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Speedy Gonzales or Slowpoke Rodriguez?

1679111218

Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 311 ✭✭Larry Brent


    T runner wrote: »

    Any plans afoot yourself?

    I’m training with a girl at the moment who’ll hopefully be in the vicinity of a Rio marathon qualifier so I’ll try to take in as much of that journey as I can. So far it’s been fascinating. She bumped into Jerome Drayton at an expo about a year ago. She told him she was thinking of moving up to the marathon and asked if he’d any tips. She was expecting him to give her some Canova type sessions to work on but he simply said to run 5000 miles in a year and only then ask herself if she’d like to train for the marathon. Well, she’ll hit 5000 for 2013 in the next few weeks and she’s taken her 10k from 35 to 33, her HM from 78 to 73. The downside is her 1500m has gone from 4:25 to 4:35, but then she doesn’t want to be a 1500m runner... We were starting out on a 38k training run (yes, she goes that long when HM training) and I mused that I wish I’d only done 60mins rather than 75 the day before as I was feeling tired and she mentioned that she wished she’d only done 16k instead of 21 the night before as she’d already done 16k that morning. The mileage, dedication and commitment is great to witness. With child 3 on the way for me, I can’t get the mileage or recovery that I’d like at the moment, so just eeking what I can out of it for now, my time will come:). But it’s been a good example of how her doing double my mileage (and probably getting double the sleep I do!) translates to her being 40s faster over 5k, 2:30 over 10k, and probably about 5mins over HM, despite us being well matched in sessions and long runs. She’s making her marathon debut in March, so I’ll probably do a HM around the same time, as her M pace and my HM pace will probably match up so it will work out well for training.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,307 ✭✭✭T runner


    .......... She was expecting him to give her some Canova type sessions to work on but he simply said to run 5000 miles in a year and only then ask herself if she’d like to train for the marathon. Well, she’ll hit 5000 for 2013 in the next few weeks and she’s taken her 10k from 35 to 33, her HM from 78 to 73. ........

    The high mileage or highest sustaineable mileage, does seem to be a huge factor in marathon success.

    5000 miles in a year? One would be a different animal after that all right.

    What does she need to run for Rio? and what is she hoping for in March?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,307 ✭✭✭T runner


    Thurs 14/11 63mins HR139 inc 2 x 5-6 x 100m buildups

    Did first set at Sanymount beach walk and second on Luas line west of point depot. Worked out well although they should be done before or after an effort session, before in teh early stages of the program i guess.


    Fri 15/11 63mins HR159 effort session inc Killiney Hill.


    A little tired from strides yesterday. Found it hard to keep in the 155-60 range. Hill from Cromlech roundabout to Obelisk was dont in higer ranges nearly touching HR180 at one stage. Important to keep in the right range but most of my runs will be on the flat so i wont beat myself up over it yet.

    Should get up to 100k this week, so half way to maximum mileage. May take a step back next week and do the HR max test and the 2400m test.

    The 2400 metre test is important, mostly as a powerful stimulus to keep improving. Runners love seeing progress.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,307 ✭✭✭T runner


    Format: HR Pace KM (Pace Miles)


    HR 140 5:31 (8:53) 152.5 5:06 (8:13) 165 4:43 (7:37) 177.5 4:25 (7:06) 190 4:06 (6:36)




    Dont know what to make of these!

    Well firstly, Hadds zones re 193 or HIGHER are not accurate for runners with HR well above 200s.

    Ill use this from now on: E (easy) - 70-75 % HRmax (or less)
    D - 80-83 %
    C - 82-85 %
    B - 85-88 %
    A - 87-90 %

    Next task is to find my HR Max. Wednesday or thursday most likley.

    As Rgds The test, I did it on the track in the park near Ballybrack. Cold and windy.

    Completely wrong heart ranges used, ill use 150-200 next time.

    Its weird because the intensity @ 145 during my training runs feels right for how easy is described in this training method, but 160 feels too easy to be a steady run.

    I found that breathing became faster at about 181-2 HR and that at 190-1 felt like I was at my LT. So AT is around 180-2 (guess) and LT is 190-2

    Thats a big wake up call. Thats a huge drop in speeds compared to 10 weeks ago. Clearly as well as a loss in fitness ive lost a lot of speed which needs to be adressed immediately. The speed is not going to come skipping easily back after some decent mileage---im going to have to work on it this time. That means 2 decent sets of strides emphasised every week without fail from now on.

    Saturday 16/11: 55m very easy (recovery)
    Sunday Rest (visitors so rest day before test).
    Monday 18/11: 16k inc Progression run HR140-190 12k

    Edit: Just re-reading the section on Hadd;'s test in his PDF. A 90s break should be recorded between reps, which i didnt do, i ran it continuous. With the too low intensity yesterday and the cold a 90s break wasnt really on anyway. Will make times next time a little faster just for that, no doubt.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,237 ✭✭✭Abhainn


    Great to see you back T. Log is always a very interesting read.
    Best of luck, keen to know what you max HR is


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,307 ✭✭✭T runner


    Monday 18/11: 16k inc Progression run HR140-190 12k

    Tuesday 19/11: 70m @ 160 pm 12.5k easy
    Wednesday: easy 10k lunch, (no HR data)
    Thursday: 10k easy
    Friday: 15k inc 3 x (5 x 80-100m buildups).
    Saturday: 18k (9 steady)
    Sunday rest. Total 94k

    Monday 25/11: easy 12.5k
    Tuesday 26/11: 2 x 12.5k commute........13-15 x 80m buildups on PM 12.5k


    Misplaced HRM on Tuesday so ad-libbing the runs, but no effort was uncomfortable.
    I found the double day on tuesday suprisingly easy. This tells me that the policy of having standard runs of atleast 60-5 mins is paying off. Or maybe its that running each run at the correct consistant speed makes the legs stronger.

    What i didnt find so easy was the buildups on friday. I fell asleep not long after the kids and felt/slept like i was after doing a race. Obviously muscle fibers that hadnt being used for a long time getting very tired there.
    No hard rate test yet, but plan next week is to get back strictly following Hadd's (or his students) HRM %-ages of 210 MAX.

    <70% = Recovery = HR 135-147
    70-75% = easy = HR 147-157 HR
    80-83 = First steady zone = HR 168-175


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 617 ✭✭✭pa4


    Do you always run by the HR?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,307 ✭✭✭T runner


    pa4 wrote: »
    Do you always run by the HR?

    Not usually at all.
    It just suits the purposes this time. I need to keepnthings simple as i have a young family inc a 3 month old at home. I just follow either the slower hr or the faster one. Once i get the weekly template right it will look like this:
    Twice weekly 95 min runs with 70 of each at tje higher heart rate. 1 125 min run, and a few 65 min runs all at the lower heart rate. Whatever i can squeeze in after to maximise mileage again all at the lower rate.
    When mileage is high ill do some of the other runs at in between HRs, and when im satisfied that my pace and endurance has plateaud for the 70 minute efforts, then that HR is increased by 5 bpm.

    The advantage is you never run too fast and so can methodically squeeze the potential fitness tjrough all the aerobic HRs, and as the effort is controlled you can do high mileage.
    Strides twice a week for leg speed.
    Oh, and you only have to charge the garmin once a week when using only HR which is great. I can work out dists and speeds later if i need to.
    Sorry for long winded reply. Im trying to get it clear in my own head, but im a novive at the oul HR stuff.

    Edit: i had 3 heart rates in my previous post. All of my runs now are either st he easy rate, or first steady rate. When i need to i run the odd recovery jog. Ill be throwing in plenty more jogs when time allows for recovery and body composition purposes.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,307 ✭✭✭T runner


    wed 27/11 AM 12.5k easy
    PM 12.5k @ HR172 effort run, went a little too hard, will modify and lengthen next time.

