Quote of the Day — Harry Wilson on Understanding What Matters
© Kevin Morris
“It’s not the success of a particular day or week of training that is important; it’s the completion of the period as a whole that counts.” — Harry Wilson
Harry Wilson was Scott Ovett’s coach. He was very effective and one who coached on sound principles. His methods, in my opinion, are underrated and under appreciated. His book, Running My Way, is a fantastic resource for any middle distance runner or coach.
Like most great coaches, Harry understood that lasting change requires gradual, consistent work over time. There are no quick fixes, despite what the latest hack promises.
He looked for runners who possessed determination, patience, belief, discipline, and intelligence. Harry knew that any athlete, regardless of ability, with those mental attributes in place would get the most out of themselves. Without those characteristics — and no matter the talent level — he believed an athlete wouldn’t amount to much.
He stressed that adult athletes when considering potential coaches should “choose someone who will be with you through thick and thin and not someone who will only be enthusiast as long as good results are forthcoming. When you look for a coach remember it is a unique one-to-one relationship. Go for someone who has the knowledge, is imaginative, honest, thinks positively, and in Franz Stampfl’s words, can be a guide, philosopher, friend.”