Old School

I was hoping someone could outline some of the methods of past european straightaway greats… irina privalova, borzov, armin hary, manfred kokot??

Borzov training “borozov came out of his home town’s Youth sports school at age 17 with the best marks 10.5 m and 22.0 m. He joined coach Valentin Petrovski’s training squad and became a guinea pig of sorts as he came under an entirely new and unique form of sprinting. After improving his sprint technique through uphill sprinting and intensive coaching, borozov began a schedule of training based on his specific need for either speed or endurance. Coach Petrovski’s studies with the use of electro-myograph led him to believe that there was a close correlation between times taken over 30 and 60 meters with expected performances over the standard 100 and 200 meter distances respectively. The correlations were set into tables and served as a guide as to what Borozov had to acheive over 30 meter tests from month to month. In the early stages of Borzov’s training with Petrovksi it became obvious that , according to the tables, Borzov lacked speed. He was immediately set to work, according to Petrovski’s speed training method, using fast sprints with long recoveries. They were mainly repetitions of 60m. from flying crouch starts with emphasis of complete rest between the large number of repetitions. At the same time speed endurance was not overlooked and Borozov’s training sessions included repetitive sprinting with limited recoveries. His temp (interval runs) were mainly over 150 and 200 meters…, in addition to 30 minutes cross country and occasional 800m. runs. In the development of spped Borzov covered between 2400-3200 meters in a training session. He stuck rigidly to the principle of full recoveries by increasing recovery times during a workout to assure near complete rest before the next repitition was started. Borzov’s weekly training plan was based on constant changes in speed and speed endurance work. Usually Mondays served for medium speed repetitions, Tuesdays for speed development, ect. However, the prgram was flexable and alterations were made according to Petrovski’s analysis of the day’s workouts. The basis of the changes were the 30 and 60 meter tables. A drop in the 60m performance was regarded as an indication of lack of speed endurance and the need for more work to develop it. Slower 30 m. times suggested consentration on spped work.
SUMMER TRAINING: The outstanding feature of Borzov’s summer training was and intensive development of speed. His running technique was now training good and allowed him to concentrate on speed work. Speed endurance training as described above still remained in the program but was stricitly carried out on seperate days from speed training.
Aleriy Borzov adopted a “Lydiard” type philosophy holding that only a small amount of competitions should be considered important enough to train specifically for. In other words, he did not try to peak early in the season and keep his performances along an even plane, but train through the meets of lesser import and concentrate on races of value.”

Dude I also have other stuff on Borzov from start technique ( I think I posted this article with a sick photo earlier) and his actual prep info, I will post it later, I also have a write up on armin hary but it is 5 pages so I will take a look at it and sum it up later! Hope this helps!

Armin Harry
Seasonal training schedule was divided up into five seperate periods: November-December, Jan-Feb, March-April, May-June and July. The purpose of the first three divisions was for conditioning, increasing muscular power, and developing neuromuscular coordination. THe May to June period was devoted to form building and training after July for preservation of form.