GLOBAL ATHLETICS INSPIRATION COACH AND PROMOTER GEORGE GUNDGRY MENTIONS 10 MAIN REASONS TO SUCCEED AS AN ATHLETE AND COACH IAAF LEVEL 4

 Mr Pace Show Questions and Answers 

Presenter: Collen Makaza 

Guest: Mr George Gundry 

Date: 20 August 2021

Time: 1800hr to 2030hr

Venue: Chitungwiza Harare Zimbabwe 

Contacts: +263 733741960/+263 776769684

Email:mrpacemakaza@gmail.com 

Good evening all

First question 👇👇

*1.Q- Mr G. Gundry can you tell us more about yourself, when and where were you born?*

I am fairly ancient a bit long 

Quite long. Read it at leisure

Born in a little Karoo town 31 December 1942. Father was transferred to Windhoek 6 weeks later 

Although I loved athletics as a scholar I had other interests at the time. I found that meeting with young girls was far more enjoyable than practicing athletics. In my matric year our athletics coach succeeded in forcing me to participate in two events. High jump (came second with only 2 practice sessions) and 100 metres where a very short scholar won and I was nowhere near a podium finish. Not quite stone last - but close. 

Next a year of National Service in the Navy where Rugby was the "only recognised sport" although we has 2 organised long distance runs which I thoroughly enjoyed. I finished 3rd in one of them 

However, the navy only was interested in Rugby. 

In January 1962 I commenced a career in banking but still followed track events though did not participate. 

Married in 1965. On 5th February 1966 my wife and I were at Greenpoint Stadium watching an attempt on the 4 minute mile. Arrived home 10 pm, straight back in car as my wife went into labour and son was born 2 am on 6th. Luckily born in Grootte Schuur Hospital  - not Greenpoint Stadium. 

In 1967 moved to Olifantsfontein (part of Midrand), became a workaholic but still regularly went to Pilditch and Germiston where I saw many great athletes in action. I way particularly interested in the 800, 1500 & 5000 metre events. 

I also followed Comrades and the Two Oceans 56 km 

Took to hiking in 1985 and hiked about every second or third week. 

However in 2006 things took a turn in my life. I was diagnosed with a heart problem which the specialist said was stress related. 

I was advised to walk (which I hated) but was forbidden to run (which is what I wanted). However twelve months later when the specialist said he saw almost no improvement, I again asked permission to run. Finally my wish was granted. 

I so enjoyed running that I soon became engrossed in learning how to run faster and better and bought my first book on training called "Four Months to a 4 Hour Marathon". When I was right at the end, the author stated that he "assumed" that you already had been running for about 1 year. False advertisement on the cover! 

A few years later I met John Hamlett and was impressed by his training. In fact John guided me on workouts which greatly improved my performance as a 68 year old - including hill repeats and a type of fartlek. Pole running. 2 hard 2 easy, etc 

About the same time I visited Hendrick Ramaala at ASA and asked him whom he could recommend to mentor me. 

He introduced me to Owen van Niekerk. 

Owen said with pleasure but that I must read and widely as possible and question everything I read. In fact his advice was that when I think an author just filling the pages to say nothing worthwhile, I must put it aside 

Owen regularly examined me on what I had read and qualified me as I went along. ASA being largely defunct at the time.

When ASA was reconstituted, I asked permission to attend an IAAF level 4 course in Kenya. 

About 8 months later they advised that my application was denied in that I had not qualified in Level 3 through ASA 

There was a level 3 exam 2 weeks later but I was advised I would have to wait a further year to study for it. I insisted on attending the one 2 weeks later and passed 

Since then I continued studying and coaching. But as importantly, I checked whether the suggested workouts actually produced the results 

In order to calculate the results I needed a way of checking speed vs distance 

Here Joe Henderson from the USA came to my rescue. In an obscure paragraph in his book "Running 101" Joe gave a formula to convert from the half marathon to the marathon. I contacted Joe and he looked up his old notes. 

He confirmed that the formula had worked from his track times right up to his Marathon 

I asked permission to use the formula. I immediately checked it against Haile Gebrselassie. It was Accurate to with 2%. 

I subsequently checked it against "published" ladies and men's results and confirmed it's accuracy. This formula became the basis for my "Mathematics of Running" 

In sports science I liked authors who made things simple. David Martin (who together with Peter Coe) authored "Better Training for Distance Runners" was particularly enlightening. I contacted him and was granted permission to use any of his papers and also was given permission to modify something I found to be incorrect 

I contacted Tobi Tanzer who wrote Train Hard Win Easy the Kenyan Way because I also could not tie up some of the workouts and results. Tobi very kindly checked the information and confirmed it had been written incorrectly. But his information was a great help in understanding how to attain performance 

Jack Daniels gives a great deal of information and, although I found his performances at Elevation interesting, it did not tie up with actual results my athletes achieved in training. I now use a modified version of this theory which appears to fit actual results 

Bruce Fordyce was great on Comrades. Whenever I had a query he responded promptly. I used his informed as guidelines for Comrades training. I combined his guidelines with workouts given by John Hamlett. 

Owen Anderson gives the clearest explanation of training to efficiently utilise free lactate in the blood steam. 

I found the Bannister training method fascinating and applied it to other distances. 

In distance running I have found the actual workouts of Kipchoge fascinating. I compared them to various workouts I used and found that I definitely did not have enough long runs at "near marathon" pace as mentioned by David Martin. Unfortunately David did not guide us on the quantity. Kipchoge’s actual training was an eye opener 

The greatest fulfilment I have is seeing an athlete perform.

*2.Q- When and how do you start coaching?*

D Group Bedfordview 2009 the slowest group

*How it started*

I enjoyed it so much I wished to run faster 
So bought a book on training
4 months to 4 hour marathon
*3.Q- What inspires you to be athletics coach?*
Helping athletes perform better 
So I need to study what is needed and Help athletes achieve

Getting SA athletes to perform better. I am passionate about this.

*4.Q. Which events are you specialize to coach?*
I prefer 

800 to 10000 above all else but enjoy 21 and 42. Have coached 56 and Comrades

*Your favourite event in track and why?*

5000 metres 

Long enough to test an athlete 
Not long enough to bore spectators
*5.Q- What make you take coaching as part of your life?*
Theoretically also the easiest way to qualify for the Olympics

You don't need the speed of an 800 or 1500 athlete but must be good

Sheer enjoyment. Enjoying people see their dream come true 

And helping them to achieve

*6.Q- Generally how you define term philosophy of Coaching?*
I define it as your ideas and knowledge base and applying this in practice
*7.Q- What is your strength in Coaching?*
When first I started  - nothing set me apart
But now I firmly believe it is my knowledge base to guide people correctly to achieve their goals
*8.Q- Name your first running club did Coach and how many clubs did Coach up to date?*
I have not coached clubs as such 
D group Bedfordview Athletic Club 
Just athletes irrespective of the club to which they belong 
Still coach in Namibia, Senegal, Czech Republic, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Kenya 
But have coached Australian, Brazilian, Ugandan, UK and German people
The most fascinating was coaching a Brazilian mountain runner (trail) and using Google to translate programs

*How do you do it coach to some many?*

I have a computer program that carries all my formulae

Feed in what I want the athlete to achieve 
Work our their build-up 
And then forward it in written form

If he is altitude based I modify for that

*9.Q- Can you name some of big names in athletics you coached or help?*
I can adjust repeat distance 
VO2MAX

The one that most of you know is Namakoe Nkhasi. He joined me in 2013 and attended my training sessions in Germiston. In 2015 he started a group in Soweto that included the current SA 50 km record holder and the second fastest SA over the same distance

*May ask what is VO2Max?*

It is the Sports Scientist's way of calculating your maximum oxygen considerably 

But 

It is misunderstood by most people 

I work on VO2MAX pace (not the funny number sports scientists give you)
It is the fastest pace you can maintain for 10 minutes

But it changes with Altitude as well

*11.How do you compared development of athletics of these days from 80s and 90s?*
In the 70's and 80's the various mining houses like Harmony funded athletes for the

Now very few companies fund athletics

Even events like the Yellow Pages have failed away

I think mainly due to mismanagement

We really need to improve our athletic standards so that we can host exciting event's

Exciting events lead to interest 

Interest to viewership 
And viewership to money

If we have many more 800, 1500, 3000 and 5000 competing at near world class I am convinced sponsors will come

I go out of my way to watch athletes like Precious try to qualify

*12.Q- Why is it comrade and two oceans race have decent sponsors in S A road races?*
Provided both of those races have TV Coverage (and big entries and followings) the sponsors get value from TV
Regrettably I think that Comrades and others used to take their main sponsors for granted 
They pumped secondary sponsors like Toyota etc 
Should have punted mail  sponsors more

This is why they lost sponsors

But potentially it is easier for them to get large sponsorship because of TV

*13.Q- Can say why most of world records broken during this Covid erra?*
More training less races therefore the few races have attracted the best

Noted Coach

*14. What are requirements needed someone else to join your training camps?*
I no longer sponsor training camps as I did several years ago at Machadodorp, Sasolburg, and Germiston 
I now let everyone decide for themselves whether they wish to be coached by be and I set up programs for them wherever they are 
As examples I have groups in Beaufort West (Karoo), Soweto, Masiphumele (Fish Hoek) East London, Vaal, Windhoek, Otjikoto, Katlehong, etc 
I charge nothing, request feedback, if I don't get sufficient feedback I stop assisting
*15.Q- Your words on  S .Africa Olympics team's performance in Tokyo?*
I cannot run down anyone who made the team. I am sure athletes who did not get podium positions are upset. 
Rather let me say I am exceptionally disappointed that more athletes are not qualifying 
Can athletes achieve Olympic standards? 
Without doubt 
Biggest problem is clubs do not support development. 
The moment someone achieves they want them performing in club events, not track
*16.Q- Do you hold any post in provincial athletics board or national level?*
I do not hold any post on the  national bodies 
I have a level 3 national coaches qualified and that is what I wish to do. Coach because I love it
*17.Q- What do you think should be done to improve athletics in S.Africa?*
I definitely think we can improve a lot 
Starting at school level. Must give athletes a chance to train sufficiently 
Not wait till a few weeks our ask who will run what event 
Each student I coached got athletic awards at their school 
2 got Scholarships 
1 completed masters via Scholarship 
Other athlete did not listen to oversess coach and was seng back to SA at end of first ye

But I believe that a training method should be set up to help students achieve

Need more schools offering scholarships for athletes

I second Coach 👌

*18.Q- What are your setbacks in your career as a Coach?

My biggest setbacks are problems that affect athletes 

One of them (not of his own doing) is accident prone 

My biggest set backs have been athlete's Setbacks 

One athlete seems accident prone 

Went by taxi to stay overnight with Enoch Skosana for a race. Did not reach Enoch 

Woke up I'm Tembisa hospital 

Taxi overturned 

Recovers 

Goes to SA 21 km champs bus he in in involved on accident and injured again 

Gets better goes to CGA 21 km get robbed,  pistol whipped and jaw broken 

And athlete breaking up with girlfriend on eve of Olympics

Worst is that I also coached the girl

Covid has been a headache

*19.Q- Do you have people who, you can say they helped to the next level in your coaching career?*

I have been helped and guided by many either directly or through books

Owen van Niekerk 

John Hamlett 

Hendrick Ramaala 

Hezekiel Sepeng 

Owen Anderson 

Joe Henderson 

David Martin (sports scientist)

Various physiotherapists  biokineticists 

Bruce Fordyce 

Tobi Tanzer 

And athletes like Johannes Kekana

Too many to write all down

Jack Daniels

Ok thanks 

*What is science based coaching?*

These are big player in S. A Athletics

I'm sure!!

