Comments on: How to Train the Kenyan Way http://www.kinetic-revolution.com/how-to-train-the-kenyan-way/ Running Coach in London. Run Technique Specialists. Triathlon, Ironman and Marathon Coaching Thu, 23 May 2013 12:51:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Neil Scholes http://www.kinetic-revolution.com/how-to-train-the-kenyan-way/#comment-12520 Neil Scholes Wed, 30 Jan 2013 11:14:51 +0000 http://www.kinetic-revolution.com/?p=6269#comment-12520 James Thanks for your comments and glad you enjoyed the article. The first thing I do with 95% of my athletes is getting them to run to feel and understand what easy, steady, tempo and fast means and 'feels' like. I'm sure they get sick of me saying "Kenyans don't own Garmins". I take the point about spreadsheets however athletes need plans; if you are experienced to know the difference between really not being able to train and just not wanting to train or not being able to train then that is different but the process is about breaking your body down, recovering and adapting to come back stronger so if you are injured then do something different but if it's raining and you have had a bad day at work or the partner is nagging you then sorry you need to do the session - after all what are you going to do in a race when it starts getting hard? DNF? You need to learn to deal with adversity. Neil James
Thanks for your comments and glad you enjoyed the article.
The first thing I do with 95% of my athletes is getting them to run to feel and understand what easy, steady, tempo and fast means and ‘feels’ like. I’m sure they get sick of me saying “Kenyans don’t own Garmins”. I take the point about spreadsheets however athletes need plans; if you are experienced to know the difference between really not being able to train and just not wanting to train or not being able to train then that is different but the process is about breaking your body down, recovering and adapting to come back stronger so if you are injured then do something different but if it’s raining and you have had a bad day at work or the partner is nagging you then sorry you need to do the session – after all what are you going to do in a race when it starts getting hard? DNF? You need to learn to deal with adversity.
Neil

]]> By: James Adams http://www.kinetic-revolution.com/how-to-train-the-kenyan-way/#comment-12499 James Adams Tue, 29 Jan 2013 21:01:07 +0000 http://www.kinetic-revolution.com/?p=6269#comment-12499 They work hard? What a novel idea, particularly as we are generally told that the key to improved perormance is in very expensive energy drinks and gadgets. Great article and looking forward to hearing more. Particularly interested in how they seem to "run by feel" as Matt Fiztgerald wrote, running hard when they felt good, holding back when they didn't and not running if they felt injured. So many people I know get injured because a spreadsheet they are following tells them they "have" to complete a session. And having no idea of their weekly mileage? That would probably torment me. They work hard? What a novel idea, particularly as we are generally told that the key to improved perormance is in very expensive energy drinks and gadgets.

Great article and looking forward to hearing more. Particularly interested in how they seem to “run by feel” as Matt Fiztgerald wrote, running hard when they felt good, holding back when they didn’t and not running if they felt injured. So many people I know get injured because a spreadsheet they are following tells them they “have” to complete a session.

And having no idea of their weekly mileage? That would probably torment me.

]]> By: Neil Scholes http://www.kinetic-revolution.com/how-to-train-the-kenyan-way/#comment-11304 Neil Scholes Fri, 28 Dec 2012 11:32:10 +0000 http://www.kinetic-revolution.com/?p=6269#comment-11304 Yes initially it was the impression that I got until I thought about it. What I observed however is that they exemplified the mantra "make your easy sessions easy and your hard sessions hard"; although the session volume looked light the intervals were performed with true intensity. There was no mediocrity here at all. Their intervals were not run at a comfortable pace they were run flat out. In terms of working "hard" they worked incredibly professionally; they were very relaxed before and after the session but when the session was on they were completely focussed on what they were doing. That in itself was a real lesson. Yes initially it was the impression that I got until I thought about it. What I observed however is that they exemplified the mantra “make your easy sessions easy and your hard sessions hard”; although the session volume looked light the intervals were performed with true intensity. There was no mediocrity here at all. Their intervals were not run at a comfortable pace they were run flat out. In terms of working “hard” they worked incredibly professionally; they were very relaxed before and after the session but when the session was on they were completely focussed on what they were doing. That in itself was a real lesson.

]]> By: Nathan http://www.kinetic-revolution.com/how-to-train-the-kenyan-way/#comment-11291 Nathan Fri, 28 Dec 2012 02:51:12 +0000 http://www.kinetic-revolution.com/?p=6269#comment-11291 I believe they work hard, but can you give more detail on that. Your brief observation of their work out gives the opposite impression I believe they work hard, but can you give more detail on that. Your brief observation of their work out gives the opposite impression

]]> By: Ryan http://www.kinetic-revolution.com/how-to-train-the-kenyan-way/#comment-2960 Ryan Tue, 09 Oct 2012 09:18:05 +0000 http://www.kinetic-revolution.com/?p=6269#comment-2960 This is great, thanks! Can I ask what ankle strengthening and flexibility exercises they did? This is great, thanks! Can I ask what ankle strengthening and flexibility exercises they did?

