HISTORY OF LEEDS CITY A.C.

APPENDIX 1

MIKE BAXTER'S TRAINING, 1970

The following extract from his training diaries was submitted by Mike himself to the writer in 2002. It covers a period when he was rising to possibly the best form of his career (see Chapter 3), shortly before he set what still remains (in March 2003) the second-fastest 5000m in Club history.

A) TWO WEEKS IN JANUARY

These two weeks were immediately prior to the Yorkshire C.C.A. Championship at the end of the month.

MON

(a.m.)

Five miles easy @ 6min. pace.

 

(noon)

Mile jog, 8 laps on track sprinting straights, mile warm-down.

 

(p.m.)

Eight miles easy @ 5.45. pace.

TUE

(a.m.)

Five miles easy.

 

(p.m.)

10 miles hard fartlek efforts, 2 x 1 mile, 3 x 600m, 8 x 100m. with timed jog (5min, 3min, 1min)

WED

(a.m.)

Five miles easy.

 

(P.M.)

12 miles "moderately easy" @ 6min pace.

THU

(a.m.)

Five miles easy.

 

(p.m.)

2 miles jog & strides; 6 x 800m road circuit, timed at around 2.07/2.08, with 3 min. recovery; *x 100m sprints; 2 miles jog.

FRI

(a.m.)

Five miles easy.

 

(p.m.)

7 miles steady.

SAT

(a.m.)

11 miles "acceleration run" first three @ 5.45-6.00 min. pace, next three @ 5.20-5.30, next three @ 5.00, last two "flat out."

 

(p.m.)

Four miles jog.

SUN

 

16 miles cross-country, plus two miles on track sprinting straights.

MON

(a.m.)

Five miles easy.

 

(p.m.)

10 miles fartlek, including hill sprints.

TUE

(a.m.)

Five miles easy.

 

(p.m.)

10 miles steady (in 57 minutes).

WED

(a.m.)

Five miles easy.

 

(noon)

1 mile jog, 16 x 100m hill sprints, 1 mile jog.

 

(p.m.)

7 miles easy, @ 6.30 pace.

THU

(a.m.)

Five miles easy.

 

(p.m.)

10 miles steady (in 58 minutes)

FRI

(a.m.)

Four miles easy.

 

(p.m.)

Four miles easy.

SAT

 

Yorkshire C.C.A. Championships - finished first.

SUN

 

15 miles easy, cross-country.

 

B)        TWO WEEKS IN APRIL

MON

(a.m.)

Five miles easy.

 

(p.m.)

10 miles hard fartlek efforts, 2 x 1 mile, 3 x 600m, 8 x 100m. with timed jog (5min, 3min, 1min.)

 

 

 

TUE

(a.m.)

Five miles easy.

 

(p.m.)

2 miles jog & strides; 10 x 400m @ 60sec, with 90sec. Recovery; 4 x 100m flat out; 2 miles jog

WED

(a.m.)

Five miles easy.

 

(p.m.)

10 miles easy, on country.

THU

(a.m.)

Five miles easy.

 

(p.m.)

2 miles jog & strides; 2 x 8 x 200 ("untimed on grass") with 30sec. recovery; 5min between sets; 2 miles jog.

FRI

(a.m.)

Five miles easy.

 

(p.m.)

Eight miles easy

SAT

 

2 miles jog & strides; 3 x 1 mile on Soldiers' Field ("in spikes - fast"), with 5min, recovery; 8 x 100m sprints; 2 miles jog.

 

(p.m.)

Four miles easy.

SUN

 

18 miles steady, on mixed terrain.

MON

(a.m.)

Five miles easy.

 

(p.m.)

10 miles hard fartlek - 3 x 800m, 10 x 100m hills, 10 x 100m sprints on flat.

TUE

(a.m.)

Five miles easy.

 

(p.m.)

2 miles jog & strides; 16 x 400m @ 63-64, with 1min. recovery.

WED

(a.m.)

Five miles easy.

 

(p.m.)

10 miles "easy country" @ 6.00 pace.

THU

(a.m.)

Five miles easy.

 

(p.m.)

2 miles jog & strides; 8 x 300m @ 42-43sec. with 1min recovery; 6 x 100m sprints; 2 miles jog.

FRI

(a.m.)

Five miles easy.

 

(p.m.)

Eight miles steady @ 5.45 pace.

SAT

(a.m.)

2 miles jog & strides; 6 x 800m on Soldiers' Field ("in spikes - fast"), with 3min. recovery; 2 miles jog.

 

(p.m.)

Four miles easy.

SUN

 

17 miles steady, on mixed terrain.

Comments from coaches and athletes in 2002-3 mainly centred on the amount of high-quality speedwork regularly included, as a counter to Mike's self-confessed lack of pace, and the way sessions were fitted in round a full-time job.