I assume he was doing long work so many times a week to increase his endurance and keep form for the latter stages of the race, but 300’s 3-4 times a week (in his prep period I assume)? Would be interesting to have more details, was he doing his lactate work on the hills, would it even be possible to do 300’s on hills 3-4 times a week without great stress on the system (unless they are at a low intensity - but if they are at a relatively low intensity what benefit would they have except on mechanics?). Suetsugu took his weak point and an interesting approach to improving it, I assume he feels he’s maxed or close to maxed in other areas and increased this component in detriment of other type of track work where he felt there couldn’t be similar improvement … so this probably wouldn’t be a suitable approach for a non-elite sprinter. Just thought it was an interesting article and method to post.
Can Shingo Suetsugu bring a first sprint medal to Japan?
Shingo Suetsugu is the future of sprinting in Japan. Earlier this year, he was expected to make the final in Paris. However, after recording 20.03, the Asian record, at 200m in the nationals the possibility of the first sprinting medal by a Japanese runner at the global championships moved closer to reality. In order to increase his chances of a medal, Suetsugu, a double 100m/200m national champion, is concentrating on 200m in Paris.
Unlike his friend Tamesue, Edmonton 400m Hurdles bronze medallist, Suetsugu was not always the national superstar that he is now. Although Suetsugu won the 100m in his age group division at the national games, he failed to win the prestigious national inter-high school championships. His best finishes were eighth at both 100m and 200m.
Suetsugu’s breakthrough year came in 2000, his sophomore year in Tokai University, when he recorded 20.26 for the 200m, a collegiate record. After that the 20-year-old Suetsugu ran 20.37 in his second-round heat at Sydney - the fastest 200m time recorded by a Japanese sprinter at the global championships - and qualified for the semi-final, he was considered the heir apparent to Koji Ito, the 1998 double Asian Games champion.
In the Olympic 4x100m relay, although Suetsugu pulled his muscle mid-race, he miraculously completed his leg and passed the baton to the anchor; the team finished sixth. The following year, he again qualified for the World semi-final in Edmonton, and thus firmly established himself as the best 200m sprinter in Japan.
In 2002, Suetsugu also showed that he was a force to be reckoned in the shorter sprint. In May, he improved his 100m best to 10.05. In the national inter-collegiate championships Suetsugu won three events (100m, 4x100m and 4x400m relays) to lead his team to their first collegiate championships. Then in October, while many of the Japanese favourites were upset at the Asian Games, he won a gold medal at 200m, as had been expected.
Suetsugu’s form used to fall apart in the final 20m of the 200m, but last winter, he worked with weights for the first time, and also incorporated (300m) hill running three to four times a week. In addition, he worked on his form emphasizing the synchronization of arm and leg motion. That all paid off with the Asian record in the nationals.
Suetsugu whose form at the end of the race showed improvement on his previous seasons said, “I want to run a memorable race in Paris. The record gains in significance if it is recorded in the final of the championships.”