Question on Speed session

shels4ever

After my run today just got thinking about my training plan and different elements of the plan ie Temop, speed session , Long slow runs, Have read some info on runs with fast finishes over the last few miles ie at race pace.

But is there any such session that you go like the clappers for as long as possible and then try to complete the distance. Would there be any benifit in this sort of running. Years ago when I was running really well most of my session were run like this and it seems to work back then. but would it have any place in a training plan ie 6 mile run first 2 @ 5k pace and then hang on..

Peckham

Haven't seen anything like it in any of the structured plans I've read through. Tempo runs should cover off this aspect of training, i.e. you should generally be hurting in the final quarter of the tempo pace segment, and pretty much "hanging on"!

Am sure there would be benefits to the approach you've suggested, but also potential pitfalls - i.e. many people doing speed training would have the attitude of trying to finish the session regardless of how badly they were hurting and may "hang on" for too long, and risk injury. Whereas if your speed sessions are correctly built over a number of weeks/months using a structured programme, this minimises that risk.

Woddle

Does that not sound a bit like a race were you just go like the clappers until the tank runs out or you cross the finishing line. I think most marathon schedules would have approx 4 races.

shels4ever

Woddle wrote: »

Does that not sound a bit like a race were you just go like the clappers until the tank runs out or you cross the finishing line. I think most marathon schedules would have approx 4 races.

Well maybe just slightly slower is 5k pace for 2 ish miles of 5 mile pace for 4 miles followed by a couple of extra miles. Just felt that when i used to run fast most days then I raced well.

TheRoadRunner

I have thought about this before. I always assumed i ran faster when I was younger and in essence I did.

However I found my training diaries a while ago and I realised I ran less frequently than I do now 4 times per week on average and the distances I covered were usually shorter than 6 miles. This is grand if you are a naturally fit kid running short races but probably doesn't scale up for distance events.

shels4ever

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

I have thought about this before. I always assumed i ran faster when I was younger and in essence I did.

However I found my training diaries a while ago and I realised I ran less frequently than I do now 4 times per week on average and the distances I covered were usually shorter than 6 miles. This is grand if you are a naturally fit kid running short races but probably doesn't scale up for distance events.

Good point there,sounds about right to me.