Lydiard's 28 week training

After this thread, I realized exactly what you said. That is what my plan is going to be like.

I don't claim to be a guru by any stretch, but my 1 suggestion if you're going to follow Lydiard is to consider periodization that's a bit less linear than what people seem to interpret as Lydiard training.

I'd suggest considering adding speed development (flying 30s & 40s w/full recovery) in the 'aerobic' phase, as well as short hill sprints. Maybe alternate weekly - sprints 1 week & hill sprints the next.

I'd also suggest reading your body such that you're always open to a progression run by feel. In other words, don't get so caught up in structured effort & prescribed pace that you ignore your body telling you on some days that a long, somewhat hard run is possible without forcing it. Maybe your 90 minute run turns into a relatively easy effort, but maybe you're feeling frisky & realize 20 minutes into it that it feels good to push the pace a bit. Next thing you know you're cruising along at a challenging pace that gets faster. Go with it, but don't set out each run trying to force that to happen..

Thanks, but a couple questions. What is periodization? Also, would flying 30s and 40s be all out sprints?

linear periodization just means splitting up your training into distinct periods or phases, i.e. 'aerobic' period, anaerobic period, etc.

I don't favor strict boundaries on phases/periods, such that each period is completely different from the others. Mix in some speed development, hill work, long runs, progression runs, tempo runs, etc. in all phases - just adjust the EMPHASIS a bit in each phase.

The lines are blurred and the periodization is more non-linear.

Yes, the 30s & 40s are all out, but RELAXED sprints. Give yourself an extra 15-20 meters to go from striding to sprinting, such that total distance covered is 30-40 meters + 15-20.

I am just wondering if you know the answer to this question. How important is the taper? How does it help you get faster if you are doing less work? This year for cross country, we took the week before with like 3 miles less with same intensity. The day before we did relaxed 2x2 mile run. Could we have done better at the most important meet if we did taper and freshen up and get ready. How much time can you really take off from taper?

jeffrey d. boomhauer wrote:

Yes, the 30s & 40s are all out, but RELAXED sprints. Give yourself an extra 15-20 meters to go from striding to sprinting, such that total distance covered is 30-40 meters + 15-20.

+1.

On sprint training, Lydiard says, "as fast and relaxed as you can." (Running to the Top, page 80) But it is easier said than done in my experience.

There comes a time when your race is happening soon and you don't have time to get any fitter. At that point hard training becomes counterproductive so you back off and take it easy to be fresh and rested. That's the taper.

Look at the example I extracted from Lydiard's 1978 book, on the previous page. How "linear" does that look to you? It looks to me almost exactly as you describe -- all phases look similar with some adjustments in EMPHASIS.Maybe you are right -- the problem is in popular interpretation.

jeffrey d. boomhauer wrote:

linear periodization just means splitting up your training into distinct periods or phases, i.e. 'aerobic' period, anaerobic period, etc.

I don't favor strict boundaries on phases/periods, such that each period is completely different from the others. Mix in some speed development, hill work, long runs, progression runs, tempo runs, etc. in all phases - just adjust the EMPHASIS a bit in each phase.

The lines are blurred and the periodization is more non-linear.

Yes, the 30s & 40s are all out, but RELAXED sprints. Give yourself an extra 15-20 meters to go from striding to sprinting, such that total distance covered is 30-40 meters + 15-20.