone know more about his training than what was said in the article?

Contradiction wrote:

So then why do all of the elite 800 guys do a lot of mileage in base phase and continue with the higher mileage in later phases,

because their elite genetics allow them to run faster than most other people in spite of poor training

Contradiction wrote:

It has been said that Brazier only runs 20-30MPW with one aerobic run of 30 min per week. He didn't do cross country either. Does anyone know if he had a higher mileage base, because this mileage seems pretty low, and it's working very well. This type of training contradicts much of the 800 training mentioned on this site, especially from the "Sub 1:50 800m Training" thread. How does Brazier run so fast on this training? Is this type of training the best for 800m? Does anyone have any more specific info on it?

For what it's worth, he ran xc in high school. He was about a 15:30-15:50 guy.

What you said doesn't make sense to me. The elites are running higher mileage, which is poor training? Or by elite are you talking about Brazier only, who is doing "poor training" but running 1:43.5.

douchelin^3 wrote:

Contradiction wrote:

It has been said that Brazier only runs 20-30MPW with one aerobic run of 30 min per week. He didn't do cross country either. Does anyone know if he had a higher mileage base, because this mileage seems pretty low, and it's working very well. This type of training contradicts much of the 800 training mentioned on this site, especially from the "Sub 1:50 800m Training" thread. How does Brazier run so fast on this training? Is this type of training the best for 800m? Does anyone have any more specific info on it?

For what it's worth, he ran xc in high school. He was about a 15:30-15:50 guy.

Someone is going to correct me so he actually has a PR of 15:25 from high school, but on a lightning fast course.

He's able to run this fast because he can hold a longer than anyone else in the ncaa. Look at his record, big positive split, but less positive than anyone else in the race. Some people have the talent to hold a sprint for 800 meters (its a controlled, long sprint, not an all out sprint like 400 down) and do well on low mileage training, lots of weight, etc. Some people do better in an even paced race instead of dying and Snell type training is better for them, ie endurance, then sprint strength to develop the last lap kick.

The real question is how many times has he been drug tested?

That's true, I saw somewhere that he ran 40MPW in high school, not sure if that was XC or track though. He ran 1:47 in high school, still amazing, but he already has dropped 4 seconds on this new training. Maybe he just has the years of 40MPW as a base so he can do this lower mileage training without losing anything. Still, 40MPW isn't much of a base for someone on his level. He could just be an anomaly, but he is doing so well I doubt it.

Contradiction wrote:

That's true, I saw somewhere that he ran 40MPW in high school, not sure if that was XC or track though. He ran 1:47 in high school, still amazing, but he already has dropped 4 seconds on this new training. Maybe he just has the years of 40MPW as a base so he can do this lower mileage training without losing anything. Still, 40MPW isn't much of a base for someone on his level. He could just be an anomaly, but he is doing so well I doubt it.

I see this a lot. He was doing xc in hs and it helped his running. Now for the first time in his life he skips xc and drops a ton of time. Short term, this is great, long term, he's going to probably need to keep up with the xc(or mileage in the off season). It's just like any runner, remember how much Cam Levins' time dropped when Salazar "pulled in on the reigns"? How much has he improved since then? I know the 800 is very different than a 5k, but it's something I think about.

I won't try to act like I know what's best for Brazier, but I always wonder why 800 runners are afraid of mileage in the off season.

Are you contrasting Brazier and Snell? Cause their training is totally different so I could definitely see a difference there. I just don't get when you talk about even splitting for Snell and contrasting with Brazier who positive splits, but like you said the least out of everyone. So they are similar in that type of way. But of course, Brazier isn't doing Snell type training.

Tall speed guys like he and Rudisha don't need as much training. They're 45-second 400m runners who learn to run with more control for a little longer.

Good Analysis, if this is true I wonder how long the base he has from HS will last. One can always implement basic speed into their base, so I agree with you on the question of why 800 guys are afraid of base.

Olympic Truth wrote:

This is a good kid and I am sure he has fallen prey to some bad leaders. But please tell me you all see that this kid went from a 1:48 to 1;45 in 6 months and then a 1:43 in a year. He is taking a substance that is aiding him. A litlle over a year ago he was running 50.x as his 400 PR and now he is running that on his first 400 in the 800. Track and Field needs to either be honest or just bust everyone. Because it is obvious that ALL of the elties are using.

He ran 47.xx in high school. Please educate yourself before you make ridiculous statements about a kid who has been consistently good whenever he is healthy.

But is Rudisha running 25MPW as well? I'm not sure about the specifics of his training, but is it really as low-mileage as Brazier's?