    Thursday AM 12.5k @ HR 150

    Loving these morning runs. Its over an hour easy to work and its glorious weather to appreciate the sunrise from Sandymount strand. I used not like morning runs, but i'm used to them now and its definately the most enjoyable time of day to run. Ill try and get an effort session in a morning run next week.
    Im at 75k for the week, and feeling fresh enough. Heading west tomorrow but if I can sneak 10k in tonight I might be on for 120k + this week which is going in the right direction. 5-6 weeks back running im ready for a step up. About 3 more step ups till I reach maximum mileage but I don't mind, its all enjoyable aerobic running. (I'm starting to think my aversion to sessions is evidence that Im very much on the slow twitch side of things.) Might do an ultra at some stage to test that.
    Its definitely easier to get the mileage in through even doubles (as I did for last marathon) which is great news because it means its harder with better results to do the majority of running in singles, so that will be something gained.

    Ill hopefully get warriors run course in as a training run this weekend. I realized ive hardly done any runs on that course bar races in recent years. I want to get right cosy with it this year in order to have a right crack at a decent time, should the training go well.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 617 ✭✭✭pa4


    I see where your coming from, no fear of burning yourself out either. I bought a HR monitor recently but haven't really used it yet.. still have to work out all my zones and stuff. Its good for working out paces for tempos and steady runs too.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,307 ✭✭✭T runner


    pa4 wrote: »
    I see where your coming from, no fear of burning yourself out either. I bought a HR monitor recently but haven't really used it yet.. still have to work out all my zones and stuff. Its good for working out paces for tempos and steady runs too.

    Google hadd and pdf and theres a pdf there that im using to base my hr training on. Youll need your maxhr. I also attached a pdf a few pages back with good info by john kellogg.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,307 ✭✭✭T runner


    Monday 25/11: easy 12.5k
    Tuesday 26/11: 2 x 12.5k AM and PM commute........13-15 x 80m buildups on PM 12.5k
    Wed 27/11: AM 12.5k easy PM 12.5k @ HR172 effort run, went a little too hard, will modify and lengthen next time.
    Thursday 28/11: AM 12.5k easy @ HR 150
    Friday 29/11: AM 4k jog PM 101mins inc 4 *16 approx @165-172 HR
    Saturday 30/11: Rest day
    Sunday 1/12: 10k easy

    Total 110k

    Best run:
    Happiest with Fridays run. I found it hard to get the HR up and I was surprised to see I was moving fast-ish when I did. To date small fluctuations in effort has meantb big fluctuations in HR, but Wednesdays effort run may have "bedded the target HR" for Fridays similar HR run. I certainly felt the legs turning over faster and running more powerfully on Friday for that HR than on Wednesday. Thursday was an easy day so I may have been rested but a run indicating not insignificant improvement. Had to break the effort with 4 min breaks. It was possible to do it in one go but it would have been too hard and defeating the purpose.

    Late night killer: Second weekend in a row I did a late night run and its a mistake because it kills me for the weekend,a s for the second weekend in a row it was my only significant weekend run. I'm on max of 7 hours sleep and sometimes as low as 3-4 regularly so a hardish run late, affects my sleep and im literally too shattered to run again.

    Best at this time, to target Saturday, sometime in morning or afternoon for a long run, I can use Friday as an easy day and get an a 60-90 min run in sometime Sunday.

    Singles better aerobic gains than doubles: Not bad mileage but only one run over 12.5 k and loads of doubles. That made the mileage easy. The trick for me is doing weeks with increasing mileage in singles, and jogging any (relatively short) recovery run.
    I have done 8 or more 160k weeks on the trot with loads of moderate length doubles before. IMO 160k weeks done with many moderate lenght doubles is equivalent only to a 130k week of singles.

    I should gain significantly aerobically attaining the mileage in singles as that's something new for me.

    Max HR test bubu: Tried to do a MAX HR test and made a balls of it. Threadmill was only option as track is too far from work. So got down to gym and opted for an 800m all out, rest then 400m all out type session. On threadmill I translated that to 2m 15s @ 17kph @ 6% rest 90 s then 70s @ 20kph 6%.

    Just as I was starting my 70s all out the treadmill hits 20 mins and is programmed to stop ansd top it does.. By the time I got it back my HR was well down...and 20kph was a little fast.

    I got up to 206 HR on the 2:15 effort but as my HR had fallen too low, I could only get to 203 on the second effort before the legs started tiring dangerously and jumped off the belt dodgily before I was spat into the middle of the gym.

    Ill do it again but happy to go with 210 HR MAX ballpark for now. I think there was a few more beats in it, if I got the session right.

    This weeks plan is below. Plan to start core work this week. Just getting technique right to start with. Effort will come in good time.

    Day mins(effort), 2ndRunMins(effort) E = HR 145-157 S = HR (165-173)
    Mon 35 HR Test, 65E
    Tue 95 (60-70S), 35-65 E
    Wed 70 E
    Thur 95 (60-70S)
    Fri 60 E
    Sat 125 E-S
    Sun 65-95 E

    That should be:
    1 long, 2 medium long with Steady, 4 general aerobic (<65 mins)
    Easy or recovery effort for all other secondary runs.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,307 ✭✭✭T runner


    Mon 2/12 Lunch 5k (inc MAX HR Test) PM 20k easy
    Tue Lunch 5k inc core + drills + strides PM 12.5k easy
    Wed Lunch Lunch 4k inc core PM 15k easy-steady
    Thurs 21k inc 70 mins @ HR 160
    Fri Rest
    Sat 2hrs 15 E
    Sun Rest
    Mon Rest

    Total 108k

    83k ish of that was done by thursday so the weekend went a little pear shape. Not to worry, visitors and a head cold. It happens and plenty of time. Increased to 4 longer single runs though: 2:15, 1:50, 1:35, 65
    Thats an improvement.
    Decided to reduce the effort to 155-160. It felt an effort although its not even 7 min miling for me. Will do one effort at 160 and one at 165 this week. I had to slow to keep the 70 min run under HR 160 last week. So will push the toothpaste out with one more 160 HR run.
    Ill take this week as it goes, and aim for a big week teh following circa 160k and ill probably have to drop back over the xmas. Id like to get a decent mileage week in though.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,307 ✭✭✭T runner


    Mon REST
    Tue 12.5k E inc 15+ times 80-100 m strides.
    Wed 12.5k E
    Thur 16k Steady
    Fri 12.5k E
    Sat 20k inc 70m @165-170 HR with 6 X 100m strides at the end
    Sun Long: 2hr 10 mins E

    About bang on the 100k. Happy with that. Saturdays pace was about 6:55 in windy conditions......Lost pace towards the end. Once i have that endurance sorted..things should progress..


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,307 ✭✭✭T runner


    Monday 1 6/12/2013 am 8k easy pm 16k easy
    Tuesday 20k inc 70 mins @ 165-170 HR
    Wednes 12.5 k
    Thursday 12.5 x 2 commute 25k
    Friday 12.5k E
    Saturday 22k inc 75 @60-70 HR
    Sunday 27k @ most at 160-5 HR

    143k and almost the 90 miles. Didnt feel too hard either. The control of the HR monitor means these big weeks are becoming should be getting sustaineable. And finally getting consistancy with my 3 key runs: 2 effort runs @ 170 HR and one long Run @ 160-5 HR. 2 Strides sessions also again but no corework.

    Long run has improved from 5:20 ks 2 weeks ago to 4:40 now albeit at a few heart beats higher this week. The long runs seem to have impacted on my effort runs as tuesdays run was down to 4:10 pace in wind (6:44 miling) so progressing. Still fading in the last 1/4 so improvement to gain in speed and endurcance there.
    Saturdays effort was on the Royal canal which eas a building site for a few K in both directions, so pace was out although i added 5 mins to the effort to cover the fact that pace was a little uneven.

    Effort run: @ 170 HR is right. Its neither hard nor easy to keep it going. Im running it out and back, often windy and find myself looking forward to change of wind at half way which means its a little tough. Speed fades to maintain HR in last 1/4 so endurcance and speed need to improve. I guess thats why mastering the first effort range takes longest in Hadds approac: you have to smooth out the resistance in the second half of the effort. Once that is achieved the time spent after moving up 5 beats to the next and subsequent zones should be less. This is because the specific endurance gained from teh lower zone should translate up in most part to specific endurance at the next zone.

