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You guys may of heard about Gerry Lindgren. As some of you may know I've been running a regimen similar to his during high school. He ran 200-300 mpw or so from what he claims. I used to run single 70-80 mpw until I got a job and so yesterday I emailed him about how I could achieve my goal. (Top 25 in XC state). This was my email and this was his response.
Mr. Lindgren,
I first would like to say how
honored I feel writing to you. You have been a a major influence to me.
In Fact, you are the reason I started running Cross Country and Track.
I am a wimpy runner and I need to accomplish a goal that I have always
wanted to achieve. I want to place in the top 25 at state in Cross
Country. I've been running for 2 years. Most of my mileage is 35-40
mpw. My best 3 mile was done in under 3 months of running. This summer
I have been running long runs on some days. (8-10 miles.) I want to
know what you did during high school. I am prepared to do whatever it
takes to go to state. I want to start running twice a day like you did,
a session by myself and a session with the team. I heard you did severe
fartleks everyday. Should I follow this? Below are my
times.I'm sorry for the long story and I hope you have time to look
into my situation. Thank you.
800-2:10
1600-4:42
3 mile- 17:45
Your times are not too bad Montiel.
When I was in high school I did 3 workouts a day. I ran about 5-6
miles before school; Ran with the team after school; and then I got up
at 1 or 2 in the morning to get in another 10 miles or so. I averaged
around 25-35 miles. BUT, I did not count miles at all. I didn't have
any idea how many miles I was running. Didn't even think about it.
What I was thinking was that the other runners where NOT doing it. To
be able to stay up with faster runners you need to work MORE THAN THEY
DO. On weekends I ran all day. I would take a lunch and run to Mt.
Spokane, 44 miles north of Spokane; Neuman Lake, 57 miles east of
Spokane; or even Coeur 'd Alene 76 miles out. But then, I was the
slowest guy on my XC team and needed to run more miles than everyone
else just to keep up with them.
Doing one persons' workout or another will not get you where you
want to go, Montiel. You need to develop your OWN plan; one that is
made by you and fits your life. I found that if I could sprint in the
middle of races most of the other guys would give up. So I trained
with all out hard quarter-mile sprints in the middle of long runs. I
found out I got too tired near the end of races so I started doing hard
sprints up a steep 1.25 mile mountain. Whatever it takes is the
Montiel system of training, yes?
I was so thrilled that I received an email from him. I will save this email for the rest of my life.
| High School Runner Please read | |
| From: | Tony Montiel |
| Sent: | Wed 8/13/08 5:45 PM |
| To: | Gerry the Jogger (gerrythejogger@aol.com) |
Mr. Lindgren,
I first would like to say how
honored I feel writing to you. You have been a a major influence to me.
In Fact, you are the reason I started running Cross Country and Track.
I am a wimpy runner and I need to accomplish a goal that I have always
wanted to achieve. I want to place in the top 25 at state in Cross
Country. I've been running for 2 years. Most of my mileage is 35-40
mpw. My best 3 mile was done in under 3 months of running. This summer
I have been running long runs on some days. (8-10 miles.) I want to
know what you did during high school. I am prepared to do whatever it
takes to go to state. I want to start running twice a day like you did,
a session by myself and a session with the team. I heard you did severe
fartleks everyday. Should I follow this? Below are my
times.I'm sorry for the long story and I hope you have time to look
into my situation. Thank you.
800-2:10
1600-4:42
3 mile- 17:45
| Re: High School Runner Please read | |
| From: | GerrytheJogger@aol.com |
| Sent: | Thu 8/14/08 9:45 PM |
| To: | Tony Montiel |
Your times are not too bad Montiel.
When I was in high school I did 3 workouts a day. I ran about 5-6
miles before school; Ran with the team after school; and then I got up
at 1 or 2 in the morning to get in another 10 miles or so. I averaged
around 25-35 miles. BUT, I did not count miles at all. I didn't have
any idea how many miles I was running. Didn't even think about it.
What I was thinking was that the other runners where NOT doing it. To
be able to stay up with faster runners you need to work MORE THAN THEY
DO. On weekends I ran all day. I would take a lunch and run to Mt.
Spokane, 44 miles north of Spokane; Neuman Lake, 57 miles east of
Spokane; or even Coeur 'd Alene 76 miles out. But then, I was the
slowest guy on my XC team and needed to run more miles than everyone
else just to keep up with them.
Doing one persons' workout or another will not get you where you
want to go, Montiel. You need to develop your OWN plan; one that is
made by you and fits your life. I found that if I could sprint in the
middle of races most of the other guys would give up. So I trained
with all out hard quarter-mile sprints in the middle of long runs. I
found out I got too tired near the end of races so I started doing hard
sprints up a steep 1.25 mile mountain. Whatever it takes is the
Montiel system of training, yes?
I was so thrilled that I received an email from him. I will save this email for the rest of my life.
What good side?
Why didn't I think of that? Thanks FK
