25 Years and lots of learning!
- desproctor
- Apr 26, 2018
- 3 min read
Updated: May 10
The Old Saying "Do What I Say, Not What I Do" and My 1993 Training Diary
There's an old saying that goes, “Do what I say, not what I do,” and I can say, looking back on my own training experiences 25 years ago, it couldn’t be more accurate.
This week, while cleaning out my garage, I stumbled upon my old training diary from 1993. What a year that was.
It started with my wedding on January 3rd to my college sweetheart in Canberra, Australia. Just four days later, I found myself running 1k repeats at the AIS with my boyhood idol, Rob De Castella. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine a boy from Richmond, Virginia, would find himself on the other side of the world, training with one of the best marathoners to ever compete.
Training in Australia: A Spark for My Passion
Training in Australia at the start of that year reignited my passion for the sport. Up until that point, my running had been plagued by various setbacks, from time spent in the US Army, to a broken back, and multiple injuries. Yet, after training in Canberra, I felt as though I could finally reach a high level in the sport.
The issue? My coach—me. At 25 years old, I had limited experience in the sport. Sure, I’d read plenty of books, but knowledge alone doesn’t replace hands-on experience. At this stage in my career, I desperately needed someone to hold me back, to help me pace my progress. Unfortunately, that never happened.
The season started strong with a solid 23:36 in the Shamrock 8k at Virginia Beach. I felt strong, having recently increased my weekly mileage to 110 miles (or 180km). However, while training with Rob, I learned a tough lesson about aerobic fitness. During a Sunday run with Rob, a 22-mile (35km) loop, I couldn’t keep up. It didn’t matter that Rob was one of the best marathoners in the world. All that mattered in my mind was that I needed to run more, so I kept pushing myself—harder and harder, often beyond what was sensible.
The Grind in April 1993
By April, I had a lot on my plate. I was still a student, newly married, and trying to make ends meet by racing. Here’s a snapshot of my training and racing schedule from the last two weeks of April in 1993:
April 17th: Drachen Fire 5k - 14:36, 1st place, new course record, $350 prize, beating a strong field including a 1500m Olympian.
April 18th (AM): 20k; (PM) 8k.
April 19th (AM): 7k; (PM) 16k, including 8x200m with 200m jogs.
April 20th (AM): 6k; (PM): 6k.
April 21st: 6k.
April 22nd: Drove 6 hours to Philadelphia to race a 10k at the Penn Relays at 11:30pm. 29:55.
April 23rd: 10k easy.
April 24th: 6k easy.
April 25th: 15k race - 46:22, tactical race, 4:31 last mile, 2nd place, $500 prize.
April 26th: 10k easy.
April 27th (AM): 8k easy; (PM): 15k easy.
April 28th (AM): Off; (PM): 18k fartlek.
April 29th (AM): Off; (PM): 14k, including 10x25-second hill sprints.
April 30th (AM): 8k easy.
May 1st: 10k race on a hilly course - 1st place, 30:56, $500 prize.
In just two weeks, I raced four times, from 5k to 15k, earning $1,350 in prize money. At the time, I thought I was on top of the world. But looking back, I realize how reckless that schedule was. Would I recommend such a demanding race and training schedule to any of my athletes now? Absolutely not. I was lucky I didn’t get injured.
The Realities of Racing for Money
For athletes like Jordan Gusman, who raced the 5k on Saturday and the half marathon at the Australian Running Festival last Sunday, the grind hasn't changed much. He earned $1,200 for his weekend's work, but this is a tough sport, and sponsors aren't exactly lining up to give you money.
25 years later, it’s still evident that athletes chase prize money to survive in the sport. There’s a certain level of sacrifice involved, and you often find yourself pushing the limits just to stay afloat.
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