Comments on: my training plan + Q&A

By: La Lynx

La Lynx — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 00:32:57 +0000

That’s very interesting! I always incorporate rest days, usually the day before a race. And I race every weekend, so that means at least one day a week, I’m not running. I also do speed workouts twice a week (in addition to racing, which I usually consider hillwork). But, I’m very intrigued by this technique and I’m going to look into Lydiard.

Thank you for sharing this!!

By: Andrew Seeley

Andrew Seeley — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 21:00:19 +0000

Mark,

Well put. Maybe some folks will follow your example and start at the 30/60 minute rule and start experiencing the progress that you have as they move up in mileage over time.

The key here is your consistency and determination to run the time required and let the pace dictate itself as you improve. This means you’ve been patient. But patience is amply rewarded as you have shown when the body is able to utilize the increased volume of oxygen available to the muscles cells. (Let’s not forget that improvement comes from actual physical changes in the cardiovascular system and these changes happen to everyone that runs longer further).

Willpower is the mental aspect that decides to do what is physically required to improve (more running). But balance in training (rest, easy/hard – as defined above in your post, recovery, long/short, etc.) is the acknowledgement of our physical limitations now or maybe better put – our current (but changeable) parameters. These limitations diminish over time – that is why the seasoned runner can run longer faster more often. But if we don’t start small, we’ll never progress to “seasoned”. If we exceed our physical limitations now we’ll break down and run less, not more.

When we design a training program, we seek to optimize the time spent running and the distance run. Doing activities that shorten the time spent running and the distance run are counterproductive. We can all think of killer workouts that supposedly test our mettle. That isn’t training, that’s performing. And if we end up running less because we’ve reached our limits, we are going the wrong way in terms of basic improvement.

So this means, anyone, with a little care and forethought, can take what you have described above and start a regimen of running (30 mins / 60 minutes) on their own and reap the rewards. Over time of course, they’ll need to run further and longer otherwise they will ‘plateau’. Good balance and a desire to increase time/mileage coupled with enough time gives lasting satisfaction.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 19:12:19 +0000

It’s great that you are able to manage all of this. I see it written down and it seems to make sense, I would just have such a hard time actually doing it. Kudos to you for pulling it off, and with minimal impact on your family!

By: Joseph Vinciquerra

Joseph Vinciquerra — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 17:26:54 +0000

Interesting – from a multisport perspective, I’ve always been of the mind (and the practice) that there really is no such thing as an “easy” run – that is, even the lightest intensity runs impeded muscle repair; to not schedule complete rest regularly seems to go against everything that’s been published and practiced in recent years!

By: Karen in Calgary

Karen in Calgary — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 15:12:25 +0000

Y’know Mark, if you keep on sharing all this stuff? And how it’s working so well for you? Even Penguin peons like me are gonna get ideas. Like we could rise above our low slow status, with a little organization and work, and an open mind to changing our form and schedules. This information is DANGEROUS, brothuh!

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 14:42:35 +0000

Jack: My running has very little impact on my family. In fact, I built my schedule with them 100% in mind. I added a question and answer to this post just for you.

By: Jack

Jack — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 10:46:27 +0000

Sounds great, you must have a very understanding family.