and
http://www.letsrun.com/news/2018/11/now-catching-members-1998-university-colorado-xc-team-20-years-running-buffaloes/Tell us how you found out about the book and what impact did it have on you.
and
http://www.letsrun.com/news/2018/11/now-catching-members-1998-university-colorado-xc-team-20-years-running-buffaloes/Tell us how you found out about the book and what impact did it have on you.
Does he know where Oscar Ponce is?
Amazingly didn't read this until this year. Had heard about it for years and thought about buying it for a while. I read 10 pages at Barnes & Noble, was hooked and bought the ebook. For me, just added to the legend of Wetmore and reaffirmed I hope to have running as part of my identity for years to come!
LetsRun.com wrote:
http://www.letsrun.com/news/2018/11/running-buffaloes-20-author-chris-lear-reflects-running-cult-classic-depth-interview/Tell us how you found out about the book and what impact did it have on you.
It is one of my "go-to" books if I just want to take my mind off of the "real world". Thanks to Chris for writing it and to the Buffs for living it.
What are some of everyone's favorite running books of all time besides this one?
Found this one in a bookstore in Boulder after hearing about it for years and never getting the chance to read it. Finally read it and was amazed at the workouts these guys would run, particularly Goucher. What a story. Wetmore is the man.
I remember reading that book in high school and then upping my mileage and never taking it easy on runs. Basically ruined my senior year by doing that. Oh well.
runner12345 wrote:Finally read it and was amazed at the workouts these guys would run, particularly Goucher.
The runners were a lot faster than me, and I haven't run at altitude.
That said I was surprised how little fast running they did and how long the recoveries were. I think there was a mile repeats session which was abandoned because the times were slow. I think the only other fast session was 2x800m (recovering whilst the other person ran an 800m). Goucher ran around 2:00. I just thought they would have done a bit more (maybe a bit of 5k pace, etc.)
Goucher trained sensibly. Remember "My easy isn't your easy!"
It taught me that training at altitude works wonders.
growns up wrote:
It taught me that training at altitude works wonders.
Are we sure it was good training?
I worked for the Missouri team during the season Lear chronicled and remember the book affirming the awe I felt for the CU team. During the Big Eight (!) indoor meet, Goucher got the baton in the distance medley down a good ways to Ray Hughes of Mizzou and just blew him off the track. Rick McGuire, the MU track coach, was hopping up and down on the rail yelling, "Goucher is NOT OF THIS EARTH!"
The enduring image I remember from the book is Lear describing Goucher during a long run at the reservoir(?) where the he's sweating, but it's so dry that Lear just sees the salt caking on Goucher's body. Overall it was a fun read for a runner, but I'm not sure anyone who wasn't already versed in the sport would find it that appealing.
good good wrote:
growns up wrote:
It taught me that training at altitude works wonders.
Are we sure it was good training?
Pardon?
growns up wrote:
good good wrote:
Are we sure it was good training?
Pardon?
Well I think it’s valid to at least ask whether they ran themselves into the ground
THOUGHTSLEADER wrote:
I read 10 pages at Barnes & Noble, was hooked and bought the ebook.
You're just as bad as the people that try shoes on in a running store then go buy them online.
Good good wrote:
growns up wrote:
Pardon?
Well I think it’s valid to at least ask whether they ran themselves into the ground
I don't think they did, though it's not relevant to my takeaway that training at altitude works wonders.
growns up wrote:
Good good wrote:
Well I think it’s valid to at least ask whether they ran themselves into the ground
I don't think they did, though it's not relevant to my takeaway that training at altitude works wonders.
Adam Goucher did have a much shorter career compared to his counterparts, might've been because he was hammering too hard for a short period of time. If he would've backed off a bit maybe he would have had a longer career, but would he have had as successful of a career?
Not as bad but bad, I will admit. Not like anyone at B&N helped me or directed me to the book like at a running store. That is a skeezier move if someone helps you and gives you service.
not cool wrote:
You're just as bad as the people that try shoes on in a running store then go buy them online.
What stands out to me is Goucher's story of putting in a stone patio with some friends. It was close to a fairly important meet but he said he was determined to bust his butt to show he could handle the strong man work as well as anybody else could. There's no doubt he was incredibly driven. I'm sure that drive contributed to his success but probably to his downfall, too.
runner12345 wrote:
Adam Goucher had a much shorter career than his counterparts, possibly because he was hammering too hard in a short period. Had he backed off a bit he might have had a longer career, but would it have been as successful?
They were worthy adversaries during my time there...Goucher was the man. But we dominated them during my time (mid late 90s).
One thing that struck me was how they have like a 30 minute 10k guy (on the track) who could run even splits and get All-American. Where we had sub 4;00 milers who would sometimes get out too fast and end up getting beat.
i was in hs when the book came out, i cant remember if chris severy died that year or before? jon severy was super strong in 99, till halfway through that cross season and was running 2 min slower it was sad, but kinda cool that a tiny 99 lb pound freshman won state that year that no one believed he was running fast since it was small meets down in the SLV and northern new mexico. i wonder if jon had been healthy if him and aucencio would have had a battle, since aucencio won by 20 seconds or so.
the year before at cross country camp there were a few college guys helping out, most of them from mankato state, and aaron blondue (spelling?) who was on the CU team at the time and a state champ for salida i think all of hs. anyways it was there one night as they were telling college stories is when we all had heard about EPO for the first time. they all claimed all the kenyans were on it but the college coaches didnt care.
classic times, for those who might remember some of the names, brett schoolmeister (spelling?) and ben payne, and dylin olchin, were at that camp.