Avinash Sable began this season with a clear mind and an even clearer plan – train smart, not hard. It is something the 28-year-old steeplechaser learned in his training stint at the elite Colorado Springs Olympic training centre in the USA. This year Sable has taken part in just three steeplechase competitions, including the Paris Diamond League, where he disturbed the 3000m steeplechase national record for the 10th time in his career.
“Earlier I used to compete in as many competitions as possible and would break national records in other disciplines but this year it was different. I just focussed on training hard and have never felt this good about my body. I am in the best shape of my career. I am running faster, jumping over hurdles more smoothly and have more kick in the last leg of the race,” a confident Sable told The Indian Express last month when he was in Panchkula for the Interstate meet.
At Panchkula, he strolled to 8:31.75s to take the gold medal by a huge distance. Even after the gruelling 3000m event Sable didn’t seem much exhausted. “I saw this race as a practice event. And since no one was there to push or chase me I had no clue how ahead I was. ‘Koi tha heen nahi aas paas’ (There was no one on my heels),” said in Panchkula. But in Paris, it was an altogether different ballgame. Sable competed against a world-class field that will virtually be in the lineup at the Olympics in a few weeks.
He finished a respectable sixth despite clocking his first sub 8:10s race (8:09.91s) in a fast race that saw five of the top six finishers set a new personal best. Although Sable doesn’t pay much heed to “superficial things” like national records, a solid race ahead of the mega event is a boost to his confidence.
Apart from rigorous training, Sable has made massive changes to his diet. Middle-distance runners may have the luxury to munch on an occasional burger or sip a fizzy drink due to their heavy calorie-burning training sessions. The army man did cash in on the free pass earlier but in the run-up to the Olympics, he wasn’t willing to take any chances.
“I have a major sweet tooth. I love anything with sugar in it. I used to drink a lot of milkshakes and enjoy my ice cream. Oh, and I used to go out to eat burgers at least once a week. Now everything is off the table. Only coffee without sugar. It’s not fun at all. These restrictions are tougher to deal with than training,” said Sable with a frown.
For the world, Sable may be a top-class athlete and undoubtedly the best steeplechaser the country has ever seen, but for his mother, he remains the little boy who loves sweets. “My mom makes these sweets at home that I can’t resist. That is one of the reasons I try to avoid visiting home. Once she told me that I am looking weak and should have some sweets for energy,” he said.
Sable trains with the likes of Paul Chelimo, who won an Olympic silver and bronze medal apart from a World Championship bronze in the 5000 at Colorado Springs. It’s not just the training methods of world-level elite athletes that have influenced Sable but their mindset as well. He learnt how not to take ‘sports so seriously’. If read out of context, it may sound as if Sable has lost his intensity or interest in the sport but the Diamond League effort cancels that misconception.
“Earlier I could not separate my sports and personal life. If I had a bad day on the field, that would affect my whole routine. I would carry the problems of the track to my personal life and it was draining me. In the US I saw how athletes would have a bad day and just brush it off. Moments after the race you could see them smiling like nothing happened. Observing them I realised that there is life beyond sports,” he said.
With that weight off his shoulders, Sable could train more efficiently without worrying too much about the results. As planned at the start of the season, the Maharashtra athlete has started to peak closer to the Olympics.
