What Lydiard Knew
A reporter once questioned Arthur Lydiard while Peter Snell was running a workout in an open field. The reporter asked Lydiard how far Snell was running.
Lydiard answered: “ I don’t know.”
Next, the reported ask how fast Snell was running.
Lydiard answered: “ I don’t know.”
Then the reported asked how many repetitions Snell was doing.
Lydiard answered: “ I don’t know.”
Before another question was asked Lydiard explained to the reporter what really mattered was whether Snell was accomplishing the desired training effect with the appropriate level of effort.
Sometimes we coaches and runners can be overly meticulous with it comes to measurement and recording of detail. And we can get too caught up in the latest technology or running gadget of the day.
It is worth recording in useful detail what was planned and what happened in training. It is worth taking advantage of new technology and equipment. For every successful runner with a detailed diary and various gadgets, there are a dozen other unsuccessful athletes with the same.
Effective training, as Lydiard knew, comes down to achieving the desired stimulus on the appropriate level of effort repeated over and over again, with little interruption, for months, years, decades.