Did We Train Harder Back Then?
There has been a lot of debate in the Athletics’ Press recently about the
state of British distance running.
One reason put forward for the decline is that runners trained harder in the
seventies and eighties.
Is it true that we trained harder back
then? Below is a typical weeks training I would undertake in the seventies. Is
it harder than now, you be the judge:
|
Mon a.m. 3mls
easy |
p.m. 10 miles
55-56 mins |
13miles total |
|
Tues a.m. 3mls
easy |
p.m. 20x400m
with 200m Jog recovery in
66-67secs 2mls warm-up
2mls warm down. |
14mls total |
|
Wed a.m. 3mls
easy |
p.m. 12miles
steady 72-73mins |
15mls total |
|
Thurs a.m. 3mls
easy |
p.m.10x800m with
400m jog recovery. In 2:17-2:18
2mls warm-up 2mls warm down. |
14mls |
|
Fri a.m. 3mls
easy |
p.m. 8mls steady |
11mls total |
|
Sat |
Race or steady
run |
10mls total |
|
Sun am 20mls in
approx 2hrs |
p.m. 4mls easy |
24mls total |
|
|
Total mileage
for week |
101 |
This is an ordinary week and something similar
was being done by hundred’s of runners throughout the country, with many doing
a lot more with the legendry David
Bedford topping 200 miles per week.
We also worked full-time and had the usual
family commitments. The speedwork was done on Stanley Park track in Summer weather permitting, it was a cinder
track back then and if it rained it turned into a mudbath and was like running
cross country. That was providing the track wasn’t closed for football, hockey
or even rugby matches. Or even the dreaded dog show which brought the classic
comment from one doggie owner, “Look they have even put sand down as a
doggie toilet”, long jumpers always took extra care when using the
sandpit after the dog show. Speedwork was done on the road in winter and
alternated with hill work on Knowle Hill
or Mythop Hill.
If training for a Marathon, one of the speed sessions became a 12 mile run the
midweek; 12mile run became a 15mile run and the Sunday run became a 25mile run in 3hrs, 4or5 times during the
The next question is, “Did it work?”
Below is a list of my personal bests
achieved using the above training regime, again you be the judge of whether it
was successful or not.
|
Track |
||
|
400m |
59:5 |
1971 |
|
800m |
2:07:0 |
1969 |
|
1500m |
4:09:9 |
1975 |
|
3000m |
8:42:0 |
1977 |
|
5000m |
15:12:6 |
1971 |
|
Road |
||
|
5 miles |
25:01 |
1975 |
|
10k |
31:38 |
1983 |
|
10 miles |
48:26 |
1977 |
|
Half-Marathon |
1:09:17 |
1970 |
|
15miles |
1:19:27 |
1972 |
|
20miles |
1:48:43 |
1977 |
|
|
2:25:38 |
1971 |
Please note 10mile time on highly
suspicious course Brampton-Carlisle!
Correct now. Best time on genuine course 50:48
in 1977. 10k time run in 1983 because they didn’t exist before
then.
Hope this gives an insight into the
training routine of a runner in the 1970’s.
Written by: Anorak
Man
Submitted: 21st
April 2006
Edited by: Brenda J
Earnshaw WRR Website/Magazine Editor
