Training Diaries

People often learn more from each other and from other folks's training diaries than they do from TV programmes, journals and books. I have had several emails to me about the diaries of Robert McWatt, myself and others but no one put anything in the blog. I'm pleased when I get comments but it doesn't do anything to educate others or promote discussion among club members. This time I'm looking at a typical week for club 800 metres record holder Ewan Calvert at this time of year. Ewan was a member of Aberdeen AAC and joined Clydesdale Harriers on the advice of Allan Adams after training with us for three or four years. he turned out to be a great club member and ran for us until his wife Gail became pregnant when he just stopped. He was one of the best 800 runners in the country and he had more strength endurance than most - many 800 runners have a faster first lap than second but Ewan could run a first lap very fast and do another at almost exactly the same speed. His pb for 800 was 1:49.1. The week below is for the week beginning 30th May 1994.
Monday: Warm Up + 6 x 200 in 26.2, 26.2, 25.5, 25.8, 25.4 and 24.4.
Tuesday: am Steady Run of 6 miles in 36:22 pm: 4 Miles easy + weights for upper body only.
Wednesday: 1000 metres in 2:32
Thursday: 2 x 300 (38, 38) + 2 x 200 (25, 25) + 2 x 150 as fast as poss.
Friday: Steady 6.5 miles in 36:22
Saturday: Easy 3.5 on Glasgow Green
Sunday: Race in the BAL over 800: 1st in 1:51.3

Total for the week was 34.5 miles. The pointers for the young 800 metres runners in the club are: three quality track sessions aimed at his race speed, keep some distance in, steady runs are not slow runs. If we look at his autumn schedule, his week for 28/11/94 is
Monday: 1600 in 3:32 + 2 x 800 in 2:11/2:10 + 4 x 400 in 62/61/60/59
Tuesday: am 5 miles in 27:30 pm 4 miles plus circuits in Braidfield
Wednesday: am Weights pm Steady run - 7 miles in 42 minutes
Thursday: am Weights pm 2 x 800 in 1:58/1:59
Friday: 5 miles in 30 minutes
Saturday: 6 miles in 36 minutes
Sunday: 10 miles in about an hour. Distance for week: 49 miles.

Note not big miles but a fair bit of quality and steady runs at about 6 minutes a mile. It's easy to say that guys like Allan Adams and Ewan are exceptional BUT THEY ARE NOT. That's why I have put in normal club runners as well. Tomorrow I'll put up some of Cliff Brown's training for any comments. If you have any remarks about Ewan's work, just click on the Comments button and let everyone see them.