A key workout for coach Colm and various Kenyan’s, is called ‘Diagonals’. Performed once or sometimes twice per week, the session is a form of fartlek training, a mix between speed and endurance. The session is not intended to be a ‘max effort’ but more of a strong fartlek, that helps build both speed and endurance without overly flattening an athlete. The session is often completed not as a hard workout but is often done on an ‘in-between’ day. It’s a way to build fitness and speed, while still keeping athletes fresh for upcoming harder workouts.
Pre was an animal when it came to training. Quality over quantity, no long runs over 12 miles, morning runs most days, intense track sessions. Runner’s Tribe picked out 5 of Pre’s favourite sessions. For a more detailed account of Pre’s training program check out Pre’s training HERE
The G.O.A.T. of marathon running lives a pretty simple life. Train, rest, repeat. It is a winning formula followed by generations of successful distance runners. We dived deep into what this simple life of endless miles, huge sacrifices and lots of rest means when discussing the greatest to ever live.
The great coach Renato Canova has a unique approach to marathon training. For Canova, training for the marathon is all about race pace training, not mileage. Race pace sessions are by far the most important element to preparing for the marathon, every other aspect of training is geared towards this goal.
Canova argues that fast long runs, is the reason why the world has seen such a reduction in world record times. Ron Clarke led the way, he was well known for smashing his long runs at close to 3 minutes per km.
Canova’s approach to marathon training is unique to the traditional line of thinking. Below are the key elements to Canova’s philosophy:
The second fastest marathon runner in history is the total package. Machine on the track, machine on the roads. Amazing kick, and a major championship performer.We took a look at a bunch of sessions that Bekele completes on a regular basis in the lead-up to a major marathon.
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.
Working towards a 10,000m race and wish to know what your training ‘race pace’ should be, or what time you think you are capable of? Read on…
Kerryn McCann was best known as a marathoner – but she was one of Australia’s best all-round distance runners.
As Len Johnson states in 'Australian Marathon Stars' - "She didn’t have a mean bone in her body, but she was a fierce competitor who didn’t like to lose."
She was best known for winning the marathon at the 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games.
In February 2004, Lee Troop was a man on a mission. His goals for 2004 were to have a crack at the Australian Marathon Record (2:07.51 held by Robert de Castella) at the London Marathon and to finish in the top 10 at the Athen’s Olympic Marathon. To achieve these goals, Lee changed his training focus from the more traditional Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday ‘hard / quality sessions’ to the following, more ‘marathon specific’ training program.
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.
