Spring 1999 - British Milers Club

BMC April 1999 6/6/99 9:06 pm Page 6Dave Moorcroft - analysis of a championAn analysis of his training by Norman PooleIntroductionDavid Moorcroft was a consistent world classathlete over 1500m and 5000m during themid-1970s and 80s. During this time he won anumber of medals at major games on the trackand was equally proficient with his performancesover the roads, country and indoors. Inthis sense he was an all-round performer andone of the few to successfully bridge thetransition from world class 1500m to worldclass 5000m performances.At the peak of his athletic powers, in 1982,David broke the world 5000m record in Oslowith a time of 13:00.41 and set his best evertimes for 800m, one mile, 1500m and 3000m.As is the case for a number of his contemporaries,he would surely have offered the sporteven more great performances but for injuries.David has always remained an active athleteand retained his renowned enthusiasm forathletic challenge. This was highlighted in1993 when he set a vetsÕ world record of 4:02for one mile.During April of 1994 I first began to discusshis career and training methods with him andthen studied his training diaries in which hemeticulously recorded all of the training heperformed. Although his diaries start in 1966,when he was aged 13, and continue to thepresent day, I concentrated on the period 1966to 1982 when David broke the world 5000mrecord. For me this was a fascinating opportunityto gain a detailed insight into the developmentof an inexperienced young athletethrough to world class 1500m performer andon to a world record-holder over 5000m. Ithen went on to study DavidÕs training duringhis build-up to the vetsÕworld one mile record.Since May 1969, when he was 16 years ofage, David has been coached and advised byJohn Anderson who has planned and devisedall of his training. On a number of occasionsduring 1994-5 I met with John to discussDavidÕs career and training, to moreaccurately interpret his methods and present asummary of his approach and philosophy totraining/ coaching world class middle distanceathletes.The early yearsDavid first started to run competitively atschool in 1964 and joined Coventry GodivaHarriers later the same year. His club werevery orientated towards road and cross countryand were very much endurance based. Suchnotable distance stars as Basil Heatley, BillAdcocks, Juan and Dick Taylor werecompeting for Coventry Godiva at this timeand a particularly inspiring moment for theyoung David Moorcroft was the silver medalperformance won by Basil Heatley in the 1964Tokyo Olympic Games marathon.Understandablyat this stage of hiscareer DavidÕs ambitionswere to followin the footstepsof Heatley and be amarathoner. Theearly years of DavidÕscompetitiveexperience were atcross country with the track season viewedalmost as an incidental of minor importancebetween cross country seasons.Coached by Reg Payne from 1964-66 andMick Crossfield from 1967-69, Dave ran only4-5 days per week and rarely above 25miles/week until 1968. Most of these trainingsessions were steady runs or fartlek and theoccasional hill session; with very littleexperience, either in training or competition,on the track. During these early years themajor aim for his cross country season was theEnglish National Schools Championships,where he finished 86th in 1966 and a highlycreditable fifth in 1967, both at junior level.During 1968, weekly training was consistentlyabove 25 miles/week but no particular consistencyor great improvement in race performancewas forthcoming.During these embryonic stages of hisathletics career David, as previouslymentioned, rarely ventured on to the track.During 1968 and the early stages of 1969,David realised that he had to increase considerablythe volume of his training if he were toimprove and realise his athletic ambitions.Table 1Sunday (1/11/70)12 miles steadyMonday am 5 1 /2 miles easypm 3 1 /2 miles steadyTuesday am 30 mins fartlekpm 3x220yds + 2x330yds + 660yds +2x330yds3x220yds(recoveries not recorded)Wednesday am 5 miles easypm 4x660yds + 6x150yds(recoveries not recorded)Thursday am 30 mins fartlekpm 30x220yds(recoveries not recorded)FridayRestSaturday Race Birmingham League Cross Country3 miles, Youths. Position 1st.Weekly mileage 48 approx.6BMC News : Spring 1999