Men's Distance Running
In response to Phil’s blog I thought that I’d add my two cents in. I can totally understand where Phil is coming from with his frustration.
I also work and fitting training in can be hard but from my point of view it’s a personal decision on lifestyle. If you want to buy your own home, and live comfortably then yes training is going to be hard fitting it in around a full time job and the commitment and stresses that comes along with this. However if you want to focus on running more and working less this is also possible. I work as a landscape gardener; it’s a physical job that is outside on my feet all day (although I haven’t been complaining this week with the sun). Some might suggest that I could have chosen to do something less physical, i.e. a desk job however with landscaping I can work the hours that fit with me. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t earn a lot, just enough to get by. I pay my rent, buy my food and petrol. Period. Monk like living if you will but that is my choice. I want to run so this is how I choose to live. It can be done.
With regards to the article in the national newspaper I think people are taking it completely the wrong way. I’ve spent some time with the man in question out at the Europeans and he had nothing but encouragement for us. Not only was he encouraging us throughout the champs saying things like ‘you will make the final’ and ‘when we have three in the final they are going to have the shock of their lives’ but he was very positive about the future of male distance running. If he said those exact words or not it doesn’t really bother me. If he did though I think he is looking for a positive response from us. Not for us to sit there and say ‘oh but I can’t’ but to sit there and think ‘f*ck that I can do this, regardless of help’.
What I’m trying to say is this, If you really want to do something you can, you can find a way if it means enough to you. And if people want to put you down, turn it around and make it a positive. Show them you can!!
I don’t mean to offend anyone with this blog it’s just my thoughts on the matter. Maybe I’m just trying to show a different point of view.
Drapes
Comments On "Men's Distance Running"
As for the women doing more than the men, I would be surprised. Liz Yelling talks of 115mpw peak and she advises a few female athletes. Hayley Haining about 80-90mpw.
Steven Posted on May 7th, 2009In response to Phil, I happen to know that a couple of days after the article, UKA were given the opportunity to clarify Stewart's statements, but it seems he/they were happy with the way they were presented.
Steven Posted on May 7th, 2009Maybe he is right - perhaps they're not doing enough - he should know. You talk about coming down to 95mpw in your latest blog, Phil - how much were you doing at peak? How many of the top guys do you think are doing 120 mpw plus?
Striders 1 Posted on April 29th, 2009Guys, I think that you are all taking this (supposed criticism) too personally.
Ian Stewart is right to flag this up, & the basic message he's trying to get across (i.e. the need to focus on greater mileage) is I believe not aimed so much at the athletes but coaches in general.
What he's looking for is a change in the coaching culture that will encourage more runners to adopt the kind of training programmes that you lads are already doing.
If you're at all interested you might find three articles ("Decline & Fall"; "The Road to Recovery"; & "Giants, Heroes, & Villains") that I wrote over a couple of years ago of interest. These can be found on my website at: http://www.beaconhillstriders.co.uk/index.php?section=11
Cheers,
Alan.
Haha, drapes- you know i love you mate! I wasnt pissed off at all-- just checking that we are both thinking along the same lines... anyways enough chatting bout it now-- sound like a wittering old man... Keep up the hard work pal, will see you on track in a few weeks. Just got back from watching london-- its been manic!!
phil Posted on April 26th, 2009All the best, phil.
Trouble in the camp!
Looks like Ian has certainly stirred things up amongst the runnerslife team!
John Graham Posted on April 25th, 2009Unity and teamwork please gentlemen- and prove Ian wrong!
Phil mate that wasn't a knock at you at all, and I hope it hasn't pissed you off. I also lost 10 mins of my life that i'll never get back reading that eightlane rubbish and the majority on there just sit and moan all day long about how things aren't fair. So it ws more directed at thoem..
Drapes Posted on April 25th, 2009Mate I know you work hard, probably harder than most and I've got the up most respect for you for doing that. I was just trying to suggest a different point of view. Say you do run really well this summer off your own back with no help/recognition then I would see that as even sweeter!!
AMEN Draper! AMEN
Lisgo Posted on April 24th, 2009Drapes good blog. I just wanted to add that I agree about the article in some ways... and can guarantee that he didnt say things in the manner they have been portrayed. But do you agree though mate, that we distance runners get a bashing all the time for not training hard enough, not doing enough miles--- when the people doing the bashing know little about us, or the training we do. I get frustrated when they think that one size will fit all-- would you go out next week and run 140 miles because thats what they used to do?
phil nicholls Posted on April 24th, 2009On another note.. QUOTE "I think he is looking for a positive response from us. Not for us to sit there and say ‘oh but I can’t’ but to sit there and think ‘f*ck that I can do this, regardless of help’.
"What I’m trying to say is this, If you really want to do something you can, you can find a way if it means enough to you. And if people want to put you down, turn it around and make it a positive. Show them you can!!"
---- was this a knock at me drapes?
If so I think my response has been taken completely out of context... Im not asking for any help, pay out or deal--- just acknowledgement that some of us are trying hard to get better in the sport...rather than reading in a national newspaper that someone is more or less embaressed about us... surely you can understand that.