Training Diary
Follow our athletes through the highs and lows, triumphs and disappointments, successes and failures of training and competition.
You’ll get an insider’s view, behind the scene of what’s required to race at an high level.
We’ll share insights into:
- training regimes
- diet
- strength and conditioning sessions
- rest and recovery routines
- race day
- new kit
Middle Distance Diary
For many people, middle age is a time to enjoy a slower pace of life. But not for Paul Grange – he’s aiming to speed up.
In 2019, aged 40, elite middle-distance athlete became one of the fastest runners in the world over 800m, running a blistering time of 1.54:47.
It was the best performance by any UK vet-40 – a category for athletes aged 40 to 49 – during the year and rapid enough to leave top runners half his age trailing in his wake.
But this incredible speed and longevity isn’t all talent. The 41-year-old, who ran a personal best of 1:53.46 in his mid-30s, puts a fair amount of hard work into his training.
In a Speed Secrets exclusive, Paul shares a typical off-season’s weekly training schedule. It’s a fantastic insight into what it takes to run fast and hold back the years. Hopefully, it’s inspiration for anyone who thinks their best years are behind them.
With the right training, age is just a number.
Monday:
Steady jog / rest. My typical Monday starts with a 5 mile run to work. Nothing too fast, more of a steady jog at 7:20 min/mile pace. If I raced over the weekend, or did a particularly hard long run the day before, Monday might otherwise be a complete rest day.
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