Frank Horwill
Encyclopedia
Frank J. Horwill MBE
(born 1927) is a UK Athletics
senior level 4 coach most famous for founding the British Milers' Club (BMC) and for formulating the Five Pace Training Theory which is widely used for coaching middle-distance runners throughout the world.
As a volunteer coach since 1961, Horwill has coached 49 Great Britain and Northern Ireland international athletes (at Sep 2008) from 800 metres to the marathon - from track to the road and to the country. Five of his athletes have run sub-4 minute miles – the fastest being Tim Hutchings
, who ran 3:54:53 and placed fourth in the 5000m in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
In 1963 Horwill co-founded the British Milers’ Club (BMC) with the aim of raising "British middle distance running to world supremacy". Seventeen years after the BMC was formed, British male middle-distance runners held all the middle distance world-records. This was attributed to the first ever national scheme of using ‘hares’ in races. The club has been the nursery and arena for many champions over the years, with the great majority of Britain’s best middle distance runners being members and Horwill is still an active member of the club’s committee.
In 1970 Horwill invented the 5-pace/multi-tier system of training, used by Sebastian Coe to enormous success under his father and coach Peter Coe
. In 1980, Peter Coe said, "we have used Frank Horwill's multi-tier system. It’s all embracing."
Many other prominent athletes have also adopted the 5-pace system of training including Saïd Aouita
who was the only man at the time capable of running 800m in sub 1:44, 1500m in sub 3:30, 3000m in sub 7:30, 5000m in sub 13:00, and 10000m in sub 27:30 and Noah Ngeny
, the 2000 Sydney Olympic 1,500m champion.
Horwill is widely respected in athletics circles throughout the world and has lectured and coached internationally, including in Canada, Ireland, Poland, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Bahrain, Portugal and South Africa. The latter country holds a special affection in his heart and on his frequent visits he is sought out for advice by aspiring South African middle distance athletes and coaches. He has helped and influenced countless athletes and coaches worldwide by correspondence and still coaches a large squad of runners, "Horwill’s Harriers", in London.
A prolific writer, Horwill regularly produces articles for the British magazine Athletics Weekly
, and other sporting publications. He is co-author of The Complete Middle Distance Runner (1972), along with Denis Watts and Harry Wilson. In 1991, Frank Horwill published Obsession for Running, described by The Daily Telegraph
as “The athletics book of the year”. Owen Anderson in Peak Performance called it “An outstanding book...”.
Horwill is a man of many quotes including, "we’ve only just begun to work"; "Anyone can run fast repetitions and have a cup of tea and a doughnut after each repetition!"; "keep going, keep going, keep going until a little something inside you says, 'keep going'". Track side, at the 200m mark at BMC meetings he has been heard to say, "If you can’t go faster than that – get off the track."
Horwill was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2011 Birthday Honours
for voluntary service to sport.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 1927) is a UK Athletics
UK Athletics
UK Athletics is the governing body for the sport of athletics in the United Kingdom. It is responsible for overseeing the governance of athletics events in the UK as well as athletes, their development, and athletics officials....
senior level 4 coach most famous for founding the British Milers' Club (BMC) and for formulating the Five Pace Training Theory which is widely used for coaching middle-distance runners throughout the world.
As a volunteer coach since 1961, Horwill has coached 49 Great Britain and Northern Ireland international athletes (at Sep 2008) from 800 metres to the marathon - from track to the road and to the country. Five of his athletes have run sub-4 minute miles – the fastest being Tim Hutchings
Tim Hutchings
Timothy Hilton Hutchings is a former middle- and long-distance runner who represented England and Great Britain internationally.-Athletics career:...
, who ran 3:54:53 and placed fourth in the 5000m in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
In 1963 Horwill co-founded the British Milers’ Club (BMC) with the aim of raising "British middle distance running to world supremacy". Seventeen years after the BMC was formed, British male middle-distance runners held all the middle distance world-records. This was attributed to the first ever national scheme of using ‘hares’ in races. The club has been the nursery and arena for many champions over the years, with the great majority of Britain’s best middle distance runners being members and Horwill is still an active member of the club’s committee.
In 1970 Horwill invented the 5-pace/multi-tier system of training, used by Sebastian Coe to enormous success under his father and coach Peter Coe
Peter Coe
Percy Newbold "Peter" Coe was the father and athletics coach to Sebastian Coe.-Early life:Coe was born Percy Newbold Coe in Kingston, Surrey, the eldest child of Violet and Percy Coe Sr...
. In 1980, Peter Coe said, "we have used Frank Horwill's multi-tier system. It’s all embracing."
Many other prominent athletes have also adopted the 5-pace system of training including Saïd Aouita
Said Aouita
Saïd Aouita is a former Moroccan athlete, winner of 5000 meters at the 1984 Summer Olympics, 5000 meters at the 1987 World Championships in Athletics, 3000 meters at the 1989 IAAF World Indoor Championships, and former world record holder at 1500m , 2000m , 3000m , and twice at 5000m [ and ]...
who was the only man at the time capable of running 800m in sub 1:44, 1500m in sub 3:30, 3000m in sub 7:30, 5000m in sub 13:00, and 10000m in sub 27:30 and Noah Ngeny
Noah Ngeny
Noah Kiprono Ngeny is a former Kenyan athlete, Olympic gold medalist at 1500 m at the 2000 Summer Olympics, and world record holder in the 1000 m.-Before Sydney:...
, the 2000 Sydney Olympic 1,500m champion.
Horwill is widely respected in athletics circles throughout the world and has lectured and coached internationally, including in Canada, Ireland, Poland, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Bahrain, Portugal and South Africa. The latter country holds a special affection in his heart and on his frequent visits he is sought out for advice by aspiring South African middle distance athletes and coaches. He has helped and influenced countless athletes and coaches worldwide by correspondence and still coaches a large squad of runners, "Horwill’s Harriers", in London.
A prolific writer, Horwill regularly produces articles for the British magazine Athletics Weekly
Athletics Weekly
Athletics Weekly is the world's only weekly athletics magazine.It is published in the United Kingdom by Athletics Weekly Limited and covers news, results, fixtures, coaching and product advice for all aspects of athletics, including track and field, cross-country, road racing and race walking.-...
, and other sporting publications. He is co-author of The Complete Middle Distance Runner (1972), along with Denis Watts and Harry Wilson. In 1991, Frank Horwill published Obsession for Running, described by The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
as “The athletics book of the year”. Owen Anderson in Peak Performance called it “An outstanding book...”.
Horwill is a man of many quotes including, "we’ve only just begun to work"; "Anyone can run fast repetitions and have a cup of tea and a doughnut after each repetition!"; "keep going, keep going, keep going until a little something inside you says, 'keep going'". Track side, at the 200m mark at BMC meetings he has been heard to say, "If you can’t go faster than that – get off the track."
Horwill was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2011 Birthday Honours
2011 Birthday Honours
The Birthday Honours 2011 for the Commonwealth Realms were announced on 7 June 2011 in New Zealand and 11 June 2011 in United Kingdom to celebrate the Queen's Birthday of 2011.-Privy Councillors:...
for voluntary service to sport.