Japanese Marathon Training Methods

MooseMan wrote:

Now I'm left wondering if he mis assessed japanese and Kenyan running too...

I'm certain he misassessed Japanese running. I only read that one so cannot be sure if it's true in his other books yet it struck me, as one who has been recreationally srudying Japanese running and culture for years, that his intent was to go in with as much of a blank slate (ignorance) as possible. He seemed to take a (typically British male) aggressive competitiveness to the whole endeavor, and as a result missed out on much nuance and subtlety, if not opportunity. I don't recommend the book at all.

Though I enjoyed his Japan book, it had two fatal flaws: (1) Finn had no background in Japan and doesn't speak the language, and Japan may be the least English-speaking major country in the world, and (2) he wanted to follow an elite Japanese training group (corporate team) but none of them would give him access...and even if they had it's not clear how that would have helped since he doesn't speak the language. Now if someone like Brett Larner wrote a Japan book, that might be insightful, but Finn not nearly as much.

Evan Jogger wrote:

MooseMan wrote:

Now I'm left wondering if he mis assessed japanese and Kenyan running too...

I'm certain he misassessed Japanese running. I only read that one so cannot be sure if it's true in his other books yet it struck me, as one who has been recreationally srudying Japanese running and culture for years, that his intent was to go in with as much of a blank slate (ignorance) as possible. He seemed to take a (typically British male) aggressive competitiveness to the whole endeavor, and as a result missed out on much nuance and subtlety, if not opportunity. I don't recommend the book at all.

It was interesting for what it was: an alien's anecdote. There really are no broader truths or insider insights to be drawn from his experience and perspective. I'm in agreement, Larner would be far more capable of providing a comprehensive examination of the topic, even from a layman's outlook.

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seiad wrote:

Does anybody have any links to their training methodologies. I understand they have a very high volume approach with much mileage done at slower paces. I would like to dig into the details, if at all possible. I ran my best marathon doing all my long runs at higher distance (24-30) miles and running it @ 1:30 to 2 minutes slower than my marathon pace.

Why look at Japanese marathon training when we have Kipchoge and Bekele as better role models?

Sing the Sang wrote:

seiad wrote:

Does anybody have any links to their training methodologies. I understand they have a very high volume approach with much mileage done at slower paces. I would like to dig into the details, if at all possible. I ran my best marathon doing all my long runs at higher distance (24-30) miles and running it @ 1:30 to 2 minutes slower than my marathon pace.

Why look at Japanese marathon training when we have Kipchoge and Bekele as better role models?

Japanese marathon training (if there is a national style of marathon training) is interesting as the marathon is a national sport in Japan with great depth of quality performances. If Kipchoge and Bekele are better role models then why don't the majority of Japanese marathoners train as they do?

Sing the Sang wrote:

seiad wrote:

Does anybody have any links to their training methodologies. I understand they have a very high volume approach with much mileage done at slower paces. I would like to dig into the details, if at all possible. I ran my best marathon doing all my long runs at higher distance (24-30) miles and running it @ 1:30 to 2 minutes slower than my marathon pace.

Why look at Japanese marathon training when we have Kipchoge and Bekele as better role models?

An obvious reason to look at what the Japanese do rather than East Africans if you're a westerner is that Japanese kids don't grow up exactly like American ones do but their developmental years are a lot more like those in other western countries than what East African childhoods are.