    Tracking

    Going to start gauging paces now. I wont be monitoring pace live and garmin watching (well only for HR) but i want to start seeing weekly average pace etc stats which may be useful now and in future.

    HRs getting harder rather than easier

    Suprised by this but stands to reason. 150 HR felt ridiculously slow and easy when i started, i couldnt keep HR below it. Now im running at that HR, and it doesnt feel as easy. My legs are taking longer strides faster, feet are hitting the ground harder...and it feels considerabky...harder. The progression means you are running harder at the same HR and therefore faster.
    There is a difference between the cardiac system and the musculature system.
    I should have known this from something similar in downhill running:
    You run downhill at a low HR....its a piece of piss for the heart...the legs...the legs dont forget that its hard down for them rather than easy flat for the given HR.

    Progression

    2 weeks off for xmas but will be busy. Aim is to get over 120k ave for teh 2 getting all key runs in and 5 runs over the hour per week.

    After that its a progression in mileage towards my max (im thinking 200k).If my Marathon HR is 88% HR max, then that gives me a potential marathon ave of 185 HR. That means i have at least 2 effort zones to go.: 170-75, and 175-180. Ill probaly go 180-85 also. Added to that the high volume and the potential to improve also by upping zones for all weekly runs bar 1-2. Im starting to like the potential here and realise the aerobic buildup for the last marathon could be grealy surpassed here.

    Ill aim for pure 5k training then bar aerobic maintenace runs, and some marathon pace half sessions (purely for race pace efficiency).

    I want to get faster. My 5k pb is 15:54 which i think i can take big chunks out of. If i go from there into marathon training the Aerobic build up will be sorter and hopefully ill have the speed, the aerobic conditioning and the smarter training to really have a cut come october.

    Weight

    Bad news is diet is bad and i havent lost anything in a month. Good news is when i do get it together it should add greatly to my improvement.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,307 ✭✭✭T runner


    Monday 23/12: rest
    Tuesday: 65 minutes @ HR 157
    Wednesday: 70m @ 177 (4 min pace, 6.26 mile pace)
    Thursday : 97m 13.5k on road, grass, beach and mountain.
    Friday rest:
    Saturday: 100ms including 70m @ HR 170 inc 8 strides
    Sunday: 2hrs 8 min HR 144 ave (135 first half, 154 second)

    Total: just under 100k probably equivalent to 115 k in time running due to difficult terrain.


    Xmas week in Sligo. Was never going to get high mileage in so concentrated on getting decent and enjoyable runs in when the opportunities came.
    Tuesdays run was on beach and sand-dunes some steep due to being forced off the beach by a sizeable tide. Tougher than planned.
    Wednesdays plan was the session run @ HR 170 from Strandhill to Rosses Point in Sligo (17-18k) for a xmas day swim. Time was tighter than expected so had to push it HR177ave with most of the 2nd half of the run in the mid eighties. Tough enough and about current marathon effort give or take. Form was sluggish and i felt tight and infelxible at the faster pace. Just missed the main group for the swim anyway.
    Thursday. Pure enjoyment. Had 90 mins for this one so thought id take in most of the beaches on Strandhill peninsula, and acircuit of the airport. Had to vault a huge industrial gate erected by a landowner which cuts a section of a peninsula off and is wrong in so many ways including legally ill bet, but there wont be any action or betting on that front for the next 1000 years by Sligo Coco after losing Lissadell.
    Anyoway, on and up Knocknarea, cant really go easy here as its up the steep front of the mountain and great to see that the old path from the village to the cairn through a forest (thought i was the only one left using it) has been well marked for walkers now.

    Saturday. Back in Dublin, I would pay for these enjoyable albeit strenght sapping runs. Very stiff, with DOMs, couldnt get the legs moving and a very disconcerting result of the HR170 70 min effort being 15s a k slower than the last.
    Noticing my ave HRs were high for the week i decided to keep sundays run relaxed and try and run with decent form. Just looked to pick my heels up at the back rather than pushing each stride, stand tallish and to not force any acceleration. Those two checks are enough to ensure the third one, hips forward, happens......and not forcing it means that the technique is relaxed which is crucial. Changed direction and headed for the park for variety as i wasnt looking forward to this run and my usual long run involving a return into a headwind from Howth direction back to town would have been a killer.

    The first half of this run was the most efficient of the week @ 693 heart beats per kilometer.
    Just eased into it and the slight checks on form made sure that cadence. I tried to up it for the second half and for less than a 10 s per k increase my HR had to increase 20 beats! All the coaches refer to the absolute necessity of relaxed, efficient running when doing aerobic conditioning. Time to start concentarting on this. Only managed one (poor) stride session all week and thses have to eb emphasised again also for this reason.

    Monday 30/12: 73 mins @ HR 146 15.5 k 4:48 pace.
    Tuesday: 31/12: @31k inc Hadd test 2. 9.5 k jog warmup. 12.7k on track 8.5 k warm down.

    Monday i continued with my form watching with more good success and another efficient run. Im happy with this as easy run effort. If i have to force up the pace its not easy. Hopefully with improved fitness this pace will come down towards 4:20.
    Tuesdays Hadd test involved a jog out to ALSAA track and back. Very easy pace, but im heading north for a wedding for a few days which will involve only short easy runs if any, and i needed to get a decent run in so this was the way.

    Results below.
    Test is 2.4 k @ 150-160-170-180-190 wi 90 second break between each.
    Format: HR Pace KM (Pace Miles)
    Conditions windy:
    Note potential HR marathon calculated to be HR 188

    150 4:38 (7:27) 160 4:23 (7:03) 170 4:11 (6:43) 180 3:57 (6:21) 190 3:42 (5:58)

    Results from 18/11
    HR 140 5:31 (8:53) 152.5 5:06 (8:13) 165 4:43 (7:37) 177.5 4:25 (7:06) 190 4:06 (6:36)

    The initial test was conducted on a cinder track on a cold windy day with no break between HR decades. Even so, there is significant improvement. Most of this has come in the last few weeks iguess when i have been getting the 2 effort sessons and long run in consistantly each week.
    Hadd used the HR 170 result to calculate MP for his runner "Joe" in his Training document. This was 5 beats below his extimated marathon HR average but the lower figure is used due to cardiac drift during the marathon race.
    Thus the pace @ HR 183 would give me an estimation for current marathon potential based on a potential marathon HR 188.
    I tried to push the 180 result out to 183 ave but managed 181 ave. That gives me 3:57 pace and around 2:45 marathon potential which although an improvement on the last test is a very very long way from the 3:30-33 id need to see on that test for HR 183 to be in 2:30 marathon shape. Ill keep plugging away.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,307 ✭✭✭T runner


    Monday 30/12: 73 mins @ HR 146 15.5 k 4:48 pace.
    Tuesday: @31k inc Hadd test no. 2.
    9.5 k jog warmup. 12.7k on track 8.5 k warm down.
    Wednesday: Rest
    Thursday: 5k easy
    Friday: Rest
    Saturday: AM (2 x 3k) PM 20k inc 70m @ HR 170
    Sunday: 2 Hrs @ HR165 (26k) (4:36 pace)

    103k total

    Wedding away on Wednesday/Thursday and babysitting 2 extra kids on Friday (4 total) meant I was delighted to get over the 100k again and average 100km for the 2 xmas weeks. Ill have my 2 commute slots as well as my lunch time slot back now so mileage should be easier. I hope. Only one virus so far this winter but diet starting to improve so fingers crossed for the rest of the winter.
    Had to slog out late night long runs to get the runs in but I might try and move the weekend long run to Saturday. No fun doing two hour runs late on Sunday nights!

    Efficient pressure:

    A Lydiard type buildup (and Hadd's is a HR version albeit with a slower buildup) always stipulates that the running should maintain efficient pressure. Kellogg also maintains this. My Saturday effort for HR 170 sliding out to a 4:28 min/km is 17 secs slower than 2 weeks previously. I haven't been doing my strides and im now just teaching myself to run slow and inefficiently. My legs feel tight. My range of motion is limited so I cant run fast. Interestingly, I perform better into the wind where I tend to use shorter strides, which supports this conclusion.


    The effort at HR 170 now feels easy but I need the pace to reflect the fitness. Ill do a session or two of drills and strides before next effort run probably on Wednesday. May even do flat out uphill sprints of 6-8 s to really get a good range of movement and the legs turning over. Ill start dynamic stretching on session days and static stretching on easy days to support.

    I intend to do light pickups or some form of stride/speed maintenance work 4-5 times per week henceforth, probably at lunch.

    Ill stay at HR 170 for effort days until the speed issue is sorted.

    Mileage pick up.

    Happy with how the training has gone till the end of the year. Im still worryingly slow, but good basework is banked and from a position of not having run a step in 2 months, 2 months later im safely running at good mileage again.
    Time to up it a little. I might opt for 2 big weeks followed by a recovery week, and thereafter go for a 3/1 structure. Next two weeks will feel tough, but what else would you be doing in January?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,307 ✭✭✭T runner


    Monday 6/1: Lunch 6k inc 12 x buildups and core
    PM 15k easy HR 145
    Tuesday: AM 12.5k easy HR 148

    The buildups yesterday at lunch seemed to have done the trick. The easy run last night was a lot freer and less stiff/bockety. Started some core work at lunch also. Ticked all the boxes for the day.

    My morning run into work was quite stiff and slow..a much slower pace than yesterday evenings run with a higher HR. Im not a morning runner, but stiffness, lack of flexibility does seem to have an affect at HR/Pace. I suppose it affects stride lenght and stride rate. I wont speculate on the whys anymore. A bit of dynamic stretching before easy runs is another box that needs ticking.

    Tonight will be 12.5 or 15k home with 10-15 buildups again.
    Hopefully pace for tomorrow evenings effort run will be back to where it should be.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,533 ✭✭✭✭Krusty_Clown


    T runner wrote: »
    May even do flat out uphill sprints of 6-8 s to really get a good range of movement and the legs turning over. Ill start dynamic stretching on session days and static stretching on easy days to support.
    i have 6 x 10 second uphill sprints in my plan for tomorrow. Any tips? How steep should the hill be? Anything I should be focussing on during the sprint? Walk back recovery?


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,307 ✭✭✭T runner


    i have 6 x 10 second uphill sprints in my plan for tomorrow. Any tips? How steep should the hill be? Anything I should be focussing on during the sprint? Walk back recovery?

    From the Kellogg doc:
    Most people find it difficult to jump right into fast hill work without having some weakness in the qualities needed for effective hill sprinting. Usually, this shows up as either too great a forward lean (into the hill) or as a tendency to remain in the "plant" phase too long on each step (kind of "sinking" into the hill with a plodding feeling). It is desirable to reduce the time spent in the plant phase, since the faster your eccentric pre-stretch is, the more explosive your toe-off will be. You want to "pop" off the ground when doing hill sprints.

    So I reckon stay as relaxed as possible, stay comfortably upright, slightly faster leg turnover than normal (pull the legs through faster) but still with powerful strides. Although your running powerfully be aware that you want to minimize foot plant time. Also Make sure your getting plenty of power from the ankle/calf area too, drive right onto the toes.

    Pulling the legs through fast with a short but powerful foot plant should give you that "popping" off the ground described by Kellogg.


    Take full recovery (2 mins) as you need to perform them as well as you can.

    The last few might jellify the legs. Just keep relaxed and oblivious.

    That Magness 5k plan looks great. Cant wait to start doing faster stuff!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,623 ✭✭✭dna_leri


    i have 6 x 10 second uphill sprints in my plan for tomorrow. Any tips? How steep should the hill be? Anything I should be focussing on during the sprint? Walk back recovery?

    KC - I would have said as steep as possible but Magness says start with "moderate" http://www.scienceofrunning.com/2009/05/sprint-training-part-2.html

    Full recovery is important.

    I also find it helps to have a 10m run-in to the hill so you have time to get your form right before going uphill.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,307 ✭✭✭T runner


    dna_leri wrote: »
    KC - I would have said as steep as possible but Magness says start with "moderate" http://www.scienceofrunning.com/2009/05/sprint-training-part-2.html

    Full recovery is important.

    I also find it helps to have a 10m run-in to the hill so you have time to get your form right before going uphill.

    Good advice. After the jog, for the first session it might be a good idea warm up the muscles with a few gentle accelerations, again with practicing form in mind, maybe concentrating on a different aspect with each one. Gentle and short enough to take nothing out of you.

    You'll be using the range of motion that you'll use in the sprints and not a bad idea to clear those cobwebs before that first sprint.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,307 ✭✭✭T runner


    Tuesday: PM 12.5 E inc 3 x 4-5 buildups
    Wednesday: Lunch 5k jog inc a little core
    PM 19k inc 15.5 @ 3:52 pace (6:14)

    Garmin left at work I was happy to do tonight's effort run by feel. I wanted to go by feel, to get into that comfortable, controlled but fast pace. I knew it would be above my HR 170 as this feels very steady now.
    After 10 mins easy I started into it out the coast towards Sutton on the cycle track. First half with a slight tail wind I was pushing it a bit too much, a few strides past comfortable. pace 3:49
    On a coldish extremely damp evening I stretched my tight calves and quads quickly for a minute before turning back into the saturation. I just stopped for a minute and was worried that the return would be a slog. Was surprised when the legs kicked in without prompt to a good turnover, kept it controlled and managed a comfortable 3:56 back although it became a little uncomfortable for the last 2k, although I could have continued for a few more if I had to. eturn journey was far more relaxed and comfortable than the outward one and probably faster given the wind. Show the benefit of relaxed running. The few strides this week helped with form, but i'm still inflixible and stiff with a lot of movement in hips and upper body that will disappear I hope.
    The effort on the way back felt right, and im going to replicate it again with monitor but only checking it at runs end. I need to start doing runs in the medium paces between my fastest and slowest runs to maximise development.
    Nice to be getting a slightly faster pace again for my efforts.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,307 ✭✭✭T runner


    Thursday: 23.5k easy-steady 4:43 pace

    Have been managing this pace as quite easy now for my one hour runs. Today was slighlier steadier, with a faster cadence than usual due to last nights faster run. Looked at a 2 week marathon training log online of a 2:15 guy.

    When you see the training some people do you realise that there is always room for great improvement in endurance running provided one is willing to do whats required.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,454 ✭✭✭hf4z6sqo7vjngi


    T runner wrote: »
    Looked at a 2 week marathon training log online of a 2:15 guy.

    When you see the training some people do you realise that there is always room for great improvement in endurance running provided one is willing to do whats required.

    Do you have a link? Interested to see what they do in terms of volume, recovery and quality sessions.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,533 ✭✭✭✭Krusty_Clown


    Do you have a link? Interested to see what they do in terms of volume, recovery and quality sessions.
    Steve Way's blog is fantastic. He's 'only' a 2:19 guy, but love that he posts all his Garmin links, so you can have a right proper nose around his training. Incredible training.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,307 ✭✭✭T runner


    Do you have a link? Interested to see what they do in terms of volume, recovery and quality sessions.

    Sure. This is the one I was looking at. A 2 week block 5 and 4 weeks out from marathon.

    2 quality and 1 long with longish easy recovery runs between.

    He says it took him 3-5 years to reach that volume/intensity combo.

    He says something about recovery in the comments section, saying that he focused too much on mileage at the expense of optimum recovery sometimes.
    Steve Way's blog is fantastic. He's 'only' a 2:19 guy, but love that he posts all his Garmin links, so you can have a right proper nose around his training. Incredible training.

    Love that one too. Great that he has the full planned and actual completed schedules too. He tops out 140 per week as well mileage wise. At 30+ per secs a mile slower that would be 125+ mpw. I reckon that would take (in a different life!) about a few years to build towards injury free allright.

    Edit: just noticed in the training i linked above that he said if he cold add one thing it might be the uphill sprints.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 10,762 ✭✭✭✭ecoli


    Do you have a link? Interested to see what they do in terms of volume, recovery and quality sessions.

    An extreme example but if you are looking for comprehensive logs;

    http://www.bunnhill.com/BobHodge/Rodgers/TrainingLogs/br75traininglog.htm


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 784 ✭✭✭Stazza


    Good to see the progress, T. Keep at it, all this work's gonna pay off...

    If you want to have a gander at one of the lads I help, check out Jake Krong - 1:05 half and 2:20 full.

    T, if you take a look at his training leading into CIM, only a very short build up, you'll notice some sessions that'll make you smile.

    The early part of this year he's working on his 5k and half - I've given him some comprehensive sessions to do - he's gonna run 2:16 this year and qualify for the US Olympic Trials.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,307 ✭✭✭T runner


    ecoli wrote: »
    An extreme example but if you are looking for comprehensive logs;

    http://www.bunnhill.com/BobHodge/Rodgers/TrainingLogs/br75traininglog.htm

    Wow, that's fantastic running! Some time for Boston too.
    Stazza wrote: »
    Good to see the progress, T. Keep at it, all this work's gonna pay off...

    If you want to have a gander at one of the lads I help, check out Jake Krong - 1:05 half and 2:20 full.

    T, if you take a look at his training leading into CIM, only a very short build up, you'll notice some sessions that'll make you smile.

    The early part of this year he's working on his 5k and half - I've given him some comprehensive sessions to do - he's gonna run 2:16 this year and qualify for the US Olympic Trials.

    Super training there.


    Thanks Stazza, if the inkling takes you, send any training ideas, advice or sessions my way.


    My plan for Frankfurt is more or less:

    Phase 1: Large aerobic conditioning phase now with 3 aims:
    1. to regain lost fitness due to 2 months non exercise. (not there yet)
    2. to push my aerobic development and training capacity to a higher level (which will allow me to train at a higher volume and volume of intensity for my Autumn marathon)
    3. To prepare myself physically to be able to gain maximally for middle distance training.
    Phase 2: Middle distance season, inc a few road races.
    Phase 3: Prep for Autumn marathon.

    Have summarized your linked runners training which ill post after.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,307 ✭✭✭T runner


    Summarised from Stazzas link HERE

    He uses 2 big sessions per week.
    At = Aerobic threshold = around PMP pace = 5:10-5:30 pace for 5:20 PMP pace
    LT pace = his lactate Threshold pace 4:55-5 min mile pace.

    Sessions from Target marathon back

    California marathon in 2:20

    1.5 weeks out
    sub max 10k

    2-3 weeks out
    19 miles inc 10 mile AT progression
    17 miles inc 2 x 10k AT tempo

    3-4 weeks out:
    17 inc 1/2 marathon at PMP (70 mins)
    16 inc 12 miles AT intervals and hilly tempo

    4-5 weeks:
    23 inc 16.3 miles @ AT (95-97% PMP)
    15 miles inc AT reps 3x 5k (1/4 mile jog)

    5-6 weeks:
    HM 65:50
    Other sessions this week were smaller pre- half preps

    6-7 weeks
    14 inc 5 mile AT tempo
    14 inc 2 x 5k LT tempo reps.

    7-8 weeks
    20 ic 5k in 15.11 and 7 mile AT Tempo
    18 inc 8-9 miles hilly AT reps

    8-9 weeks
    23 miles inc 10 mile AT tempo
    17 mile inc 10 x 1 mile LT reps

    9 weeks +
    8 mile LT Tempo 5k LT tempo 6 mile AT tempo R pace session (post marathon cobweb buster)

    11 weeks out
    Top of Utah marathon, (sub max effort) 2:23

    Great training with sustaineble sessions leading into the race.





    just put my own buildup for Rotterdam here too, if you've any observations?.

    Rotterdam marathon in 2:35

    1.5 weeks out
    8k progression AT-LT

    2-3 weeks out
    20k inc 9 miles @ AT

    3-4 weeks out:
    34k progression aborted after 27k; actual pace 4min/k-3:42min/k

    4-5 weeks:
    35k long hilly steady run 4:15 pace 2:30 hrs
    Hilly 10k in 33:30

    5-6 weeks:
    30k inc 20k @ 2:32 pace Windy and undulating course in Park


    6-7 weeks
    HM in 74:20 Disaster with pacing. In low 73 shape on day.


    7-8 weeks
    35k ave 3:55 inc 35k inc race pace running (15k@ 2:30 race pace or faster)
    25k (With a significant hill) (16m) @ 98-99% of eventual marathon race pace. Office door to home door.


    My best sessions were 8-5 weeks out although I only managed 1 per week.
    In hindsight, I was in peak shape for my fast 35k run 7 weeks out.

    I wasn't able to sustain the big sessions and after the HM, mileage was reduced and training became disjointed and steady.

    Possible mistakes:

    Hill races to boost LT meant preparation for big AT sessions on road was inadequate.
    No firm schedule and made mistakes.
    2:30 was not on. Sessions should have been based on 2:32.xx

    Solutions i can see:
    Prepare with for Specific phase with LT, AT and a combimination of other training, all bar easy runs on good surfaces, in order to make 2:30 possible.
    Even so, Deciding that 2:32 was a target early and also running the HM @ PMP, would have allowed me to continue with 2 sustainable sessions a week (could only recover from 1 a week, from 8 weeks out).

    Any thoughts appreciated.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 784 ✭✭✭Stazza


    T, great analysis and I have some thoughts/ideas about your Rotterdam build-up and how you're planning for your next marathon...

    I linked Jake's blog in because his 'story' is a good one and should inspire some guys who might think 2:20 and faster isn't possible for them.

    Later tonight, I'll give some background stuff on Jake and how he's now transitioning in training. If you like, I'll also have a word with him and ask if he minds if I post his training plan for Feb-Jun. I sent him some ideas in December, which he'll adopt for his next training block; the idea's to improve his LT as he's pretty much maxed out on his current LT. He's sending over the outline for me to examine /tweak/make suggestions. I'm sure he'll be cool about me posting it.

    Once I get settled on here, I'll bang up some logs and plans for some of the guys I've helped and continue to help. Plus, I'll post some blogs and logs of guys who have improved quickly from 3:30ish -2:30 ish, using a very simple but effective system I've developed that combines Canova for beginners with Kellogg and Horwill....


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,307 ✭✭✭T runner


    Stazza wrote: »
    T, great analysis and I have some thoughts/ideas about your Rotterdam build-up and how you're planning for your next marathon...

    I linked Jake's blog in because his 'story' is a good one and should inspire some guys who might think 2:20 and faster isn't possible for them.

    Later tonight, I'll give some background stuff on Jake and how he's now transitioning in training. If you like, I'll also have a word with him and ask if he minds if I post his training plan for Feb-Jun. I sent him some ideas in December, which he'll adopt for his next training block; the idea's to improve his LT as he's pretty much maxed out on his current LT. He's sending over the outline for me to examine /tweak/make suggestions. I'm sure he'll be cool about me posting it.

    Once I get settled on here, I'll bang up some logs and plans for some of the guys I've helped and continue to help. Plus, I'll post some blogs and logs of guys who have improved quickly from 3:30ish -2:30 ish, using a very simple but effective system I've developed that combines Canova for beginners with Kellogg and Horwill....

    Thanks Stazza. Its inspiring to see a plan work as well as that.
    Would be great if you asked Jake re seeing his training plan. Would be very interested in seeing it. Its good to see how quickly he was able to progress his AT runs. I think his sub max marathon (2:23 and 98% PMP) must have been a great base of specific endurance for him. He knew he could go the full distance close to PMP at that stage and could concentrate on extending his ability to run actually @ or faster than PMP (AT sessions, PMP runs), supported by some LT sessions and the HM race. These AT sessions were of enough volume to also maintain his ability to run fast for the marathon distance only needing to top up with the 16.3 mile AT run 4 weeks out from the target race.

    Great if you could post those blogs and logs too, but in your own time.

    After my Dublin masters outing yesterday, i've a long way to go!

    Will introduce one of the Kellogg base building half speed sessions this week.

    Thanks again


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 784 ✭✭✭Stazza


    T runner wrote: »
    Thanks Stazza. Its inspiring to see a plan work as well as that.
    Would be great if you asked Jake re seeing his training plan. Would be very interested in seeing it. Its good to see how quickly he was able to progress his AT runs. I think his sub max marathon (2:23 and 98% PMP) must have been a great base of specific endurance for him. He knew he could go the full distance close to PMP at that stage and could concentrate on extending his ability to run actually @ or faster than PMP (AT sessions, PMP runs), supported by some LT sessions and the HM race. These AT sessions were of enough volume to also maintain his ability to run fast for the marathon distance only needing to top up with the 16.3 mile AT run 4 weeks out from the target race.

    Great if you could post those blogs and logs too, but in your own time.

    After my Dublin masters outing yesterday, i've a long way to go!

    Will introduce one of the Kellogg base building half speed sessions this week.

    Thanks again

    T, I waited to get the ok from you before posting as I didn’t want to clog up your log.

    Just some quick background on Jake
    At school – mad into the sport thing. Mainly B/ball. Started running for B/ball and realised he had a ‘bit’ of talent. Ran 4:17 for the mile (equates to about 4:00 for 1500m – nothing special, pretty av for 16-18 yr old track runner). Didn’t run well at college and later: always injured. Jacked running. Big into hiking and skiing and the whole outdoors thing. Spent a good few years just doing the outdoors stuff and running as and when – just for fun. Met Andrea (good runner with huge potential and same love of the old outdoors stuff) and they decided to get back into the running.

    “In 2008 I moved to Colorado and was exposed to a whole new world of recreation. Backcountry skiing, climbing the 14,000 foot peaks, and long distance backpacking trips became my primary athletic pursuits. I still ran daily, but for fun and general fitness. For two years I played in the mountains, skied over 200 days, and most importantly had the good fortune of meeting Andrea North (featured in the June/July issue of this magazine). We moved to Salt Lake City during the summer of 2010 (more for the skiing than running, to be honest), but we were both itching to start training more seriously and do some racing.

    Last fall I signed up for the Antelope Island 50K, hoping that would keep me motivated through the cold winter months. I had no concept of it at the time, but that simple action of clicking the “register” button on my computer would kick-start a streak of 27 straight 100+ mile weeks, which laid the foundation for me jump to a new level of running that I had previously dreamed about, but never thought I would actually reach.

    I started 2011 by winning a couple of trail runs (including the 50K), and as I started to prepare for the Utah Valley Marathon, I realized that I had “jumped a level.” I had a string of good workouts and races in May, went into my debut marathon with tremendous confidence, and executed a great race. Running has been more fun than ever during this past year, and I can’t wait to see where I can go from here.”

    Prior to his 1st marathon 2:21:47 he averaged 115 mpw for 15 weeks– often doing 130-140. This was while working full-time! In a hospital with cancer patients.

    Most of his running was done @ 7:30-8min pace and then closer to races he’d introduce tempo runs and some speed work. But he didn’t really improve for two years. But he developed a huge aerobic base.

    He had Andrea nagging him in one ear and me in the other. Andrea wanted him to cut the miles and become more athletic and I tried to coerce him into a different approach – we’ve succeeded. He’s dropped his mileage to 90-105 but does some form of functional strength/mobility work pretty much everyday. He keeps his easy runs @ 7:30 to 8 pace. And as you highlighted, two workouts a week. It's all about appropriate stress, recovery, and adaptation. It's that simple.

    There are a good few weaknesses in his California Marathon build-up but he had race commitments to fulfill and he was chasing a few bucks too. But the idea of, first improving LT and then narrowing the difference between LT and AT, proved a success – even off a limited and wishy-washy approach. But he can now see how to make his next breakthrough from sub-elite (2:17-2:24) to the elite ranks.

    I’ll speak to him in the next few days and if he’s ok with it (I’m sure he will be) I’ll fire over his schedule. He’s a bit gutted at the moment as they’ve dropped the OTQ time down to 2:17…

    I'll post my thoughts on your training, this afternoon or this evening...


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 784 ✭✭✭Stazza


    T runner wrote: »
    Thanks Stazza. Its inspiring to see a plan work as well as that.
    Would be great if you asked Jake re seeing his training plan. Would be very interested in seeing it. Its good to see how quickly he was able to progress his AT runs. I think his sub max marathon (2:23 and 98% PMP) must have been a great base of specific endurance for him. He knew he could go the full distance close to PMP at that stage and could concentrate on extending his ability to run actually @ or faster than PMP (AT sessions, PMP runs), supported by some LT sessions and the HM race. These AT sessions were of enough volume to also maintain his ability to run fast for the marathon distance only needing to top up with the 16.3 mile AT run 4 weeks out from the target race.

    Great if you could post those blogs and logs too, but in your own time.

    After my Dublin masters outing yesterday, i've a long way to go!

    Will introduce one of the Kellogg base building half speed sessions this week.

    Thanks again
    T, before I get into the nitty-gritty, some things:

    It’s difficult to comment on the training of others without knowing the person and their circumstances – family, job, nutrition, sleep and the whole shooting match. Also, most of us don’t like to be told that our ideas/methods/ training schedules have faults – most of us think we’ve got it bang on. We’re a dogmatic breed. That said, I know you are a student of the sport and that your knowledge of training and all the rest of the stuff is way up there with the best of them. You also, from what I’ve witnessed, are not stuck to one ideology – you seem flexible and thoughtful in your approach.

    If what I say rubs you up the wrong way, please don’t take offence and excuse my ineptitude and ignorance. I can be a bit gung-ho at times.

    For good reason, I haven’t gone back over your training and race: I followed your training and read your race report at the time. From your race report, I can specifically remember you mentioning something about your son/daughter. The main thing that struck me from your training was how you fell apart after such a great start. I also recall thinking, when I posted something about a session you lifted from Lydia Cheromei’s Amsterdam schedule, T’s lost his way here. I think the session was from late in her preparations and you had it early in yours.

    As you started the more specific phase of your training, it seemed to me, from a close reading of your log, that you had the burden of mankind on your shoulders. You seemed to be swamped in misery instead of enjoying your running. I might be wrong here, but that was the impression I had from reading your log at the time. Subsequently, I wasn’t surprised when things started to go ’wrong’.

    You mention above about the lack of a schedule – it’s difficult to wing a marathon and get a pb. The marathon is a simple race; people complicate it.

    Another point, and I suspect I stand alone on here with this one – I don’t think you (universal pronoun, not you specifically) should race during the final 8-10 weeks of a marathon build-up. But what about the elites everybody screams. Well, if we look closely, some race and some don’t. But if you are in good 5k/10k/10 mile/half shape, 6 weeks out from a marathon, you are not getting the most out of your training. Sure, you might well get a pb etc. But if you didn’t race, your pb would be much improved, that is, of course, if the training’s right. I could go into the details of this but it would start getting complicated, so I’ll save it for another time. The time to race is before you enter the final 8-10 weeks.

    If you look at the specifics of what you actually did, there’s little in there that would suggest busting 2:30 – that doesn’t mean that you can’t smash through 2:30 – you most certainly can.

    For Frankfurt, I like how you are starting now. I do, however, get a sense from the sub text of your log that you might be about to change direction – that’s ok – so long as you don’t panic and go off on some mad quick-fix. The idea of a big aerobic base is good and adding in some other bits and pieces at this stage is good too – so long as they have a purpose and you are planning on progressing them towards your eventual goal. I got this from you comment about the Masters thing you mentioned.

    I also have reservations about how you are planning on going from a big base to middle distance on the track and then on into marathon training. This, if not handled correctly, will fail. Yes, some can get away with this method and make a big breakthrough but I think you might destroy your aerobic base and be starting from scratch. And yet, this is similar to the method I prefer for the first two stages of a four stage approach – I would be more inclined to transition in from a big base to 5k work and then ease into what I call a catapult method of LT training, which blends into a 5 month marathon build-up (I’ll explain this another time).

    Anyway, you’re either punching the computer screen or you’ve fallen asleep – so I’ll leave it there, for now.

