Complementary Training

[Mike Searle]

The title of 7 time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong's famous book - 'It's not about the bike' could be adapted for Runners.

Whilst LSD/fartlek/reps/recovery runs/negative splits/hills/threshold runs etc clearly have their place in any runner's training armourery, to paraphrase Lance; 'it's not just about the running'

Runners notoriously neglect flexibility training, proprioception, core strength and all-over conditioning and for improved running performance, not to mention better all-round health, total body training is key.

I enjoy a good 10+ miles in the forest, a set of flat out mile repeats and a tough half marathon as much as anyone but both for health, performance and to counteract the aging process, I've adapted my training over the years so that I can keep on keeping on.

So my questions are:

1. Why aren't more runners 'blending their training'
2. Why when so many of us are time target orientated is devotion to a single training discipline so prevalent?

Answers on a postcard (or on a forum near you!!) please!!

Mike Searle - training anorak!

[Adair]

I think you are right Mike (you probably know you are!)

Watched some athletics recently and it showed Mo Farah in training, except he didn't appear to be doing much running, he had a medicine ball and was doing lots of sit-ups with it. (Recently changed coaches and recently had a significant improvement in his times)

I went out on my mountain bike instead of a run last night, do I win some Mike Searle kudos for that?

[Mike Searle]

Oh yes indeedy - 10 points!

Dave Brailsford (ex British Cycling Federation supremo, now manager of Team Sky) called it 'the aggregation of marginal gains'. Individually those little extras don't amount to much but together they make a real difference (and that's not including the health benefits etc).

Interestingly Mo has teamed up with former marathon great and Boston marathon winner (2:08:52 in 1982), now a Nike coach, Alberto Salazaar and his recent performances (10K European record, 1/2M British record) are impressive. And I too have read about his complementary training!
I think Mo's real success will come in the marathon in a couple of years time - he has all the attributes + that unusual beast for a long distance runner, a cracking kick. Watch this space!

[Adair]

some impressive knowledge Mike

erm any chance you know anything about the form of horses

[stever]

Spot on Mike. Always been a dabbler, it's what keeps my interest. Climbing, running, bikes, couple of tris. The spin-off of course is you can claim it's a grand strategy of cross-training and complementary activity, but mostly it's just having fun. I came to running from climbing because I didn't have the time to disappearing off places for hours on end. The irony is I quite like the long stuff and what with travelling to races, I don't seem to have the time to do it properly...

I could have been a contender you know, could have been somebody. If only I'd concentrated on my training. But then I wouldn't have had such a laugh.

[ed]

Speaking of having a laugh, I've just bought this for the wii:
www.zavvi.com/games/platforms/nintendo-wii/ea-sports-active-2/10215877.html

Looking at the trailer, it does look as if it will do _some_ good, honestly!

Ed

[Mike Searle]

Steve

You ARE a contender.

Never give in!

[Adair]

looks quite a bargain that Ed, let us know how you get on

if in doubt, flat out

[coverrace]

Zodiac Complementary Therapy Training was established nearly 30 years ago in the Cardiff area. Training is available throughout South Wales at Centers in Marthena, Swansea, Cardiff and Gwen. Training is also available in different venues in the UK and abroad.