Is there ANY training benefit to JOGGING?

I don't see how this could be any worse than walking (as a supplement to your actual runs). The Japanese walk a lot. In fact, try walking to keep up with your girlfriend.... you will find that you use very different muscles, and may even get sore! So in that sense (~different muscle usage/strengthening), it may be good for you. I've actually found my heartrate to be higher with fast walking than with recovery runs!

I think there is a running benefit. My only question would be, how much benefit?

If you are replacing other runs with those easier runs and the running you are substituting for was already at a good recovery/easy pace, then you might not be doing yourself that much of a favor compared to running your normal, but you won't completely lose the benefit of those miles.

If you are replacing other runs with these easier runs and the running you are substituting for was normally too fast for what your recovery/easy run should be, then you are doing yourself a pretty big favor because you can probably improve the quality of your quality days by backing off a bit on these runs.

If you are getting in all of your planned runs and then adding these easier runs on top of those, then I think the benefit will be even greater. The extra distance at an easy pace will make you stronger without interfering with your planned running.

I have found that even adding walking miles (with my dog around the neighborhood twice a day) has really helped me, even though that is not the intention of those miles and I don't count them for anything. One summer when I was very new to running I made huge gains by adding a one-hour walk every evening.

The non-running benefits of what you are doing are way better than all of the above. Plus, since you are doing such a great job of encouraging and working with your GF, she might even get a little closer to your pace over time and then it won't feel quite so slow to you when you run together.

Brian wrote:

It can't have no benefit because,

Nice.

JTupper,

Thanks for your input so far. I have always found that I improve more and race a lot better when I train below the E pace. I also have found that I do not respond well to tapering, at least no more than taking off 5-10 miles the week before and 10-15 the last week. As a low 15 5k runner, I would do most of my easy runs at about 7:30-7:45 pace and AM 4-6 milers would often be at 8:00-8:30 pace. Any explanations or thougts on this?

I'm now getting back into running after a series of injuries, often occurring when I would force my E pace to be at the pace my coach wanted it to be (sub 7), and I'm trying to figure out how to optimally train.

A local buddy is one of our better marathoners, and he runs his easy runs slower than Daniels' E-pace, often by a good margin. He's told me he tends to get injured when he forces the easy day running into Daniels' E-pace range.

Wordsmith wrote:

Brian wrote:

It can't have no benefit because,

Nice.

Yeah, that was bad.

Used to be wrote:

As a low 15 5k runner, I would do most of my easy runs at about 7:30-7:45 pace and AM 4-6 milers would often be at 8:00-8:30 pace. .

I think the weakest part of the Daniels book is an E pace that is too hard. I too have run low 15:00, low 31:00 and I almost never do an easy day uner 7:00/mile. I wore a GPS the other day that takes auto splits (I rarely run with a watch at all) on a hilly 11 miler and found I naturally start runs at about 7:45 pace for about a mile and then progress through 7:20's and end up in the low 7:00's. When I ran lower mileage in college, I did my easyy runs faster, but that wasn't as effective for me as running more mileage on easy days even if I had to slow it down.

When I was in college, I was PT (physical training) officer for our ROTC unit. One semester I had to get up at 6 am to run the people who failed the last running test. They weren't fast and I had to stay with them at a slow shuffle. This went on every week day for several weeks. At the end, we all ran a 3-mile time trial. It was one of those magical runs where you feel like you can run as fast and as long as you want and never get tired. I think the few weeks of shuffling set it up.

25 years later it's one of a handful of runs I vividly remember. I run now, hoping to get another taste of that power.

thellama wrote:

Just be glad you have the oppurtunity to run with your girlfriend... I'll never get the chance, mine was born without legs.

Just go nubbing with her.

Just verifying, you ARE running a half-step behind the girl, right? "Only the lead dog has a good view" does not apply in this case.

The fact that you say you feel quite pleasant afterwards tells you everything you need to know. Add in a few strides afterward (barefoot, grass) and you are making progress.

Why on Earth would you be concerned with the training benefit or lack of it when you have effectively admitted that take the rest of your training so lightly?

You are a middle distance runner only running 30 miles per week. You are nowhere near the mileage level a middle distance runner should be hitting to maximize his/her performance in the first place. Nobody is saying you need to put in 100 mile weeks but a middle distance guy doing 30 miles per week is just not taking things seriously.

You train 30 miles a week and think you're an athlete?

from loper to shuffler wrote:

I'm a middle distance runner with normally a more long, loping stride. I've had to shorten my stride to a shuffle, and keep a quick cadence.

I just don't want to think this is a complete waste of time (other than spending time with the GF)

There is so much you don't know.

Long, loping strides are actually incorrect, bad form and can lead to injury.

Short, quick turnover is actually better for you.

You are a fool if you are complaining about your girlfriend wanting you to go jogging with her. There are plenty of guys who would trade places with you.

You are a fool if you are complaining about your girlfriend wanting you to go jogging with her. There are plenty of guys who would trade places with you.

You are a fool if you are complaining about your girlfriend wanting you to go jogging with her. There are plenty of guys who would trade places with you.