off the leash
Frequency: How important is it? How many times do you run in a week? 5/15/2012 8:24PM Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
I am starting to think that frequency is a really important part of training. I've often made mileage goals, workout goals, or long run goals, but I've never made any frequency goals. But I think of the times that I've not met my mileage goals it was because of missed runs and that if I make a frequency goal and meet it, the other goals will be easier.

What do you think?

How many times a week do you run? What do you think is optimal for you?

I think 10-12 times a week is good. My goal for this week is 11.
off the leash
RE: Frequency: How important is it? How many times do you run in a week? 5/15/2012 8:26PM - in reply to off the leash Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
And another thing - sometimes being a slave to mileage or workout or long run goals can hurt you. Often we do runs or mileage that end up taking more out of us than is beneficial.

But a frequency goal can never really hurt you.
Wassup
RE: Frequency: How important is it? How many times do you run in a week? 5/15/2012 9:06PM - in reply to off the leash Reply | Return to Index | Report Post

off the leash wrote:

But a frequency goal can never really hurt you.


Sure it can.
off the leash
RE: Frequency: How important is it? How many times do you run in a week? 5/15/2012 9:33PM - in reply to Wassup Reply | Return to Index | Report Post

Wassup wrote:

[quote]off the leash wrote:

But a frequency goal can never really hurt you.


Sure it can.[/quote]

I guess it depends on the person. I have no problems going out and calling 20 minutes a run if I feel like I need to stop.
the average male runner
RE: Frequency: How important is it? How many times do you run in a week? 5/15/2012 10:10PM - in reply to off the leash Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Doubles really work, they have a ton of benefits - just ask malmo. I started doubling my soph year at only 50 mpw.

I usually run 13 times per week. Start off slow, even an additional 2-3 mile run in addition to your regular run is beneficial.
off the leash
RE: Frequency: How important is it? How many times do you run in a week? 5/16/2012 8:56AM - in reply to the average male runner Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
I also think that it doesn't matter what mileage you are at when you start to double. If you are at lower mileage, it's a good way to make it a little less low.
joho
RE: Frequency: How important is it? How many times do you run in a week? 5/16/2012 9:00AM - in reply to off the leash Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
I was running 11 - 13 times a week when I was in my best shape ever. For general fitness I run 7 days a week in singles but will add doubles when preparing for a marathon. I'm just a little too lazy to double year around.
HRE
RE: Frequency: How important is it? How many times do you run in a week? 5/16/2012 9:49AM - in reply to off the leash Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Decades ago, when Runner's World was still interested in this sort of thing, they ran an article about the effects runs of various lengths were shown to have on endurance. Almost as an aside, the article referred to study done on female British marathoners and predictors of fast times. The study found that the single biggest predictor of performance was the number of runs done by the athlete and that more runs were better.
I have never been able to find the actual study and it was done on a fairly narrow population. I discussed it with Peter Snell once. He seemed surprised and had not known of the study. We thought that what the study might have been measuring was dedication and motivation and how those things affect racing performance, but that was just speculation. However, the study is absolutely consistent with what we know about how most of the best runners on earth train. They run consistently and they run doubles consistently.
Kicker
RE: Frequency: How important is it? How many times do you run in a week? 5/16/2012 10:03AM - in reply to off the leash Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Frequency and duration and repeatability.
Shoebacca
RE: Frequency: How important is it? How many times do you run in a week? 5/16/2012 10:23AM - in reply to off the leash Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
The one thing too often overlooked in favor of frequency is that you improve your body's blood flow by being more active throughout the day in general. You're less likely to swell up into a giant ball of inflammation if you maintain a comfortably active lifestyle. By running more than 7 times per week you're making it so more times per day your lazy butt does something active and also lessening the burden on every run being as killer of a workout.
hold up
RE: Frequency: How important is it? How many times do you run in a week? 5/16/2012 1:08PM - in reply to off the leash Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Gotta admit, not the kind of frequency thread I was hoping for. Carry on...
off the leash
RE: Frequency: How important is it? How many times do you run in a week? 5/16/2012 1:17PM - in reply to hold up Reply | Return to Index | Report Post

hold up wrote:

Gotta admit, not the kind of frequency thread I was hoping for. Carry on...


Haha, sorry about that. Right now I am reading Think and Grow Rich and Napoleon Hill thinks that the most successful, creative and powerful men are the ones that are inspired by a woman they love and they"transmute" their sexuality. I was waiting for some guidelines for how often would be transmutation, but he never says. I would say fewer times than what you run!
Pizzaguy
RE: Frequency: How important is it? How many times do you run in a week? 5/16/2012 1:22PM - in reply to off the leash Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
I run 7 to 8 times a week, rather poor.
joho
RE: Frequency: How important is it? How many times do you run in a week? 5/16/2012 2:47PM - in reply to Pizzaguy Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Here are a couple of threads talking about doubles vs singles. Good info.

100 mpw in singles or doubles
http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=3965743

Science behind doubles.
http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=4318634
off the leash
RE: Frequency: How important is it? How many times do you run in a week? 5/16/2012 10:23PM - in reply to joho Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Great! Thanks for the info!!