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Meet The Guest

Ricky Stevenson

Ricky Stevenson won the Edinburgh XC on the weekend after recently winning a silver team medal with the British u23 team (placed 8th) at the European XC Championships. Ricky has had a good winter so far also winning the Gateshead XC 2k and placing 4th at Liverpool XC. Ricky will race next in New York indoors and is hoping to make an impact next summer on the track.

Personal Best's

800m - 1.49.09

1500m - 3.40.2

Mile - 3.57.0

 

Questions

You won the Edinburgh XC on the weekend, how did that feel?

It was a strange feeling, obviously I was very pleased but more a feeling of excitement for what I hopefully can achieve in the future.

Can you talk us through the race?

From the gun I was convinced Mo was going to run away with it. I set of a lot more conservative than I usually do in races, and as I got onto the back of Mo and Steve I then realised that if I came down to the final 200 I could win it.

Did the snow make it easier or harder?

Harder, as snow does not give you anything back from your foot strike compared to running on harder surfaces, and it's small slips that need energy and effort to keep correcting making it sapping .

Have you been pleased with your cross country form?

Yes. The plan it to acquire a good aerobic base to assist me this summer. I will not be having a full indoor season, maybe 1 or 2 races.

You won Gateshead XC 2k and then ran the 9k, did the adrenaline of winning make it easier to run around the 9k?

It didn't make the race itself any easier, I think I was just very strong at that moment in time.

What race's will you be doing for the indoor season?

I would like to reclaim by British universities 3k title indoors, for the third year running and take that championship record.

Easy Runs

I do them everyday around 7minute per mile. For me they are very important, the runs help me to recover, whilst still acquiring aerobic conditioning. Running easy also means I get the most out of my sessions when I need to work hard.

 

Steady Runs

I do these about 6.30 per mile and usually do them on my own.

 

Interval Training

How often do you do interval sessions?

Twice a week.

Could you give a couple of examples of sessions?

Summer season session would be 10x400m off 60second recoveries. Something a bit shorter might be 2x 200m, 2x 150m, 4 x100m.

Do you change surface dependant on time of year?

Yes, majority of my interval work is completed on a cricket ground, I haven't touched the track in a long time!

Do you do your interval sessions in a group?

Yes, as a group session.

Hardest session for you?

We have a training course in local woodland, and there's some very nasty hills in there over a 2k loop. We usually do 4 times 2k around them and it can be very cruel!

What would a typical week consist of for you?

A typical week would be a couple of easy/steady runs each day apart from days with a session. Session days would be Wednesday and Saturday, with a longer run on a Sunday. Two strength and conditioning or weight training sessions will fall in on easier days too.


Mileage

I think throughout they year I will average around 70 with the Sunday run around 90 minutes at a very slow pace.

It's best to do what ever works for you.  Personally I think you need to find a happy medium with the mixture of the two. I think 100 miles a week will be essential in time for me.

Do you run big mileage when racing?

Yes, I rarely ease down for races.


Strength Work

I do weights twice a week.

 

Massage

I usually have a massage on easier days after hard session, never on the day of a hard work out though.

 

Diet

Nothing special, just trying to eat plenty of the right stuff!


Group Training

I have some very good up and coming athletes in my group. For instance Andy Wiles, he is a very good trainer so during workouts he will always push the pace along. I believe everyone in the group has the potential to be an international at some point.

Do you find being in a group bad thing if trying to stick to a pace?

I don't usually have paces to run to, I don't really do any threshold runs at say 5 min miles etc. I'll run how I feel, if I feel good ill push the pace on, if I'm tired ill run slow.


Rest / Recovery

At the end of a season I'll always take a good month off to relax and forget about athletics for a while. Enjoy the things you can't normally do as a serious athlete!

 

Finally....

How did 2009 as a whole go for you?

2009 was ok, but just ok. I improved all by pb's but I thought I would run much quicker over 1500. But on the European circuit the pace maker does not always do his job well, and my 1500m pb was actually of a 2.00 first 800 and a last 500m burn up!

Any targets for you in 2010?

I'd like to run around 3.37 and 1.46/7 for 800m. I think this is what I should be capable of doing. Judging by last year's season and hopefully with another good winter.

What's the next race for you?

I will be running a mile indoors in New York.

Ricky


 

 

Comments On "Ricky Stevenson"

Ricky Stevenson

Ricky,
Have there been temptations to change clubs and coach.

Interested Rubber Posted on February 12th, 2010

Helllooo :D

Good Interview Geek!!


xxx

Lily Partridge Posted on January 13th, 2010

HI Club Coach, I will tell ricky of the two message's but I may be able to help with the question. He started running to help with his football and ended up being quite good!

simx Posted on January 13th, 2010

Guest runners

stevenson goose and forrester are looking as though they are going to be big players in distance running and you have interviewed two of them. brilliant reading. i expected his mileage to be much higher but it is obviously working

Scout Posted on January 13th, 2010

Inspiration to run?

Ricky
What or who inspired you to firstly take up running and then aim for international level?
Cheers

club coach Posted on January 12th, 2010