Wang Junxia and Ma Junren's Incredible Training Sessions

Itziger

Just been reading in a Spanish paper an interview with Wang Junxia - holder of the brilliant 3,000m record and winner of the Atlanta Olympic 5,000mts title. Among other achievements.

Don't know if this is known in anglophone world but I'll leave you with this detail of their training. 5am 30k run - she stresses the fact that these were hard runs, not jogs. And an afternoon session of 20k. Everyday.

350kms a week if my maths is right.

They lived in a residency without tv, radio, music, newspapers........

Now, whether this is 100% accurate, I don't know, but it's some story if it's true. In the interview she says "we're" writing a book. Could be an interesting read.

huskerdu

Its not really news. Its 16 years ago. At the time they said that their incredible times were due to a training regime that involved total immersion and really high mileage. Some people believed them, some didn't.....

They claimed that this regime would revolutionise running and they would dominate for decades.

They faded quickly and never did write the book. I dont think anyone is really all that interested now.

YFlyer

Was there not some fungi dish they ate to boost their performance

http://www.life.illinois.edu/whitfield/pubs/pdfs/Cordyceps.pdf

Itziger

huskerdu wrote: »

Its not really news. Its 16 years ago. At the time they said that their incredible times were due to a training regime that involved total immersion and really high mileage. Some people believed them, some didn't.....

They claimed that this regime would revolutionise running and they would dominate for decades.

They faded quickly and never did write the book. I dont think anyone is really all that interested now.

The interview was from today's paper. She responds to one question with "You'll have to buy the book to find that out"

I was just shocked at the mileage for a 3k to 10 k runner principally. Although she did also run a few marathons. Hardly surprising that they didn't last at 350k a week.

dna_leri

YFlyer wrote: »

Was there not some fungi dish they ate to boost their performance

http://www.life.illinois.edu/whitfield/pubs/pdfs/Cordyceps.pdf

Think it was "turtle soup" - literally unbelievable stuff.

MrCreosote

Does anyone actually believe their times were done fair and cleanly? No matter how much training they were doing.

M cebee

MrCreosote wrote: »

Does anyone actually believe their times were done fair and cleanly? No matter how much training they were doing.

no idea
drugs enable hard training
im sure sonia osullivan wasn't too pleased after stuttart 93 and that wasn't the only medal she lost out on in her career

Clearlier

MrCreosote wrote: »

Does anyone actually believe their times were done fair and cleanly? No matter how much training they were doing.

Not too many but Wang Junxia was a very good athlete before and after her time with Ma Junren. I'd be interested to read a book by her - I'd be hoping that with the time that has passed she might be completely open about what went on. The stories that came out at the time suggested a very dysfunctional set up.

Pisco Sour

The hint is in the title.

Incredible in·cred·i·ble [in-kred-uh-buh l]: not credible; hard to believe; unbelievable: