‘One on One' with Gareth Hyett March 2006

It seems like the last 12 months have seen dramatic improvements in your strength?  With two sub 4’s, a 1500m PB and a fastest lap at the NZ Road Relay’s.  What have you done differently?

 

GH:  Just more mileage at tempo pace mainly. Had a good strength program in the gym and maintained a consistent high mileage for a long period of time over winter. The x country season also helped my strength a lot. The past two seasons I have increased my intensity and worked on my mental approach to training. Just spending time mentally preparing for races and reflecting on tactics has helped me immensely.

 

When did you realise you had a sub 4 in you and why the shift back up to the 1500m/mile?

 

GH: Tony is pretty good at estimating what times I will run. He basically said that my training proves I can run sub 4 and so all I needed to do was prove that. Mentally focusing on the third lap and increasing the pace has helped me run sub 4. Too many times I have relaxed in the third lap and fallen off the pace. The improvement in my strength has helped me to do this.

 

I think Tony has always seen me as a 1500m runner and I have gradually made the transition from 800m. This has been the first season where I have run more 1500m than 800m. I do believe that I am a better 1500m runner than 800m.

 

You are certainly a different runner than when you were in the Hawkes Bay and running the 3k and Steeplechase.  When did you realise that you actually had a lot of speed?

 

GH:  Not sure really. When at Otago Uni we went down to the track (myself & Craig Palmer) and decided to do an 800m. I wasn’t training at the time and ran 1.53 for the 800m. I did run 1.55 at school but never really focused on the 800m until that day in Dunedin. From there Craig basically coached me and I continued to run 800s.

 

It seems you are pretty happy doing the majority of your training solo with Tony over viewing.  Do you find this hard and has Tim Hawkes helped push you much?

 

GH:  Yeah I’m pretty anal about when I train and I don’t like to change my routine. So training solo probably suits me more. I did do a lot of my mileage with Hamish Clearburt and Tom Osbourne for a while in winter 2006 and this helped me a lot. Tim is great for anything fast as he has run 46 for 400m and now sub 1.50 for the 800 so we do a lot of our speed sessions together. I love the competition at training because it helps set my mind for racing.

 

I watched you run in the A serries in Sydney a month ago and was really impressed with your willingness to go with the pacemaker and clear out for the win.  Did you think there was much left in the tank after this and tell us about that Melbourne 1500m (Gareth ran a World Champs B standard with a PB of 3.38.63).

 

GH:  Yeah there was a lot left. I felt great during that race, I was worried about the rest of the field running me down in the straight so I kept looking back which slowed me down a bit.

 

It was a great feeling being apart of the Melbourne race. An awesome field #2 in the world for indoors over 1500m, Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, Andrew Baddeley from England and Youcef Abdi made for a great finish. I was feeling a little sick and had a swollen ankle from a run the previous weekend, so I was a little nervous going into race. I just sat on Youcef the whole race and the pace was on so I just held on for the ride. When I found out I ran 3.38 I was so happy. I knew a fast time was there I just had to be in the right race.

 

With the current log jam in depth NZ 1500m running (Nick Willis, Adrian Blincoe and Paul Hamblyn) will you target the 1500m for the Beijing Olympics or look towards the 800m?

 

GH:  Yeah for sure. They’ll select the fastest 1500m runners and I’m confident I’ll be one of them. I just want to focus on an A standard and then go from there. I will probably still try for the 800m as well.

 

What are long term goals?  Would you consider running anything longer than the mile?

 

GH:  Will head to Europe this year and aim for 3.35 or faster. I am a lot more confident now and learning more from Tony each session. Also each time I race a 1500m I learn more about how to race them and what to expect. Obviously I want to qualify for Osaka and make the final there, and then build up for Beijing. But first I need that A standard.
We haven’t really considered running anything longer than the mile at this stage. I think we will just focus on 800s and 1500s and then go from there. 

 

Tell us about a typical conditioning training week?  Has the move to Wellington and Tony Rogers changed your training much?

 

GH:  Conditioning Training week:

I would run 30mins in the morning (Mon – Fri). In winter 3 weight sessions, but in season 1-2 depending on racing schedule. Sunday morning usually 80-90mins steady then Sunday evening light speed session on grass (usually 60m or 120s). Track sessions Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and usually consist of 8x300s on the Thursday, 4x600m on the Saturday, and a tempo run Tuesday. Monday afternoon session could be a steady run (45mins) or a stroke volume session of 3x[8 x 100m(on/off). Wednesday afternoon steady 1hour plus. Tony has me on cycles and rotates sessions a bit.

 

My training has changed a lot. I am a lot more focused and settled in Wellington. Because Tony has run 3.36 it makes me train harder wanting to better his time. Also because Tony s been there before he has a lot to offer and knows what it takes. Training has changed a little. As I said earlier, I run most of my runs at tempo and I am doing more pure speed work and anaerobic/aerobic strength work.

 

Good luck for the Mayoral Mile this weekend!

GH:  Cheers Roz