by Larry EderIt was over 26 years ago that I met, and interviewed, the finest distance runner of the 20th century. His name was Emil Zatopek, he won Olympic medals in 1948 (gold in 10,000m, silver in 5,000m), 1952 (gold in 5000m, 10,000 and marathon). In 1952, just as he finished the 5000m, taking the gold, as his wife, Dana won the javelin (she took silver in 1960 too.
Emil Zatopek was a soldier in the Czech Army. He would great his competitors at the starting line, in six languages. He was called the Czech Locomotive. In our interview (took six hours), Emil explained the feeling of competing then, and his hard training. Much of his running was in heavy boots. He ran in snow, he ran in a tub full of water and clothes, he held his breath for minutes, until he collapsed outside of his doorstep, trying to build his lung capacity.
He also defied the Soviet government in 1968, during the Czech Spring revolt. He lost his commission and was put in a jail cell. He was then humiliated, and physically brutalized until he could no longer run. Could you hold your ideals under constant beatings?
The man I met in 1991 was a gentle, thoughtful person, wanting to know about the world. He loved seeing the world. Athletics gave him that opportunity. He was, still an optimist. Running can do that.
Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020: Easy 45 minutes, 4 x 150 m strideouts
Want to know the finest book on running royalty EVER? Then, buy, read, gift the book on Emil Zatopek, by Pat Butcher: https://www.globerunner.org/books/
2020 RunBlogRun Spring Track & Field Training program, Week 6, Day 1rrrr
Monday: Hilly run, 50 minutes, include 10 uphill runs of 2 minutes each, cooldown
Tuesday: Easy 45 minutes, 4 x 150 m strideouts
Wednesday: 30 min warmup run, 12 x 400m, at 2 mile pace, 100m jog between each, 20 minute cooldown
Thursday: Easy 45 minutes, 4 x 150m strideouts
Friday: Fartlek, 50 minutes, 10 x 2 minutes at 3k pace, 3k easy, cooldown
Saturday: Easy 45 minutes, 4 x 150 m strideouts
Sunday: a modest long run, 60-65 minutes
