Haile Gebreselassie trains twice a day (at altitude) running about 150
- 200km (94 - 125 miles) during the winter, but less during the racing
season).; 5 x 2000m in 64 or 65seconds a lap. (close to 10,000m pace)
8 or 10 x 1000m in 2 min 28 seconds with 3 min recovery. (close to
5000m pace)
3x2000s at 5:05 w/ 3 min. rest.
Regularly undertakes plyometric sessions
Trains with light weights with a high number of repititions
Regularly does strides ( 100 meters), after training sessions (this
may partly explain his incredible speed for a distance athlete)
Never ran more than 90km a week
Trained extensively with weights during winter
Focussed on aerobic capacity training at 5000m pace to build aerobic
endurance
Training at 18 years of age (1500m 3:45; 3000m 8:14):
Example 1:
Sunday A.M. 5 miles easy; P.M. 30 x 100m on slight hill
Monday 7 miles easy
Tuesday 7 x 800m
Wednesday 11 miles easy
Thursday A.M. 1 x (400m + 300m + 200m + 150) P.M. 3 miles easy
Friday 4 x 1200m, 10 x 150m
Saturday A.M. 30 x 100m on slight hill. P.M.4 miles easy
Sunday 7 x 400m
Monday 7 miles easy
800m Final - 1997 Athens World Championships
Tuesday A.M. 4 miles easy. 10 x 100m
Wednesday 3 miles easy
Thursday 1500m race in 3:50
Friday A.M. 4 miles easy P.M. 1 x (200m + 400m + 300m + 200m)
Saturday A.M. 4.5 miles easy.; P.M. 20 x 200m
Sunday 1 x (100m + 300m) + (2 x 400m)
Monday A.M. 5 miles easy. P.M. 5 miles easy.
Tuesday 5 miles easy.
Wednesday 3000m race in 8:14.2
Example 2:
A.M. Work with weights. P.M. 8 miles easy.
Monday A.M. 4 miles easy. P.M. 20 x 200m in 28 sec.
Tuesday A.M. 4 miles easy. P.M. 4 x 400m + 1 x 1600m
Wednesday 4 x 150m in 18 sec, 3 x 300m in 41 sec, 1 x 400m
Thursday A.M. 4 miles easy. P.M. 10 x 400m in 60 sec.
Friday Weight work
Saturday 7 x 800m in 2:10 average
Sunday AM 1 x 200m + 400m + 200m + 300m + 4 x 100m PM 6 miles easy
Monday 4 miles easy
Tuesday A.M. 4 miles easy. P.M. strides to loosen legs
Wednesday 1500m race in 3:45
Wilson Kipketer
Example of 5-Pace Training (method used by Sebastian Coe):
Day 1: 3 x 2000m or (2 x 1,200m) + (1 x 800m) + (2
x 400m) 5000m pace
Day 2: Fartlek Run
Day 3: 6 to 8 x 800m 3000m pace
Day 4: Distance Running
Day 5: 16 to 30 x 200m alternating with 10 x 400m 1500m pace
Day 6: Rest day if race the next day, or fartlek if not
Day 7: Race or time trial
Day 8: 4 to 6 x 400m or 9 x 300m 800m pace
Day 9: Distance running on roads
Day 10: 1 x 300m + 2 x 200m + 4 x 100m + 8 x 60m 400m pace
"I run to be known as the greatest runner, the greatest of all time. I could not eat or sleep for a week after I lost in the [1992] Olympics. I have to win or die." - Norredine Morceliy
Example of Norredine Morceli's training:
90 minute run at 6:20 pace.
65 minutes fast pace at 5:10 pace
60 minutes very very easy. Can be as slow as 10 minute pace.
12 x 400m in 55 sec with 40 sec jog rec 60 minutes very very easy. Can be as slow as 10 minute pace.
Fartlek run with easy striding on soft grassy surface.Training of Australian middle distance great, Herb Elliott:
Coached by the controversial training Percy Cerutty, trained at Cerutty's
seaside camp at Portsea, Victoria, Australia.
Trained to exhaustion by repeated sprints up sandunes
Training based on 5 month base, 3 month pre-comp training, 4 month
competition phase
Occassionly ran over 20miles during winter training
trained with weights in winter
5-6 runs a week were performed at maximum intensity
typical pre-comp training involved 10-15mile hard runs, and some sprint
sessions
trained as little as 4-5 times a week during competitive season
click here to see article on training of Hichem El Geurrouj
Training of the Kenyans
typically large Kenyan training group (plus two non-Kenyan imposters!)
