Been doing this for about 8 months now. I just don't have the motivation to do workouts or races anymore, but I also don't want to get fat. What are the long-term consequences of this kind of plan? If I keep this up for 2 or 3 years and then want to start racing again, will it be easy to get back to my former fitness level? I'm 24 years old BTW.
it should be pretty easy to get back in race fitness if you've been this consistent. you should look for something different to get you motivated. maybe some trailrunning? its low key enough to not really require hard workouts.
If you gradually double that mileage, you'll be fine.
Just enjoy it. When and if you're motivated you'll be in a good position to come back.
I would vary your workouts a bit as far as pace and distance but 35-50 mpw is good low end base,
When I was unmotivated ( not often ) I would often go run low key races. I was a 32-33 minute 10k runner but if I wanted to just veg, I would run 10k at a six pace and just enjoy the run.
I was in the same situation. I forced myself at least once a week to do 4x33 200s or 4x80 400s or 2 miles in 12:30. The 200s and 400s only take a few minutes per week and really help you keep some fitness.
I am in that same exact mode, but just a little older than you. I normally try and do something kind of fast once a week (like one mile at an old 5k race pace). I'll also throw in a 10 miler here and there. It feels good, but I have had to watch what I am eating. I'm still under 30, but I noticed a big change between 25 and 27 in terms of what it appears to be my metabolism slowing down. Not as easy to be super fit looking with easy 6 milers every day.
That is exactly what I do when I am in a holding pattern. To keep it interesting I may pick one day where I run 5-15 minutes at an elevated pace and a couple of days with 6 to 8 surges of 20 seconds. When you return to serious running it won't be much of an adjusement.
I am. You'll be fine getting back into shape. If you want some inspiration, this is more or less what Quenton Cassidy did in between OAR and the middle parts of ATC, as described in the early parts of ATC.
Pick up the pace and run
Consider This wrote:
I am. You'll be fine getting back into shape. If you want some inspiration, this is more or less what Quenton Cassidy did in between OAR and the middle parts of ATC, as described in the early parts of ATC.
Good, because both of those are basically books on how to train to be a runner AMIRITE! Shall I also do 2139021123000x400 in bare feet?
asdsdfasdf wrote:
Consider This wrote:I am. You'll be fine getting back into shape. If you want some inspiration, this is more or less what Quenton Cassidy did in between OAR and the middle parts of ATC, as described in the early parts of ATC.
Good, because both of those are basically books on how to train to be a runner AMIRITE! Shall I also do 2139021123000x400 in bare feet?
Sure, bro, knock yourself out.
man if I could run 5-7 miles every day at 7:00 pace I would be pretty happy. No reason why it can't be like 5-10-5-10 though.
uh yea this is me for sure. 32 and have had surgery in both hips, I struggle every day trying to convince myself that I'm still a runner.
I followed an easy schedule when i had a hard seamster at graduate school . I followed the local champion training schedule for the 5k in the competitive runners handbook. The schedule only peeks at 45 miles. Its mostly like 4, 40 min runs a week 1 day with a tempo or hills, one long day and 1 off day. Takes hardly any time out the week as opposed to a more serious schedule. I jumped into a local 5k and surprisingly was only 30 seconds off my pr.
I didn't run for a team in college, but maintained running basically the same pace, and distances for almost 4 years plus a few more years post college. 25 years old now, and just started to take training serious again after an injury layoff. The first track workout(5x150) I did in 7 years was so painful and slow. I assumed all my speed disappeared for good.
About 5 track workouts later, my 200 reps are back where they were in HS.
I found myself doing this for a few weeks recently, then finally decided just to run really hard one day, even had a sprint finish. I felt 100X better after that run than my usual runs.
I think it's a good idea to try and run hard at least once a week. You don't have to blast mile repeats or anything. Just run uptempo with a hard finish or do a fartlek or something, just something to get the HR up above your standard easy pace HR.
I'd change most of those days to 5-7 miles at 8:00 pace.
Two days a week though, throw in intervals. One day run 6:00 pace for 60 seconds at a time. The other day run 5:30 pace for 30 seconds at a time. Paces don't have to be exact, obviously I'm just choosing round numbers. Recover as needed.
I don't suggest doing the above for more than a month, but it would be good to try varied paces, even if you go back to the same routine.
Just throw in a few strides and hill sprints a couple of days a week. They're not hard but if you don't maintain your speed, it will leave you as you get older. With easy runs and a little faster stuff, you'll be ready if an when you ever decide to train seriously again.
Why not do some type of cross training 2x week and just drop the run? Could introduce you to something fresh, get you into something new.
I haven't run in months and am trying to get into the OP's mode!
Cannot get myself to get consistent again so I envy you.
You should be fine to start working out/racing with such a solid base, when your motivation returns/the time is right. 8 months of that base is no joke.