Ovett started as a sprinter, Jamin.
Speed Endurance:
"A Typical Winter Week’s Training - Ovett
NOV – MAR 1979/80
Sun
a.m. 10 miles road – 57/60 min
p.m. 10 miles road – 54/55 min
Mon
a.m. 5 miles road – Easy 35 min
p.m. 10 miles road – Fast/steady 52/53 min
Tue
a.m. 10 miles road – Hard on road 4 x 300m approx. with fast jog rec then across another very steep hill, 4 x 400m approx. jog rec.
Wed
a.m. 10 miles road – 58/60 min
p.m. 10 miles – Plus technique work at Crystal Palace
Thu
a.m. 5 miles road – Easy 35 min
p.m. 10 miles road – Steady 55/58 min continuous
Fri
a.m. 5 miles road – Easy 35 min
p.m. 5 miles road – Easy 35 min
Sat
a.m. 5 miles road – Easy 35 min
p.m. 6 x 1000m park – Hard with 30 secs 1 min rec (in spikes)
Transition Period
Sun
a.m. 10 miles – road Easy – 60/65 min
p.m. 4 miles Easy + 5 x 3 x 200m (27/28 sec) [30 sec and 3 min recoveries between reps and sets]
Mon
a.m. 5 miles – road Easy – 35 min
p.m. Track session 5 x 300m (37.4 sec ave) [2 min rest]
Tue
a.m. 5 miles Easy – 35 min
p.m. 6 x 700m – in park Very hilly at start, long downhill to finish (90% effort) [2 min] (in spikes) + 10 x 100m strides at end
Wed
a.m. 5 miles – road Easy – 35 min
p.m. Track session Technique work – high knees etc, 5 x 150m (16"/17") [walk] +10 x 100m (change of pace 11"/13")
[walk] + 4 x 60m (standing start) [3min]
Thu
a.m. Rest Weights in morning.
p.m. Hills – park 6 x 30 secs (in spikes – 90% effort) [jog], 10 min jog, then 8 x 15 secs [walk]. Aim at good knee lift
and technique.
Fri
a.m. 5 miles – road Easy – 35 min
p.m. 5 miles Plus 4 x 5 x 100m (14"/15") [starting at 30 sec on the first set to 5 sec rec on the last set].
Sat
a.m. 6 x 1000m in park (in spikes) [30/60 sec]
p.m. 5 miles Easy – + 6 x 100m strides on grass
Sun
a.m. 10 miles – road Easy – 65 min
p.m. Strides – grass 10 x 100m (13/14 sec accelerations, change of pace).
Mon
a.m. Rest
p.m. Track session Change of pace 4 x 400m (first 200m 28"/29", last 200m 23"/24")) [5 min].
Tue
a.m. Easy run 35 min
p.m. Strides 6 x 100m – Relaxed
Wed
Rest day
Thu
Travel to London, then to Oslo
Fri
p.m. Easy run 30 min + strides
Sat
p.m. Race 1 mile Bislett Games – World Record for Mile"
So he began as a sprinter, and later ran mileage, Jamin. Strength and speed, Jamin.
What you tell yourself are rationalizations to stay in your bubble.
See the winter base 10 miles in the AM at 5:30 pace, 10 miles in the PM at 5:20 pace. Periodized distance strength, and transition phase 100 meter speed.
No illusion there, Jamin. Just the willingness to work on the mileage strength , and then focus on the sharpening speed.
Don't waste your life.