THEY MADE HISTORY ….
Snell - Davies - Walker - Quax - Dixon - Halberg - Moller - All brought Olympic success and glory to themselves and New Zealand with their Olympic medals and records. Their deeds could fill many books on the history-making feats of New Zealand running.
Well – we need history makers today!
This year brings new opportunities to race over cross-country and road. If you were to ask any of the above names what the key was in their training that made them history makers, I can guarantee that they would all sum it up in two words - COACH and CONDITIONING.
All of these great names trained in the Lydiard way of conditioning the body. All of these great names also ran cross-country and harriers each winter. At this time of the year conditioning is the key to your season’s success and possibly, as well, your next track season.
The fundamental principle of training is simple...
It is to develop enough stamina to enable you to maintain the necessary speed for the full distance you plan to compete in. Quite simply, it means putting your body into a near-tireless state so that oxygen debts are not created quickly and the ability to recover rapidly is at a high level. This stamina is best achieved by cross-country skiers – but the next best way after that is by running.
The best running programme is to cover varying distances, up to 160km per week, according to age, at just under your maximum steady state. This conditioning should be for 8 weeks and is your base for the entire season.
Your speed over distance comes from your stamina training. Speed in itself is fairly limited to our natural God- & parent-given gifts of fast twitch fibres. Stamina is nearly unlimited and is obtained by training.
Different ages need variations of distances to suit them. ACA coaches can condition all ages to suit individuals where they are, at their running level.
Talk to Don MacFarquhar, John Mildenhall or myself if you need guidance through the MOST important part of the winter season’s training.
The girls' training is different from the boys so make sure they get the right advice. If you cannot make it to the training group, then individual schedules can be sent to you. We need history makers today.
ARE YOU WILLING? ARE YOU UP TO THE CHALLENGE?
Safety Tip: Please remember to wear light coloured clothing for winter training, to make you clearly visible, especially to motorists.
Barry Magee
