This article was written with the help from Snell’s classic book, NO BUGLES NO DRUMS

 

Profile

Snell won three Olympic gold medals during his career, including winning both the 800 and 1500 metres at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

• Born: 17 December 1938, Opunake, New Zealand
• Died: 12 December 2019, Dallas, Texas, United States
• Previous World record over 800, 1000m & Mile.
• Olympic 800m Gold, Rome, 1960.
• Olympic 800m Gold, Tokyo, 1964, a new Olympic record.
• Olympic 1500m Gold, Tokyo, 1964.

Personal Bests

• 800m: 1:44.30
• 1000m: 2:16.60
• 1500m: 3:37.60
• Mile: 3:54.1

Lydiard’s Man

Snell was arguably Lydiard’s most famous athlete. Lydiard took Snell from an average school grade runner to one of the best middle distance runners the world has ever seen. His 1:44.3 world 800 metre record set in 1962, on a grass track, still stands as one of the finest 800m performances of all time.

Through Lydiard’s training methodology Snell became an extremely strong runner. He covered distances in training that was unheard of at the time, and even to this day is considered on the extreme side.

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Marathon Conditioning

Under Lydiard’s instructions, Snell undertook an extensive period of base building which consisted mainly of long runs. In the book ‘Running with Lydiard’ By Lydiard and Gilmour, it explains the purpose behind this marathon conditioning stating that:

“The fundamental principle of training is simple, which may be why it needs repeating so often: it is to develop enough stamina to enable you to maintain the necessary speed for the full distance at which you plan to compete. Many runners throughout the world are able to run 400 metres in 46 seconds and faster; but remarkably few of them have sufficient stamina to run 800 metres in 1:44, or 52 seconds for each 400 metres. That clearly shows the part stamina plays in middle and distance running. It is absolutely vital” – Arthur Lydiard 

More precisely, this marathon conditioning phase consisted of Snell running approximately 160 kilometres per week at his near-best aerobic effort. However, Snell was also encouraged to complete other runs at a slower pace. Lydiard writes:

“My middle-distance men, Snell and John Davies, were running the lowest total weekly mileages but even they were covering about 250 kilometres a week” – Arthur Lydiard

In Snell’s biography ‘No Bugles, No Drums’ Snell describes his build-up training the winter before the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Snell states that he would run 90 minutes every morning and then do other runs throughout the day. However, on a Sunday he would without fail run the 22-mile hilly course through the Waikati ranges. Snell also states in his book that even though Lydiard demanded 100-mile weeks from him he was not able to handle that many miles week in week out and often when he hit a flat patch the total mileage might have dropped to around the 80-mile per week level.

The marathon conditioning phase lasted as long as possible; the standard for Snell would be approximately four months.

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Speed and Anaerobic Training

At the end of the marathon conditioning period Snell launched into a period of speed and aerobic capacity development, through the use of hill and speed orientated interval sessions.

Lydiard’s theory cantered around the belief that:

“No-one and no training can make a basically slow runner into a basically fast runner. Greater speed can be developed to a limited extent, but the basically slow runner will remain a basically slow runner in relation to other runners” – Arthur Lydiard

Thus meaning that runners should choose the distance that they would race over depending on their speed. Snell had decent, yet not brilliant speed; his personal best for the 200m was 22.3 seconds.

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Training Specifics

The best way to outline Snell’s training is to examine his training during 1964 leading into the Tokyo Olympics.

By April 1964, Snell was a bit flat and needed more basic conditioning to prepare for the Tokyo Olympics to be held in October 1964.

From April 18^th until June 28^th 1964, Snell averaged 100 miles per week on average. It is interesting to note that Snell actually split with Lydiard in late 1963 to early 1964 and he actually set his own training schedule thereafter. Lydiard continued to observe and advise when Snell requested his assistance. From ‘No Bugles No Drums:

March 1964: “Arthur doesn’t advise Pete on his training any more but Pete has frequently gone to him to talk about his condition and progress and Arthur has always willingly given him the same psychological encouragement which he gives to his other athletes.”  – Sally Snell, Peter’s wife.

