Thursday, January 31, 2019

Ladder Workouts

Workout of the Week: Track Ladders Competitor Running

"-a ladder workout is an interval session where you either ascend or descend the time or distance—along with the pace—of each repetition. “Ladder workouts that start with shorter, faster intervals flood the legs with lactic acid and teach your body how to persist with fast running even though they are tired and heavy.
Descending ladder workouts that decrease in interval length throughout the workout—but increase in pace—teach your body how to change gears late in a session.”
-Coach Sarah Crouch of Runners Connect.

MY COMMENT: As Coach Crouch points out, there are different reasons why you might start with shorter intervals as opposed to working your way down from longer segments. While I favor multiple repetitions run at the same distance, occasionally I will break it up with a ladder routine- working my way up to finish at a pace that simulates racing.

Last week I did the following: 16 x 100m with 20 sec recovery; 5 x .2 mile with 60 sec recovery; 2 mile run. https://www.strava.com/activities/2101475907

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Long Run!

Workout Summary Jan 21-26

Total Miles = 60.8
Quality Miles = 8.6
Long Run = 11 miles

Highlights:

60 mile week!
3 runs 10 miles or longer!
Wed: 4.6 mile tempo run (7:04 pace)
Thurs: Ladder Workout 16 x .1 mile; 5 x .2 mile; 2 mile run (6:39 per mile ave)

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Is Tapering Necessary?

Mike Smith, coach of NCAA Cross Country champs Northern Arizona University, addresses his tapering philosophy at 41 minutes into this insightful podcast on Final Surge. Perhaps it's time to rethink your approach to that final week prior to your next big race.

Workout Summary Jan 14-20

Total Miles = 49.2
Quality Miles = 9
Long Run = 14.4 miles

Highlights:

Mon: 4 x 1 mile Critical Velocity indoor track; 2 min recovery
Wed: 14.4 miles in 2 hr 12 min
Fri: 10 x 800m on turf: 1 min rest. 6:45 mile pace



Monday, January 14, 2019

Workout Summary Jan 7-13

Total Miles = 49.9
Quality Miles = 11
Long Run = 15

Highlights:

Mon Inpromptu semi hard reverse ladder the day following a 12 miler totaling 4 miles @ 7:13 pace
Wed: 15 miles is my longest run in months
Fri: Solid effort on a 5K course (6:41 ave)
Sun: Rare day off! Legs feeling just a little too beat up in the morning.

Wed Long Run

Friday, January 11, 2019

5K Time Trial

Today I ran a hard 5K just to evaluate how this 80-20 program is working. The last few hard workouts I've done has been either on a 10 lap indoor track or trail so splits are always slow.

I've run several 5K time trials on a straight bike trail with 3 small inclines- 1 in the first mile and 2 in the second mile. Today I tied my PR on this trail with negative splits.

I've been experimenting with a very slow pace on most training runs (9 min pace or slower) trying to conserve legs for the hard days while at the same time slowly extending longer runs (15 miles on Wed, 8 on Thursday). So far so good.

Thursday, January 10, 2019

Tom "Tinman" Schwartz!

Tom "Tinman" Schwartz is fast becoming recognized as one of the most successful distance running coaches in the U.S. today. From recently crowned USA Marathon Champion Brogan Austin to former high school sub 4 minute miler Drew Hunter (not to mention capturing the USATF National Club XC Championship team title the last 2 years!), Tinman's coaching principles seem to be work across the spectrum of distance running.

Check out this Final Surge podcast to learn more about Tinman's unique yet down to earth coaching philosophy.

"I learned that when I trained at a pace a few seconds per mile faster than my 10k intensity (I ran about 34:00-35:00 at that time), my race times improved steadily, week after week. When I ran intervals at 5k pace or faster, however, I seemed to improve for only three or four weeks before struggling in races." -Coach Tom "Tinman"Schwartz



Wednesday, January 9, 2019

Hip Exercises for Runners by Ben Barrows



MY COMMENT: We all should be doing some of these on a regular basis. Thanks Ben!

Spread Your Toes Series

Not long ago I began to notice what looks like the start of Tailor's Bunion and have become obsessed with researching the use of toe spreaders. One of the best resources I found is Northwest Foot & Ankle that has created a number of excellent videos illustrating new, conservative methods for treating many common running related injuries.

Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Workout Summary Jan 1-6

Total Miles Run = 53 (6 days)
Quality Miles = 11
Long Run = 13.1 miles

Highlights
2 long very slow runs this week- Tues 13.1 miles and Sun 12 miles
Wed: 10K progressive run (7:05 ave) on turf- 7:32, 7:19, 6:59, 7:01, 6:54, 6:53
Fri: 2 sets of 5 x 800m w 30 sec rest, 5 min between sets. 3:24 ave on the 10 lap indoor track

Comments: Feeling some hamstring/ hip pain that I am hoping to push through. Lots of piriformis stretching and laying off the hamstrings for a while.



-sportsinjuryclinic.net

Monday, January 7, 2019

Jeff Galloway's Race Pace Prediction Formula

Take your one-mile time trial time and adjust to find a potential fast pace for you, in each race:
5K—add 33 seconds
10K—multiply by 1.15
half marathon—multiply by 1.2
marathon—multiply by 1.3

Example: You ran a fast (for you) one-mile time trial and the time was 10:00. In this case, 10:33/mile is your current potential for a very hard pace in a 5K; 11:30/mile is your current potential for a very hard pace in a 10K;
12:00/mile is your current potential for a very hard pace in a half marathon;
13:00/mile is your current potential for a very hard pace in a marathon.

To determine your long run pace, add two minutes to the predicted marathon pace. In this case it would be 15:00/mile. -The “Magic Mile” Can Tell You How Fast To Run -Competitor Running

COMMENT: I'm a fan of these prediction formulas. While they may not be accurate for every runner, more often than not you'll be able to make an adjustment to the formula to make it fit.