| Phishguy |
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Are there any elites or relatively good runners that their training consists of almost all easy runs with an occasional tempo or interval session? Is it possible to be really good off of only easy runs? |
| ukathleticscoach |
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'Are there any elites or relatively good runners ' That's a broad range True elites no. Fire away with the BS examples of non elites who are just jogging in training and running for the bus occasionally |
| possible |
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Some people are talented enough that they can do dumb training and still be really good. So, yeah, I guess it's possible that someone could train like this and still be really good. You're not going to come anywhere close to your potential, but if you have world class potential, you might at least be a solid national class runner off of the training described. |
| Aghast |
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If they do occasional intervals or tempos then they aren't running off only easy runs. If they do what you suggest (easy runs + some tempos) then they are training for a marathon. |
| Phishguy |
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What about all runs at slow than a 7 min/mile? Would a sub 14 min 5k be possible? What about a sub 30 min 10k? |
| hks321 |
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Kip Litton, DDS |
| ggg |
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Lasse Viren reportedly only ran easy miles (but a lot of them!!) |
| winning: it's in my blood |
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That wasn't the only thing he was reported to have done. |
| possible |
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Not only would this be athletically impossible, it would be mathematically impossible. You cannot run a 14 minute 5K or a 30 minute 10K without running faster than 7 minute pace for some stretch. If the speed restriction doesn't apply to races, I guess you could just race a lot in place of workouts to get into 14/30 shape. I.e. run lots of 7+ pace mileage, but run a bunch of track meets and road races. I don't really see the point of that, though. Why try to run a good time while training with some random pace restriction? |
| MarathonMind |
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Before you gave a specific pace I would have said yes. The reason is that if one is running enough "easy miles" then there is almost no way that you would not be able to handle faster and faster paces that you objectively felt were "easy". Also, the "easy" method of training is what is aka LSD. Long slow distance allows one to pile up substantial mileage totals while also, by closing out each run with progressively faster paces, to regularly incorporate faster than race pace turnover into your training. Throw in some hilly terrain and you are getting some decent training in. |
| Age grading is stupid |
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What about racing? If you run a bunch of races, you are getting in some "speed" work. |
| kanny |
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I still have a hard time digesting the following training schedule. I'm going to need more background on GMutai to truly understand it. 4/13/12 Boston Globe originally posted by Hodgie-san Self- Coached Geoffrey Mutai a training week: Monday A.M. 2 HR easy run (6:30-8 min./mile) P.M. 1 HR. easy run (6:30-8 min./mile) Tuesday A.M. 50 min. run (8 min. miles) P.M. Speed Workout: 30 min. warm-up 12x1km intervals (4:50/mile pace) w 1 min. rec. Wednesday: A.M. 1Hr 50min. run (8min. miles) P.M. 2 HR easy run (8min. miles) Thursday: A.M. 25 mile run (7:15 min. miles speeding up to 5:35 min. miles) Friday: A.M. 1Hr 50min. run (8min. miles) P.M. 2 HR easy run (8min. miles) Saturday: A.M. Speed Workout: 30 min. warm-up 20x2min. intervals @ 5 min. mile with 1 min. rec. 30 min. cooldown Sunday: Rest |
| Hodgie-san |
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If occasional is once a week or every 10 days & the athlete races frequently at various distances then the aanswer is yes absolutely. This schedule is/was a template for many many succesful elites. |
| Guppy |
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Honestly, I think just going out, getting in miles, and running by feel each day is better than 80% of the programs out there. I've gotten myself into shape quicker and run faster off of that than I have with ANY of the coaches I've worked with (I've had some pretty poor coaches... I've known some good ones though). Coaches generally want to make things complicated and have their athletes overtrain. There have been threads on this. There was a good one where a guy had class during practice every day and never did the workouts, just ran easy, and raced each weekend. He ended up PRing huge that season... I can't find it right now, but I have it favorited on another computer. I'll look it up later if I remember. |
| Hodgie-san |
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Read the rest of the thread and link to the article for more background. |
| MarathonMind |
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Note: Where no distance is given 8 minute pace is assumed, and I rounded down. So we know he is running at least 142 MPW. Clearly someone at Mutai's level is typically running much faster "easy" pace. So it would not be unlikely that his weekly totals approach 150-160 MPW. What is interesting is the lack of faster than race pace workouts. One would expect there is some 4:45-4:30 paces at some point. |
| Phishguy |
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Yea but you have to remember that all his training is at 8000 ft. |