    Remember, no offence intended, just honest thoughts. :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,704 ✭✭✭✭RayCun


    Stazza wrote: »
    Another point, and I suspect I stand alone on here with this one – I don’t think you (universal pronoun, not you specifically) should race during the final 8-10 weeks of a marathon build-up. But what about the elites everybody screams. Well, if we look closely, some race and some don’t. But if you are in good 5k/10k/10 mile/half shape, 6 weeks out from a marathon, you are not getting the most out of your training. Sure, you might well get a pb etc. But if you didn’t race, your pb would be much improved, that is, of course, if the training’s right. I could go into the details of this but it would start getting complicated, so I’ll save it for another time. The time to race is before you enter the final 8-10 weeks.

    I'd be interested to hear you expand on this bit some time.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 784 ✭✭✭Stazza


    Just to clarify/add to some of the above points:

    1. The part where I said that I remembered what you wrote about your child, even after all this time and hundreds of race reports and daily training sessions, was a memorable and beautiful moment. To access a runner’s mind and witness the rawness and vulnerability is inspiring and powerful stuff – for me, it’s part of the magic of running. I should have mentioned this and then started a new para.

    2. On the burden of mankind and all that hyperbole – what I meant was that you seemed to be straining under the load of training and everyday life. It’s tough to go out to work and do double days and long hard runs in the wind and rain, especially off the back of months of high mileage. In short, and I think you alluded to this, perhaps a touch of burnout?

    3. The not racing in the 8-10 weeks prior to the marathon - I’m not going to go into it in detail but just to qualify it a wee bit:

    Most people race in the final 8-10 weeks. Some people do 5k10k races 7-14 days out from race day. This, after all the weeks preparing your body to perfect fuel burning in and around race pace, seems to me to be counter intuitive: it slightly confuses the system and puts things out of kilter. It’s one of the many reasons why runners struggle in the final few miles. The old half marathon 4-6 weeks out is a common strategy. Imo, 4-6 weeks out you don’t want to be in great half marathon shape; you want to be in great marathon shape – big difference. If, however, you run a half marathon between 97% and 103% of pmp, then this ok and is in fact a great idea. Also, depending on your level and background, running a marathon/ 22-24 miles of marathon 6-8 weeks out with a good number of the miles (15-22) in and around 97% of pmp is also great idea.

    I hope this clarifies some of the murkier points I made above; if not, just ask me what I meant and I’ll try my best to explain. The great news is we’re debating and examining different approaches/aspects and that has to be healthy for everybody.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,759 ✭✭✭belcarra


    Stazza wrote: »
    3. The not racing in the 8-10 weeks prior to the marathon - I’m not going to go into it in detail but just to qualify it a wee bit:

    Most people race in the final 8-10 weeks. Some people do 5k10k races 7-14 days out from race day. This, after all the weeks preparing your body to perfect fuel burning in and around race pace, seems to me to be counter intuitive: it slightly confuses the system and puts things out of kilter. It’s one of the many reasons why runners struggle in the final few miles. The old half marathon 4-6 weeks out is a common strategy. Imo, 4-6 weeks out you don’t want to be in great half marathon shape; you want to be in great marathon shape – big difference. If, however, you run a half marathon between 97% and 103% of pmp, then this ok and is in fact a great idea. Also, depending on your level and background, running a marathon/ 22-24 miles of marathon 6-8 weeks out with a good number of the miles (15-22) in and around 97% of pmp is also great idea.

    Stazza, thanks for this information! I was debating my Spring plan myself and whether I should race a HM/10km event 2 weeks before marathon (Knew it would be too much to race the HM but the 10k...?), or just run the HM @ MP.
    I think I will run the HM @ MP now. Do you think that even at MP, a HM 2 weeks from a marathon would be too much?
    (I have a decent mileage background the past couple of years and seem to recover well from runs most of the time).

    Cheers!
    [/hijack]


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,704 ✭✭✭✭RayCun


    I can understand that in the last 6-8 weeks you want to be focusing in on marathon pace. But in those weeks you will presumably also be doing sessions at other paces - mile repeats, tempo runs, whatever. So what is the difference between doing 5x1k at 5k pace 2 weeks out, and doing a 5k race two weeks out? Is it a mental thing, people treating the build-up race as a goal, and maybe tilting their training towards it?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 784 ✭✭✭Stazza


    RayCun wrote: »
    I can understand that in the last 6-8 weeks you want to be focusing in on marathon pace. But in those weeks you will presumably also be doing sessions at other paces - mile repeats, tempo runs, whatever. So what is the difference between doing 5x1k at 5k pace 2 weeks out, and doing a 5k race two weeks out? Is it a mental thing, people treating the build-up race as a goal, and maybe tilting their training towards it?

    I'm just about to go out for a cheeky little 8 mile progression run - I'll answer this later, but for now, I'll leave you with a question. An immediate and obvious answer will come to mind, but think about it:

    Why would you be doing mile repeats/1k repeats 2-8 weeks prior to a marathon?


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 784 ✭✭✭Stazza


    belcarra wrote: »
    Stazza, thanks for this information! I was debating my Spring plan myself and whether I should race a HM/10km event 2 weeks before marathon (Knew it would be too much to race the HM but the 10k...?), or just run the HM @ MP.
    I think I will run the HM @ MP now. Do you think that even at MP, a HM 2 weeks from a marathon would be too much?
    (I have a decent mileage background the past couple of years and seem to recover well from runs most of the time).

    Cheers!
    [/hijack]

    Quick answer - see comment about 8 mile progression run. If you have to race/run, do the 10k @ 102/103% of pmp or the half with 6-8 miles @102/103% of pmp. I'll explain later...


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 10,762 ✭✭✭✭ecoli


    RayCun wrote: »
    I can understand that in the last 6-8 weeks you want to be focusing in on marathon pace. But in those weeks you will presumably also be doing sessions at other paces - mile repeats, tempo runs, whatever. So what is the difference between doing 5x1k at 5k pace 2 weeks out, and doing a 5k race two weeks out? Is it a mental thing, people treating the build-up race as a goal, and maybe tilting their training towards it?

    Sorry for butting in very interesting discussion hopefully we are not ruining T Runners log with the hi jack (let me know and I can throw these into a separate thread)

    I think the point Stazza is trying to make is specificity. I know there are some plans which advocate the sort of approach that you have listed above (looks very much along the lines of P&D) but I think Stazza is coming from the Canova way of thinking with regards building up distance at MP rather than bringing down times as a measure of progression and as such the focus is on Aerobic Threshold, almost exclusively

    With regards the difference between the 5k tune up race and 5x1k I would say they change the dynamics of a week drastically in terms of recovery and training approach for the week.

    @Stazza I would be interested to hear your opinions on sessions which might not be physiologically the most effective, yet yield great results due to mental confidence gotten.

    I know personally I have minimal 5k work in the specific marathon phase in the 10 week build up to Rotterdam, but I do have it. Have found this to be beneficial previously as another coach put it "to lock in new fitness levels". While I know the Canova approach is all about specificity towards the marathon I think the normal recreational runner has a wider target (most usually want to improve times over distances from 5k - Marathon) and as such probably should never stray too far away from any one energy pathway and should keep in touch with all aspects. IMO each system should be worked throughout a year, though in different ratio's depending on ones short term goal.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,704 ✭✭✭✭RayCun


    Stazza wrote: »
    Why would you be doing mile repeats/1k repeats 2-8 weeks prior to a marathon?

    :) I was going to ask, do you drop everything faster than PMP in the last 8 weeks?

    The immediate and obvious answer - the same reason to do some shorter races in the build-up - is 'to keep from going insane'.

    A bit more thought - because some variety of training stimulus is needed, even in the last couple of months, for the training to be effective. Yes, the last few months become more and more about PMP, but you don't want to fall into a rut either. Some runs at a faster pace make the PMP feel easier, even if the faster runs are the secondary sessions in a week. Also faster running can help you keep in touch with form.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 784 ✭✭✭Stazza


    pant, pant, pant. I'll tackle the questions later (got to do my AIS etc, shower, nutrition and make a Stazza Chill-ay). But just to keep you thinking:

    There's plenty of variety in the training approach that I advocate, if anything, the idea is to get people away from all this 2 marathons a year stuff and show them that there's more to running than a Long Sunday run, a session of mile repeats and a 10 mile tempo @ mp. Although there are elements of Canova in the method, it's not all about Canova and his approach - I see plenty of weaknesses in Canova's method. But that'll lead to a load of tear-ups if we go down that road.

