Runnerslife
Meet The Guest
Michael Skinner
Personal Bests
800m 1:49.9
1500m 3:42.35
5000m 13:51.61
Career Highlights
European Indoor Cup - 8th - 2004
European Cup 10k - 17th - 2007
World Cross Country Champs- 62nd - 2007
European Cross Country Champs - 20th (3rd Team) - 2008
World Cross Country Champs - 87th - 2009
Domestic Championships Record
2000 - 3rd BUSA Indoor Championships 800m
2001 - 2nd AAA Indoor Championships 1500m
2004 - 2nd AAA Indoor Championships 3000m, 3rd AAA Championships 1500m
2005 - 3rd AAA Championships 5000m
2007 - 2nd Norwich Union World Champs Trials 5000m, 3rd European XC Champs Trials
Questions
Easy runs
I do them most days. I'm an advocate of run how I feel. I have loops that I run from my house and I'll just run them. If they're a minute slower or minute faster than the time before I'm not really bothered, it's just about getting them done. They probably go from 6.30 milling to 8 minute milling! After a tough session I actually feel better for going out and just doing a toe tap run (as my coach likes to call it) than staying in and doing nothing
Steady runs
On non session days one of my runs would probably be quicker than an easy run, but again it would depend on how I feel. I don't go out saying I've GOT to run 6 minute miles. Probably works its way down to 6 minute milling by the end, and I will try and get company as much as possible. If you want to run well you've got to train and you can't do a session every day!
Interval work
Q. How many times a week?
A. I do intervals pretty much once a week all year round.
Q. Do you have important/key sessions?
A. Not really. I don't have one session that I do regularly to see how fit I am, I just do what is set for me.
Q. What would be your shortest fastest session?
A. Would be more likely to do some reps at race pace and then some floating 200's.
Q. Do you change surface dependant on time of year?
A. During October to December I do everything on the grass. I probably then go on the track once a week in the New Year.
Q. On own or in a group?
A. Wherever possible in a group.
Q. Hardest session?
A. In the summer anything that makes me want to throw up at the end!!
Training races
Very rarely do I use races as training. I prefer to be of the mind set if I'm racing, I'm racing. That being said if my coach wanted me to do a race as part of a session or for training I wouldn't say no.
Cross country
For me cross-country is important. It helps to develop the strength and stamina that will be needed during the summer and I feel a good winters training behind you builds confidence that you can take into track races.
Personally yes I do enjoy cross-country. It gives me targets to aim for throughout the winter and for the last few years it has given me some success. Again personally, I would struggle to get through October to March without having any short term targets or races to motivate me.
Mileage
Q. What sort of mileage are you doing in training phases?
A. 80 - 100
Q. What was your longest run of the week?
A. Between 90mins and 1hr 50mins
Q. Do you run big mileage when racing?
A. My mileage is pretty consistent throughout the year. I find easing right off doesn't work that well for me so I'll still run reasonable miles in the race week but the intensity of sessions is reduced.
Big believer in you have to find what works for you. There's no point saying you HAVE to do 100 miles a week if every time you go over 80 you get injured. What works for one doesn't work for someone else.
Group training
I've always been very lucky and wherever I have based myself I've always been surrounded by good guys to train with. I'll sometimes do runs on my own but will always try and meet others for sessions. You can certainly work hard on your own and at the end of the day that is the main thing. BUT I bet you could always find a couple of extra tenths on reps or a few extra seconds over a session by having people there. I find that having other people there helps me relax and just roll round.
I'm lucky in that the guys I'm training with are all experienced enough to know why we are doing something. If we're asked to run a pace that's what we try and do. It's not about racing each other in training. When we're all together the group we have now is great. Talented guys, that are prepared to work hard and all want to see each other do well. It's a nice place to be.
Strength work
Q. Circuits?
A. Not any more. Used to do them when I was at University but I have phased them out now and replaced them with other things.
Q. Weights?
A. Yes.
Q. How many times per week?
A. Definitely once a week, depending on how busy I am at work, if I'm racing, and how I'm feeling, I might do two but this is probably only once every 4-6 weeks.
Massage
Q. Did you ever use it?
A. Yes
Q. If so when and is it important?
A. I'd like to have it more regularly but again it's a matter of fitting everything in. I sometimes try and get a massage in the week of a big race but then if I haven't had one for a while I might choose to leave as my legs are quite sore after!
Diet
Don't really have a 'special' diet. I try and think about what I eat and would say I am fairly sensible, but I don't analyse the packets of food to see what they contain. I prefer more of the 'everything in moderation' approach.
Altitude / warm weather training
I have been to Falls Creek in Australia earlier this year. It is about 1600m up and is the first time I have ever been to altitude. I was there for just under 3 weeks. I've also been to Portugal several times, Spain and South Africa for warm weather trips. Most of them have been for between one and two weeks.
I've always enjoyed going warm weather training and feel there are definite benefits from it. For me it's always been as much about getting away from home, being able to relax more and concentrate on running. When I go to these places I wouldn't say I do any more training, but I have more time to rest and recover and then that's when the quality can go up. Sometimes I feel people think because they've gone away to train they've got to dramatically increase there training and that's where they come unstuck.
Ian Stewart's comments (British men don't train hard enough)
I feel that the comment is a bit harsh. Admittedly there may not be the depth that there was but I still feel there are some talented guys out there. I know a few of them personally and believe me they are doing everything they can to get to the top.
The difference is other parts of the world (predominantly Africa) have now developed and raised the bar to heights we have never seen before. I was fortunate enough to be part of the British team at the recent European Cross-Country Champs and I'm sure the majority of countries there would want to swap and be in the position we are.
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