The runners of Kenya constitute the most indominable force in modern middle distance and distance running. There has been much speculation as to the origin of their stupendous success, with much emphasis placed upon the benefits of the rarefied high altitude air, and a supposed genetic superiority. Such arguements overlook the amazing training of the kenyans, which I believe truly accounts for their incredible success. Typical kenyan training involves a steady early morning run, followed by hard intervals or hills mid-morning. A third session is often completed in the afternoon. Training in Kenya is characterised by extremely intense training at high intensities (the most potent producer of aerobic development), made only more intense by the affects of the altitude. Hill training is also a characteristic of training in Kenya. Large training camps, whether they be military or school based, provide stiff competition in training. Kenyans name this group ethos "harumbee."
Cross Country Training of Kenyan Paul Tergat:
Sunday
6:00 a.m. 60 min at 5:40 pace
10:00 a.m. 45 min at 5:40
pace
Monday
6:00 a.m 12 miles at 5:20 pace
10:00 a.m 5 miles at 4:50
pace, then 15 x 200m hills
Tuesday
6:00 a.m 9 miles in 5:30 pace
10:00 a.m 9 miles at 4:50
pace
Wednesday
6:00 a.m 14 miles at 5:40 pace
10:00 a.m 6 miles easy
Thursday
6:00 a.m 9 miles at 4:50 pace,
then 20 strides practicing form
10:00 a.m 9 miles fartlek
Friday
6:00 a.m 9 miles in 4:50 pace
10:00 a.m 5 miles at 7:00
pace
Saturday
6:00 a.m 7 miles at 7:00 pace
10:00 a.m Off
Sunday
12 miles at 6:00 pace
Training of Kip Keino:
Kip Keino (far right) during the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games
Track Training:
Sunday AM
3 miles at 5:40 pace. PM 4 miles at 5:40 pace.
Monday AM 3
miles at 5:40 pace. PM 12 x 400m, run in 55-58 sec, 200m jog
rest.
Tuesday AM
3 miles at 5:40 pace. PM 3.5 miles at 5:20 pace.
Wednesday AM
3 miles at 5:40 pace.PM 15 x 400m, 55-58 sec, 200m jog.
Thursday AM
3 miles at 5:40 pace. Pm Hill session
Friday 6 x 800m in
2:00 with 2:00 rec.
Saturday 11
miles at 5:40 pace.
Sunday Day off
Training of Kenyan 800m-1500m athlete, Martin Keino (son of Kip Keino):
Monday: 6am 45mins, 10:30am 40mins, 6pm 30-45mins
Tuesday: 6am 40mins, 10:30am track, 6pm easy run
Wednesday: same as Monday
Thursday: same as Tuesday
Friday: same as Monday
Saturday: morning run and hills
Jim Ryun
track training of Jim Ryun:
All runs are finished with kicking the legs in
the pool to loosen the muscles and enhance
flexibility.
Averaging about 110 miles per week with
most of it at a fast pace.
Standard Warmup
1320m,
with 800m rec. 2 x 600m with 4:00 for run and recovery. 4
x 300m with 3:00 for run and recovery, then 800m recovery jog. 6
x 100m sprints, then 8 x 60 m sprints.
4 x 200m steep hill sprinting to practice sprinting when tired.
Warmdown
20 x 400m in 62.5 seconds
Cross Country training of Jim Ryun:
Averaging about 88 miles per week with most of it at a fast pace.
Saturday 16.5 miles at 6:07 pace
Sunday 5 miles easy jogging after church
Monday 20 minute standard warmup (1 mile
jog, stretching, 4 x 120 yards, 4
x 60 yards) Mile in 4:23, 3 x 800m in
2:45, 4 x 400m in 69 sec, with 3 minutes for each run and recovery)
Tuesday Standard Warmup
6 x 1500m in 5:02 with 3 minutes rec. 6 x 800m in 2:49
2.5 mile warmdown
Wednesday
A.M. 4 miles easy PM. Standard Warmup
4 x (8 x 400m) Averaging
71, 70, 70, 68 for each set
of 8. In between each set
he jogged a mile for his
rest period.
Standard Warmdown
Thursday AM 3 miles easy
P.M. Standard Warmup
3 x (10 x 200m) 30, 30,
33. Rec. 2.5 minutes rest
for run an recovery.
2.5 mile warmdown
training of Bob Kennedy (American 5000m athlete, 6th in world in 1996):
Monday
AM 6 miles easy
PM Hard 15k Road Run (5:05,
5:15, 4:59, 5:12, 4:19, 5:08, 5:25,
4:51, 5:10) Total time: 47:12
Tuesday
AM 7 miles at 6:00 pace
PM 6 miles at 6:00 pace
Wednesday
AM 5 miles at 6:00 pace
PM 3 miles warmup, 5 x 800m
(2:08, 2;07, 2:06, 2:02, 2:04) 1:40
rest between each. 2 miles
warmdown
Thursday
AM 6 miles at 6:00 pace
PM 7 miles at 6:00 pace
Friday
AM 5 miles at 6:00 pace
PM 5 miles at 6:00 pace
Saturday
AM 2 miles easy
PM RacCross Country Training