    @ecoli - I get the Hadley idea - I like his approach to training (more as a post aerobic/base phase: general conditioning) and as he says in the introduction of his 'book', he sought approval from Canova. But there are big problems with Hadley's approach too. Don't get me wrong, it can be effective and is a sensible approach to training that has longevity, which is very important. Anyway, my old body is starting to 'stiffen' - better get to my cool down or I'll never break 15:22 for 5k.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,307 ✭✭✭T runner


    Thanks for the input Stazza, great analysis.
    Stazza wrote: »
    ......For good reason, I haven’t gone back over your training and race: I followed your training and read your race report at the time. From your race report, I can specifically remember you mentioning something about your son/daughter.

    That was a photo my wife emailed to me of my daughter which I visualised when things got tougher during the race to keep the mind positive, and it worked a treat.

    Sleep wasn't an issue during the preparation although it is now with a 4 month old in tow: that's another reason why the big base of easy running idea seems to fit quite well for this phase.
    I will encounter problems with tiring sessions at the moment. A slow adaption to big mileage bypasses this to a degree.
    The main thing that struck me from your training was how you fell apart after such a great start. I also recall thinking, when I posted something about a session you lifted from Lydia Cheromei’s Amsterdam schedule, T’s lost his way here. I think the session was from late in her preparations and you had it early in yours.

    The big session you mentioned (from Cheromei's schedule) was roughly at the same time out from marathon as hers (7 weeks), although definitely at a different stage of preparation as, unlike myself, she had several fast LT and AT type sessions bagged at that stage. I honestly felt the benefit of the 3k hard uphill in that session in leg strength at the end of the marathon. The HM the following week and the session the week after absolutely killed me. Mileage was down, I knew things were off the rails and I was finding it difficult to change it with a tired mind. I remember asking for opinions on PMP here before the marathon race, but in reality PMP should have been decided before the specific phase.
    As you started the more specific phase of your training, it seemed to me, from a close reading of your log, that you had the burden of mankind on your shoulders. You seemed to be swamped in misery instead of enjoying your running. I might be wrong here, but that was the impression I had from reading your log at the time. Subsequently, I wasn’t surprised when things started to go ’wrong’.

    That was after 5 weeks out and things were probably already wrong. 3 weeks of monster sessions without adequate adaption had tired me out and reduced my mileage. I actually had an aversion to running any hard miles after that. I didn't manage to complete a real session bar a 10k race and only a race environment and a steady start enabled me to manage that.
    You mention above about the lack of a schedule – it’s difficult to wing a marathon and get a PB. The marathon is a simple race; people complicate it.

    Agreed.

    I had ran 25k miles in just over 96% of 2:32 pace pace 7.5 weeks out.

    To keep it simple after this: Use two more session to extend this run to say 32k+.
    Start AT sessions as part of long runs eg 5x3k, 4x5k, 5x5k all with a moderate k recovery.
    That with the HM @ PMP and one long run say 16k E 16k @AT, should have got me a 2:32 on the day. Easy-moderate running with a little fast fartlek and strides, in between.
    Another point, and I suspect I stand alone on here with this one – I don’t think you (universal pronoun, not you specifically) should race during the final 8-10 weeks of a marathon build-up. But what about the elites everybody screams. Well, if we look closely, some race and some don’t. But if you are in good 5k/10k/10 mile/half shape, 6 weeks out from a marathon, you are not getting the most out of your training. Sure, you might well get a pb etc. But if you didn’t race, your pb would be much improved, that is, of course, if the training’s right. I could go into the details of this but it would start getting complicated, so I’ll save it for another time. The time to race is before you enter the final 8-10 weeks.

    Another drawback for the HM in particular is the rest needed before and after. That said 8-10 weeks out it might serve as a final huge LT boost before AT focused on.

    Another session I saw when a hard workout was needed, was a HM: first half at MP, second half progressing to finish at HM pace.

    Some elites like to run a 8-10k race 2 weeks out as a marathon sharpener. Id imagine that might be of benefit as long as it was paced sensibly and a big buildup of lactic was avoided in the last k. Any gains made I guess should be weighed against the fact that it might encourage a glucose to be burned quicker which is problematic, but if the runner paces it well and doesn't run the last 2k all out it could be beneficial on balance.
    For Frankfurt, I like how you are starting now. I do, however, get a sense from the sub text of your log that you might be about to change direction – that’s ok – so long as you don’t panic and go off on some mad quick-fix. The idea of a big aerobic base is good and adding in some other bits and pieces at this stage is good too – so long as they have a purpose and you are planning on progressing them towards your eventual goal. I got this from you comment about the Masters thing you mentioned.

    The big mileage plan is still intact. Just need to be consistant with strides and the odd 200s session (e.g 8k of 200 @ 5k, 200 steady) to ensure that the easy and steady aerobic running is economical.
    I also have reservations about how you are planning on going from a big base to middle distance on the track and then on into marathon training. This, if not handled correctly, will fail. Yes, some can get away with this method and make a big breakthrough but I think you might destroy your aerobic base and be starting from scratch. And yet, this is similar to the method I prefer for the first two stages of a four stage approach – I would be more inclined to transition in from a big base to 5k work and then ease into what I call a catapult method of LT training, which blends into a 5 month marathon build-up (I’ll explain this another time).

    To be honest youre probably right there. If my marathon was in the Spring of 2015 i'd have time for the middle distance season and to build up again.

    I had considered something like THIS. Based n Rosa's training.
    Remember, no offence intended, just honest thoughts. :)

    Non taken, I really appreciate the feedback!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 784 ✭✭✭Stazza


    T, I agree with everything. Great minds and all that.

    One thing I hate is when I go to enter my training in my diary and the Kids have written something like, 'Dad stinks'; this reminds me of that sort of thing. Best we stop sullying T's training log. But the discussion is important and I have an idea how we might develop it, just need some time as I don't want to make a mistake with commitments etc.

    Also, and this is very important, nobody should change or modify their schedules too much based on these posts. This dialogue was specific to T's training. If you're following a 12 week Magazine thing, then I suggest you stick to the plan.

    Clearly there's some interest in the tripe we're chatting about, so give me some time and I'll come up with a way of explaining the Stazza System etc...

    Sorry T - I'm outta here now:)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 784 ✭✭✭Stazza


    T,
    Sorry for jumping back in but I thought you'd like to know that I've just been speaking with Jake - he's gonna jump in on the boards later. Just to give you the heads up if there's anything you want to know. Shall I ask him to come in on your log?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,441 ✭✭✭Slogger Jogger


    T. Loved your contribution about the 25th anniversary Warriers run on the Radio Kerry John Lenihan podcast. Well done that man.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,307 ✭✭✭T runner


    Stazza wrote: »
    T,
    Sorry for jumping back in but I thought you'd like to know that I've just been speaking with Jake - he's gonna jump in on the boards later. Just to give you the heads up if there's anything you want to know. Shall I ask him to come in on your log?

    Good man stazza! If Jake jumps in here it suits me fine. This Wimter ans Spring Im thinking of going the high mileage route that Jake followed on commencing his serious training a few years ago. Would he have any advice there ( he seems to have jumped straight in deep with the 100miler weeks ) and how much of his improvement would he attribute to his string of hundred milers. Also would be intersted in the structure of these weeks......were there any sessions or just a lot of easy paced running to build the aerobic base. How did he manage running form throUgh the big mileage. Thanks to Jake and yourself for taking the time here. Much appreciated, both of you!


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 784 ✭✭✭Stazza


    He recently started work with Saucony and he said he'd get over to me later tonight (our time) - it might mean that he hits your log tomorrow evening. I'll tell him to pick up from where I linked his blog in and then get him to give his thoughts. He'll answer your questions - he loves all this sort of chat.


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