Let's look at coaching in a different way 

Like building an office block 

You know what you want and you call in experts to guide on certain points 

In our case we might want an athlete to run 13.13.5 for 5000

We need to know how to do it

Owen Anderson tells us how by training in a certain way we can use the excess blood lactate (which is a readily available food) mire easily with the correct training

Roger Bannister (If studied) tells you how to work out the best speed-endurance workouts for a distance

David Martin tells you how to calculate blood lactate easily  which Owen Anderson omits because to him it is easy 

So we use all the scientific knowledge 

But we marry it with practical knowledge of 5000 metres athletes 

We study 5000 metre races and find the good guys run their last ,km in 2:22

But we forget to let them train at this pace

So it is combining knowledge sources

And that practical knowledge is all important

*20.Q- How do you manage to keep your athletes fit and focused during these lockdowns?*

It was difficult 

I chatted to athletes right through covid

Suggested run during lockdown in out of the way places

Told then I care 

Which I do

Gave maintainence programs

*21.Q- How do you see yourself in the next 5yr in Coaching business?*

I would like to change it the other way around 

How do athletes see me

Some I know think I am nuts about speed  training 

But if they are truthful they will see that faster guys win even Comrades 

If the guys think I can help them, I will be around 

I am grateful that some (after an absence of 3 years) have looked me up and asked me to coach them again 

As long as I am wanted I will do my best to serve the athletes

Bruce Fordyce ran 2:17:00 for 42

Gatebe 2:14:00

Gebrselassie still one of the fastest ever 5 k.

Before new shoes were invented

Kipchoge one of the fastest 5 k

Speed is super important

*22.Q- How coaching athletics changes your life?*

I have met the most Fantastic "breed" of people. 

That in itself changed my life

Sorry *'financially'*

Made me poorer 

I earn nothing from it

Coach I need shoes

I need kit 

I need a lift 

I need airtime

*23.Q- Your words on age cheating and drug use in sport?*

I refuse to allow athletes I coach to register as a younger athlete. Even made WPA change an age because in one case their system was wrong. Athlete wanted to win but he had to run against the big boys and did not 

Am absolutely against drugs 

Have coached 4 people who had been banned before

All swore they no longer did. 3 of them were caught again 

And 2 new ones 

1 in PE whom I suspected 

Then found proof. Dumped  blocked on media 

And the worst to me was a custodian of the law (policemam) in our country who cheated. I found that the most shocking

*24.Q- Your motivational and encouragement words to the upcoming athletes and 

Coaches?*

On athletes

Motivation 

Start  and you will see you are more talented than you believe. 

I will guide 

I force no one

Quit at any time 

But when they perform I also guide them as to how to do better

On coaches I encourage when asked 

Lent books (which they don't return so no longer lend)

Suggest reading Lactate Lift-off by Owen Anderson 

Runner's Body by Runner's World  (got a replacement copy last month for one I lent out 3 years ago)

Books that I feel will help

*25.Q- Your future plans in sport?*

As long as athletes want me I will be available 

But I truly wish that coaches sometimes will let "THEIR" athletes train with "OTHER" groups from time to time to let the good guys work together 

I openly post on Facebook what I propose

Anyone is free to criticise 

But like the Yellow Pages it helped athletes
So do it informally 
I allowed one of my guys openly to join Hezekiel Sepeng's coaching sessions 
It benefitted the guy 
It is not about me 
It is about our athletes

If ASA don't help then we have a duty to the athletes 

Not to ourselves!!
*In brief tell us about your family and their support to your profession as sports person?*
My wife is into genealogy  - history of dead people.  She enjoys that and I encourage her 
I am into live people and she accepts and encourages me and knows many of the athletes

My wife spent many weekends in Machadodorp

*Over to you guys any Questions next 10min*

Thank you so much Mr George,we hv learnt a lot from you sir 👏👏👏👏

Thank you Mr George for having as  for the interview and sharing your motivational story about your Coaching  career.

The end 

FINITO