Runnerslife

Meet The Guest

Zola Budd



Personal Bests

800m - 2.00.55

1500m - 3.59.96

Mile - 4:17.57

3,000m - 8.28.83

5,000m - 14.48.07

 

 

Questions

You broke the 5,000m World Record when you were 17 but it wasn't ratified because of South Africa's apartheid policy, how did it feel to brake the record at such a young age and then for it not to be 'official'?

It was the last race I could run in my High School colours, so I wanted to make it count. Although the record was not recognised, I knew I could run that fast and that was enough for me.

You then represented Great Britain in 1985 through your grandfather, what were your feelings on this?

I was never involved in any of the negotiations.  My father and the Daily Mail told me that I have a chance of running internationally and I was excited about that prospect.  Nobody ever mentioned any negative implications and I was too naive to really think any further than running.

How did things change for you on a professional level when you started to represent GB?

In South Africa I trained with a group of close friends and I really enjoyed it.  In the UK I did most of my training by myself and it was very lonely, I did not enjoy it.  You must remember that the town I came from had many great athletes and I saw them training and racing while growing up. I can mention a few names like Xolile Yawa, Bethuel Seribe, Jan Olyn and many others. The mines were quite close and every weekend they would race. Most men could easily run under 30 min at altitude, the best running under 29 minutes. On the track there were runners who ran under 2 min for 800(women) and under 4:10 for 1500m.  They were the people who set the standards and whom I looked up to. Running in England was very lonely.

Going into the Olympics it was billed as a race against Mary Decker, how were you feeling about it and did you worry about the eventual winner, Romanian athlete Maricica Pucia?

It was unfair because most informed people knew that Pucia was very strong that year and the favourite for the gold.

Can you talk us through the 1984 Olympic final?

The pace was slowing and I got spiked under my feet. I thought it best to take the lead.  I felt a bump and the next lap I saw Mary lying on the track and the crowd started booing.  I just did not want to end up on the winner's podium because of the booing.

How did it feel to be booed while you were still running because of a collision with Decker?

A nightmare come true in front of a huge booing crowd!

Many years later Decker said it was her own fault and was down to her inexperience that she fell, do you ever see each other these days?

I raced against her in 85 and ran all my best times with her in the race. 

In 1985 you also broke the 5,000m record again (officially) and won the World Cross Country, how do you look back on 1985 as a year for you?

That was a great year. I ran all my best times. Running wise, the best year!

You won the World Cross again in 1986, how do the two races compare?

I ran barefoot in the mud and it was a big mistake because I could not get enough grip. Luckily there were some spots that I could make up ground.  It was good to win it again, although there was more pressure second time.

As well as winning titles you were also famous for mainly training/racing barefoot, how did you start doing that?

At school my coach did not want us to go out on the road by ourselves so we did most of our distance work in the form of intervals on the grass and we all ran barefoot. When I was on the road I always ran with shoes. In SA it is not only normal but kids are encouraged to go barefoot because it is medically accepted that it is better for the development of a kids feet to go barefoot.

What are your feelings on barefoot running now?

I'd still prefer to race barefoot on the track and grass.  On the road there are some great shoes on the market(Newton) which simulates barefoot running.  I still believe if you approach barefoot running conservatively and pick the surfaces on which you run carefully, it enhances your running form and performance.

You broke a lot of records, world indoor 3,000m, world 5,000m, UK records etc, how does running records (especially world records) compare to winning world titles?

My running has always been process driven and not based on outcomes.  That is why I am still running today and enjoying it even more. I did get upset if I thought I could have run better, but at the end of the day I enjoy running by myself in my hometown on a gravel road as much as anywhere else.

Do you have a personal favourite race?

My first SA Championships on the track was in my home town and I won the 800m girls under 16. It was almost the last event of the meeting and for two days I watched other kids win medals and every winner got this bright red bag. I got silver in the 1500 and missed out on my bag, so I was really excited when I won the 800 and the bag!

Did you still think you would hold two junior records (Mile and 3,000m) all these years later?

It is time they get broken.

Are you still involved in athletics?

Because there is no organised sport in elementary schools in South Carolina, we are starting a program to get kids active in elementary school through non competitive running.  I am a volunteer coach at Coastal Carolina and distributing Newton shoes in SA.  So I am still very involved in running.

Interval Work

How many times a week?

Twice a week.  I simulate a tempo run by doing intervals on the grass with very short recovery

Example of important/key session?

5000m session:  i.e 6 * 800 or 5 * 1000 or 4* 1200

Did you change surface dependant on time of year, do much indor work or cross country?

I do most of my work off road and try to only do essential sessions on the road

 

Hardest session?

Mixed hill session

 

Week

I work on a two week schedule where I do 3 track sessions, 3 road sessions, one long run and one hill session.  The rest is easy recovery runs and I rest one day a week.

Before a big race I would do my last semi hard session on the Tuesday before the Saturday and the rest of the time I would just jog and do easy strides

 

Mileage

Do you do much longer running?

I am supposed to do longer miles in my off season, but because I don't really train according to seasons any more, but rather according to my schedule at home, I mix up my training and just about keep the same schedule throughout the year.  I just rest more before an important race and will up my long run before a half marathon.

What is your longest run of the week?

I must admit, I HATE doing long runs.  Probably because I have to do it on my own, but I would rather go out for an hour at a brisk pace that do 2 hours of slow running.  I realise if I want to do a good marathon I will have to do the long runs.


Strength Work

I don't do any gym work.  Just basic core strength at home.  I do hills once every two weeks, but I do plyometrics and rhythm work before every hard session.

 

Diet

I am hypoglaecemic so I have to be careful what and when I eat.  I am just conservative regarding sugary foods and try to eat unprocessed foods

 

Group Training

At school I loved training in a group because that was where my friends were.  It is great to run in a group if it can fit your schedule.  The only negative thing about group training is that you will start racing and not training while training with a group.

Now I do most of my training by myself or sometimes with a friend


Racing

Did you go into races with a plan?

No, not really.  I just run as fast as my body allows. I guess that is not a plan at all!

What were your strengths and weakness's when racing?

My strength was probably that I could keep going at a fast pace for a long time.  My weakness was that I could not run tactical races that well.

Did you race as training sessions?

No, sometimes a half marathon, but never a competitive distance. What we would do is use smaller races to sharpen up for bigger races, but your mindset was on racing and not training. That is a big difference.

Which race had the best atmosphere?

Weltklasse in Zurich

Did you ever have superstitions before a race?

I always tie my left shoe before the right.

Did anyone ever try to stand on your feet when you were barefoot?

Not on purpose, but I got spiked a lot, especially underneath my feet.

Did you worry when racing about your bare feet?

No, when you were in a race you forget about that but your body knows to try and keep out of trouble by either front running or running wide

 

Rest / Recovery

At least one day a week off and do nothing.  It is great because your mind rests as well.

When I was young my coach forced me to at least take a week off between every season, but I still went out training on my own.  I would take off after a hard race and just jog to recover and wait until my body is ready to train again.  I guess it is more a case of listening to your body.

 

Comments On "Zola Budd Interview"

The Romanian athlete is not Maricica Pucia: her name is MARICICA PUICA !

Barefoot Dinu Posted on February 15th, 2011