World Cross Country

[Sinatra]

Just read that article:

"We used to train three times a day, 200 miles a week, and it's very clear that if you have that sort of commitment - and can stay clear of injury - then you will run very fast. But you have to be prepared to commit."

I'd gladly put that level of commitment in, but cannot due to the following:

1. Full time employment
2. Age
3. Speed

Hats off to anyone who does put that level of commitment in though, thats some mileage a week that.

How many pairs of trainers would you go through a year?

[Pinno]

Found this interesting-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/solpda/ukfs_sp...00/4927604.stm

Another very interesting article, it gets better by the day. Bedford has the gall to say our runners are not commited or dedicated enough because we don't put 200 miles a week in?

Sinatra has summed it up well.

[Sinatra]

Yes, us poor Brits have to work full time to pay all the stealth taxes!

If I didn't have to work I may well have been a great marathon runner, being able to give a greater level of commitment!

Comments like Mr Bedfords really annoy me! And don't get me started on Mr Fosters!!!

[Chris]

Bedford was a student when he did 200 miles a week (actually I'm not sure he did that much but he did a far bit.) Gordon Pirie trained fantastically hard for periods and worked full time as a bank clerk. Ron Hill held down a successful career.

Ok. I'm not saying necessarily that you can train three times a day and do a demanding job.

There is funding out there for every single athlete who wants to take advantage of it. Yes, seriously. It is called welfare benefits. Why not?

[Sinatra]

Bedford was a student when he did 200 miles a week (actually I'm not sure he did that much but he did a far bit.) Gordon Pirie trained fantastically hard for periods and worked full time as a bank clerk. Ron Hill held down a successful career.

Ok. I'm not saying necessarily that you can train three times a day and do a demanding job.

There is funding out there for every single athlete who wants to take advantage of it. Yes, seriously. It is called welfare benefits. Why not?

I guess it depends on the type of job and hours worked. Also, forgot to mention that I had a wife and family, that restricts the mileage somewhat.

If your well enough to run your well enough to work, therefore I don't think we'd qualify for welfare benefits lol.

[Pinno]

I we could live off Welfare benefits we could all be like Forest Gump and run and run and run. Its tempting.

[Witton Park]

I think he (Bedford) is partly responsible. He could start by making this London Fun Run a race and banning pantomime horses, deep see divers and Bernie Clifton.
And when you have drummed in to kids, and coaches through all the propaganda that they give out on the courses, not to over-train, how do you expect athletes to then start training in the way that he recommends?

[Sinatra]

I think he (Bedford) is partly responsible. He could start by making this London Fun Run a race and banning pantomime horses, deep see divers and Bernie Clifton.
And when you have drummed in to kids, and coaches through all the propaganda that they give out on the courses, not to over-train, how do you expect athletes to then start training in the way that he recommends?

Spot on, well said Witton.

[pauljonesforengland]

Long wait

Neither does Bedford envisage a quick solution to the problem.

"If you go back 20 years, we probably had 15 men who could run faster than 2 hours 12 minutes, but now we only have one.

He's not talking about the Canadian feller is he? You know, the one who had the lottery funding taken off him 'cos he's hardly raced for about 3 years.

[harrymoon]

i've got a BF book just called Brendan Foster (by BF and Cliff Temple), anyways, he has excerpts from his training diary at the back, i'll write down some (i'll summarise or i'll be typing all night)

February 1968 (blue period in Brighton when things were going badly)
69 miles in 10 sessions

February 1969 (finding he had iron deficiency anaemia and corrected it with pills)
64 miles in 7 sessions

May June 1972 (contender for 1500 olympic team)
80 miles total

December 1974 (preparing for euro champs in rome)
110 miles total

April 1976 (bulk winter work been done preparing for montreal)
131.5 miles

week after
136 miles

week after
126 miles

can always break down further if people interested but shows the miles he put in