An Evening with Bud Baldaro

Bud Baldaro has, as he was kindly reminded in his introduction, been at the top of the endurance coaching game for more years than he cares to remember. As the former UK Athletics Marathon coach, and current head of Endurance Athletics at Birmingham Uni, he was doubtless in awe of the fine selection of 50 Serpies sat before him. The club, with particular thanks to Dave Chalfen, had arranged a two hour Q&A session at the Civil Service Sports Club. Never one to dodge a question or give a predictable answer, Bud was a source of some entertainment, not to mention inspiration.

Bud on Serpentine...

Always interesting to see how the club are viewed from the outside, and Bud didn’t hold back. We are, apparently, the “yuppie marathon runners from the south”. Thank you, at least some of us must have thought. But Karen Hancock wasn’t satisfied. She pointed out that our ladies team have been rather successful in the London Marathon in recent years. In fairness, Bud later conceded that Serpentine buck the downward trend experienced by many other running clubs, and represent a blueprint for the future.

Bud on the Olympics...

Rightfully congratulatory of Team GB’s success in cycling, rowing and sailing at the Beijing Games, he nonetheless concluded that these were all “white, middle class, high-tech, expensive sports”. In contrast, 202 nations were competing in athletics, perhaps explaining Britain’s relative underperformance in the Bird’s Nest.

Bud on running aged over 40. Or 50. Or 60...

The supposed age ceiling at which performance declines is not nearly as well defined or as certain as the coffin dodgers of the club may fear. Sure, around 43-45, things “slow down a bit”, but many people run great times in their 40s and beyond. A lot depends on how long you’ve been running, the implication being that the later in your life you start, the later you’re likely to peak. Bud gave the example of Derek Turnbull, a Kiwi farmer (that is a farmer from New Zealand, not necessarily a grower of edible green berries) who ran 2.37 for the marathon at the ripe old age of 67.

Bud on tempo runs...

He first had to qualify what one was, ranking it faster than a “steady state” run, though marginally slower than “lactate threshold”... Cue puzzled looks and further questions. After much debate, a consensus was reached that a tempo run is essentially your 10 mile or half marathon race pace. Anyway! The important point was that tempo running is, well, the most important part of your training programme. It puts in place a runner’s essential aerobic base, so make sure you slot 20 minutes tempo into your 3 parks.

Bud on hard sessions...

You can’t, apparently, hold down a full-time job and do three hard sessions a week, an assertion borne out by the quick show of hands (or lack of) around the room. Two is good going, but don’t try and replicate the sessions of Haile Gebrselassie. Not unless you fancy 160 x 100m.

Bud on technology...

Never a likely ambassador for Garmin, he was critical of the extent to which we “lean on running aids”. Listen to your body was his advice, not your heart rate monitor. Spend your money on nutrition instead, particularly in the critical 20 minute refuelling window at the end of a tough session. The attendant Serpies were more than happy to oblige, hungrily devouring the selection of biscuits provided at the end of the evening.

Bud on racing...

His suspicion was that many of us race too much but, as someone asked, how else can we combine our personal goals with the often differing aspirations of the club? Set your key races and work back from that was Bud’s response. Some races you will just need to “train right through” (i.e. no taper), but make sure you keep your focus on your long-term target.

And finally...

Bud had much more to say, all of it to the point, and none of it worth missing. But we shall end here, and end with his impression of runners themselves. Bud, recounting a typical conversation, concluded that we are wonderfully boring:
“How are you?”
“I’ve done some wonderful fartlek.”

Martin Gaunt
This marathon seminar took place on Monday 15th September 2008