This explains Snell’s training from the horse’s mouth:

April-August 1964

“I realised my need to get in as many miles as possible in training. Stamina was going to be the key in Tokyo.

I began running twice a day-half an hour in the mornings and an hour and a half at night-aiming to reach 100 miles a week as soon as possible. I made it after two weeks, training mostly with Barry Magee, an ideal companion because of his ability to maintain a uniform pace and his willingness to increase the pace when I wanted to push it.

I could never run more than three consecutive weeks of 100 miles but over 10 weeks I logged a total of 1012 miles – the greatest amount of distance running I’ve ever done. And, whatever my progress during the week, I made absolutely certain that I covered the 22-mile Waiatarua circuit every Sunday right through the 10-week period. That was one part of the training I couldn’t afford to miss.

I approached this distance build-up carefully, studiously avoiding any speed running. I was well aware from experience of the pitfalls such as leg injuries that excessive speed could produce.

I spent a lot of money on shoes and I concentrated purely on mileage. I don’t think I ever ran faster than six-minute miles, although my speed increased naturally as I got fitter and stronger.

At first, I took an hour and 45 minutes for 15 miles. After six weeks, I ran 15 in 1:30 and 18 in 1:52. And I cut my Waiatarua time from 2:25 to 2:15, with the odd one in 2:12. I rarely ran two hard sessions together. I would try six-minute miles one night and seven-minute miles the next to make sure I was, in fact, building up and not draining out. 

I bought a special nylon jacket to wear in wet weather and kept the cold out by rubbing olive oil on my legs. I took more than usual care of myself this winter to counter muscle trouble. I was also taking a balanced vitamin pill because the previous winter I’d caught a cold and then developed ‘flu which cost me two weeks. It was vital now that I missed no training.” – Peter Snell

Snell then did a lot of hill training from June 29th until August 9^th. During this period his average mileage was approximately 90 miles per week.

“From the distance running, I moved into a six-week training session on the hills, which finished nine weeks before the Tokyo races” – Peter Snell

On August 10th, Snell then commenced track training.

Snell had the following to say about this:

“My track work began sensationally with 20 quarters in an average of 62.5 seconds. I had hoped for something like 65 seconds and it was a terrific boost to me to know that I’d gained so soon the rhythm of running at this pace. I kept at it by doing a great deal of short, sharp sprint work.” – Peter Snell

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Training Diary Leading into Tokyo

The below training diary has been sourced from Lydiard’s training diary and from ‘No Bugles No Drums’. The below diary represents Snell’s speed training during the two months leading into the Tokyo Olympics.

August 1964

Each morning Snell ran approximately 5 miles on a golf course or road.

• August 10^th: 20 times 220m. Average 27.45 seconds.
• August 11^th: 3 miles time trial in 14.47.6.
• August 12^th: 660m in (1:27). Then 2 sets of (11 by 100 yard sprints)
• August 13^th: 3mile time trial followed by some 50yard sprints.
• August 14^th: 6 times 220m. Average 26.5 seconds.
• August 15^th: 20 times 440. Average 61 seconds.
• August 16^th: 22 miles Waiatarua in 2 hours 22 minutes.
• August 17^th: 20 times 220m. Average 27.8 seconds.
• August 18^th: – 3 mile time trial in 14:35.
• August 19^th: – 5 times 880m. Average 2.13.
• August 20-22^nd: – Injured leg due to running on a hard track. No training.
• August 23^rd: – 22 miles in 2h 33 minutes.
• August 24^th: – 5 mile jog.
• August 25^th– 27^th leg still sore – no training.
• August 28^th: 4 times 440m stride-outs.
• August 29^th: – 6 mile jog.
• August 30^th: – 22 miles in 2hr 23 min.
• August 31^st: 220 stride-outs.

