In early 2003 Mona was interviewed by Neil Macdonald. The below training schedule and training/running tips are courtesy of Neil Macdonald. Neil MacDonald managed the Geelong Region Cross Country team from 2000-2007.
Paula Radcliffe’s world marathon record was considered by many as one of the hardest world records of them all. The Briton’s mark of 2hr 15min 25sec had stood unchallenged for 16 years. In steps Kosgei, and boom, that once insurmountable time has been slashed by 81 seconds .
Kosgei is also the fastest woman ever over the half marathon distance with her 64:28 at the Great North Run, although the race is not an official course and the time is therefore not classed as a world record.
Back to the marathon. Wearing Nike’s ZoomX Vaporfly Next% running shoes the 25-year-old Kosgei bounced her way to 2hr 14min 4sec – a time that was once considered impossible.
Astoundingly, Kosgei believes that she could can go quicker. “I think 2:10 is possible for a lady. I am focused on reducing my time again.”
© 2017 Runner’s Tribe, all rights reserved
Sources:
‘African Speed, African Endurance’ – By Amby Burfoot
British Milers Club Journal - Autumn 2001. Volume 3 Issue 12.
“Yes, a lot of Africans are born at altitude, not all. This gives them some advantage but it is not insurmountable. Remember this. Coe...
“Long, slow distance running creates long, slow runners. If speed is the name of the game, then never get too far away from it.” - Peter Coe
Seb Coe is the only man to win back to back Olympic 1500m titles (1980 and 1984). At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics...
Witness the awe-inspiring talent of Sifan Hassan, a force to be reckoned with in the realm of middle and long-distance running. Hailing from Ethiopia and later becoming a Dutch citizen in 2013, Hassan has carved her name into the annals of athletic greatness. Her unparalleled prowess has earned her a legion of fans and a treasure trove of gold medals from prestigious competitions like the World Championships and the Olympic Games, solidifying her status as one of the most extraordinary female distance runners of all time.
From Bernard Lagat, to Steve Cram, Steve Ovett, Seb Coe, Sarah Jamieson, Sarah Brown, and countless others; 300m intervals were key staples of their training programs. Less mundane perhaps than the traditional quarter mile, 400m interval, more race specific, and potentially easier mentally. It’s a trend seen in numerous top middle distance and distance runners. Runner’s Tribe dove into the specifics of some of these 300m interval sessions routinely carried out by world leading athletes.
Discover the incredible journey of renowned athlete Nick Willis, an Olympic medalist, and Commonwealth 1500m champion. Witness his recent world record achievement at the Millrose Games, where he became the first person to maintain a sub-four-minute mile for 20 consecutive years.
Lasse Viren: Legends of Athletics Key Sessions
50 x 100 meters all-out
By Mark Tucker - Runner's Tribe
Quietly spoken and introverted off the track, Lasse Viren turned into a mighty warrior on it, becoming one of the most successful Olympians of all-time. A dual 5000m, 10,000m gold medallist in both the 1972...
4 Runs a Day as a Child – The Training of Lydia Cheromei
© 2019 Runner’s Tribe, all rights reserved.
“I had to run to school because I was usually late leaving the house. If I arrived late there would be a caning for me” – Lydia Cheromei.
Sources
‘Train Hard, Win Easy....
“There are lots of elements to running a successful marathon and I’ll bet insights into them are woven throughout all of the interviews in this book!” – Lisa Ondieki from Australian Marathon Stars
© 2021 Runner’s Tribe, all rights reserved.
Lisa Ondieki certainly rates as Australia’s top female marathoner, her...