]]> By: Malcolm Anderson http://www.kinetic-revolution.com/how-to-train-the-kenyan-way/#comment-2945 Malcolm Anderson Mon, 08 Oct 2012 20:42:20 +0000 http://www.kinetic-revolution.com/?p=6269#comment-2945 Great oberservations and very much resonates with what I observe when have our athletes here in the UK from Ethiopia and Kenya. The group mentality is so dominant yet here we tend to see athletics/track work/ etc as an individualistic sport....the group comes into play from time to time but not an integral part of training. Great oberservations and very much resonates with what I observe when have our athletes here in the UK from Ethiopia and Kenya. The group mentality is so dominant yet here we tend to see athletics/track work/ etc as an individualistic sport….the group comes into play from time to time but not an integral part of training.

]]> By: Learn to Apply the Kenyan Approach to Run Training | Ironman, Triathlon and Running Specialist Coaching - Kinetic Revolution http://www.kinetic-revolution.com/how-to-train-the-kenyan-way/#comment-2740 Learn to Apply the Kenyan Approach to Run Training | Ironman, Triathlon and Running Specialist Coaching - Kinetic Revolution Wed, 26 Sep 2012 08:20:55 +0000 http://www.kinetic-revolution.com/?p=6269#comment-2740 [...] this second article, based on my observations working with the Kenyan Olympic Team, I wanted to highlight three elements of their training that we can all bring into our own [...] [...] this second article, based on my observations working with the Kenyan Olympic Team, I wanted to highlight three elements of their training that we can all bring into our own [...]

]]> By: Ticking off the Ks: Monday to Sunday | #keeprunningblog http://www.kinetic-revolution.com/how-to-train-the-kenyan-way/#comment-2695 Ticking off the Ks: Monday to Sunday | #keeprunningblog Sat, 22 Sep 2012 12:59:01 +0000 http://www.kinetic-revolution.com/?p=6269#comment-2695 [...] my left ankle. Pain seemed to rise up the inside of my calf. I terminated the session immediately (this is the Kenyan way – if there is a niggle, you simply do not train!) and gingerly walked home. Spent the evening with a pack of frozen peas firmly pressed to my left [...] [...] my left ankle. Pain seemed to rise up the inside of my calf. I terminated the session immediately (this is the Kenyan way – if there is a niggle, you simply do not train!) and gingerly walked home. Spent the evening with a pack of frozen peas firmly pressed to my left [...]

]]> By: Neil Scholes http://www.kinetic-revolution.com/how-to-train-the-kenyan-way/#comment-2522 Neil Scholes Tue, 04 Sep 2012 08:49:56 +0000 http://www.kinetic-revolution.com/?p=6269#comment-2522 Hi Deborah, thanks for your input to the blog. Club running was always the staple of the British running scene and all of our great athletes have come from this type of environment. It sounds like you and your son are part of a great setup. The increased level of competition ensures you are honest with the sessions you do and you are always looking to catch that person in front. The recovery times are important to monitor to ensure adequate rest to be able to perform in the next repeat but equally not too long a rest such that you are not loading the system. Keep up your own training and enjoy being part of that club structure! Hi Deborah, thanks for your input to the blog. Club running was always the staple of the British running scene and all of our great athletes have come from this type of environment. It sounds like you and your son are part of a great setup. The increased level of competition ensures you are honest with the sessions you do and you are always looking to catch that person in front. The recovery times are important to monitor to ensure adequate rest to be able to perform in the next repeat but equally not too long a rest such that you are not loading the system.
Keep up your own training and enjoy being part of that club structure!

]]> By: Deborah http://www.kinetic-revolution.com/how-to-train-the-kenyan-way/#comment-2489 Deborah Sat, 01 Sep 2012 12:06:38 +0000 http://www.kinetic-revolution.com/?p=6269#comment-2489 Really interesting read and looking forward to finding out more. I always train with my son at his running club. They always run together and the coaches never over train them and just 1 dad has a stop watch (which is timing the recovery) again, any injuries the kid slows down and misses out a set. It's a great setup and I'm improving all the time Really interesting read and looking forward to finding out more.
I always train with my son at his running club. They always run together and the coaches never over train them and just 1 dad has a stop watch (which is timing the recovery) again, any injuries the kid slows down and misses out a set. It’s a great setup and I’m improving all the time

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