September

Each morning Snell ran approximately 5 miles on a golf course or road.

• September 1^st: 6 times 880m. Average 2:10
• September 2^nd: 6 times 440m. Average 58.0.
• September 3^rd: 1 mile at half effort, then 1 mile three quarter effort.
• September 4^th: 3 times 220m sprints.
• September 5^th: 880m. Cold wet conditions. 2:01.
• September 6^th: 22 miles easy
• September 7^th: 1 mile hard followed by some 50 yard sprints.
• September 8^th: – Three quarter mile. Then880 in 1.56 with the final 440 as he felt.
• September 9^th: 440m in 55seconds. Then 4 times 100yard sprints.
• September 10^th: 2 times 1 mile at half effort.
• September 11^th : 3 times 220 yards at full effort
• September 12^th: 10 times 440m averaging 58.5 with a lap jog recovery.
• September 13^th: Long run
• September 14^th: 10 miles morning. In the afternoon, 4 times 150yards and 6 times 50yard sprints.
• September 15^th: 2 times 880 yards, windy and wet. 2:02 and 2:01.
• September 16^th: 10 miles morning in the morning. In the afternoon 3 mile time trial in 14:12.
• September 17^th: 6 times 440 yards in 58.0.
• September 18^th: 3 times 220 all out sprints.
• September 19^th: Three quarter mile time trial in 3:05
• September 20^th: 20 mile run at an easy effort.
• September 21^st: One hour jog
• September 22^nd: 6 times 220 yard stride outs
• September 23^rd: One hour jog
• September 24^th: Flew to Sydney – 6 times 220 stride outs
• September 25^th: – 660m time trial between Snell and John Davies in 1:19.

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From No Bugles No Drums:

“We fitted in a 660 yards race between John and me. I was feeling quite fresh from a week of relatively easy training and decided it would be to my advantage to run a fast quarter in about 53 seconds and then hang on for the rest.

We both passed the quarter in 53 seconds as planned and I stayed in front for a final time of around 1:19” – Peter Snell

• September 26^th: – Flew to Japan.

• Snell jogged most mornings in Japan before breakfast for at least 30 minutes: From No Bugles No Drums:

“We wanted to run for at least half an hour every morning before breakfast” – Peter Snell

• September 27^th: One hour jog.
• September 28^th: 20 times 220 yard stride outs.
• September 29^th: 1 mile of 50 yard dashes.
• September 30^th: Three quarter mile time trial in 2:56.

October

• October 1^st: 2 hour run – strong and even pace.
• October 2^nd: 4 times 440 yard efforts.
• October 3^rd: 6 times 880 at half effort. Averaged 2:05
• October 4^th: 1 mile time trial in 4:02
• October 5^th: 10 times 220 stride outs
• October 6^th: Sprint training over 150 yards.
• October 7^th: 800m fast time trial in 1:47.1
• October 8^th: 1 hour jog.
• October 9^th: 880 yard in 50yard dashes.
• October 10^th: 1 hour jog
• October 11^th: 3 times 220 yard sprints.
• October 12^th: 1 hour jog
• October 13^th: Half an hour jog
• October 14^th: 800m heat. 1:49
• October 15^th: 800m semi. 1:46.9
• October 16^th: 800m final. 1:45.1 Olympic Gold.
• October 17^th: 1500m heat. 3:46.6
• October 18^th: 1 hour jog
• October 19^th: 1500m semi. 3:38.8
• October 20^th: 1 hour jog
• October 21^st: 1500m final 3.38.1 Olympic Gold.

Some Snell viewing.

New Zealand National Film Unit presents Peter Snell, Athlete (1964)

Peter Snell 50 years since Tokyo 1964

Men’s 800m and 1500m Tokyo 1964 highlights (Peter Snell Documentary)