When is it ok to do two hard runs back to back

Usually like you are saying. Tempo/threshold work, followed by faster, or vice-versa.

What went wrong in the 5 mile tempo? Why do you think doing a two mile hard effort tomorrow is worth doing 2 hard efforts on back to back days? Need more context here. Likely if you're doing the two-mile effort just to make up for a blown up workout then you have a high chance of blowing up the two-mile too. Figure out what the problem is and work on fixing it. You have a decent amount of time to at least get in a few good efforts before your race.

themildrunmaster wrote:

What went wrong in the 5 mile tempo? Why do you think doing a two mile hard effort tomorrow is worth doing 2 hard efforts on back to back days? Need more context here. Likely if you're doing the two-mile effort just to make up for a blown up workout then you have a high chance of blowing up the two-mile too. Figure out what the problem is and work on fixing it. You have a decent amount of time to at least get in a few good efforts before your race.

Yeah, I agree. Skip a day would be wise, or short intervals (like 200s), tomorrow- something like this would be easier on the body and easier to get a good result from. Also, would complement the longer slower effort before.

2 hard workouts wrote:

So l did a workout this morning and l feel it didn't go as planned, and l also realized l need to work on long sustained efforts. I did a 5 mile temp this morning and tomorrow l might do a two mile hard effort. I have a race on December 13; a two mile cross country race.

Two hard days in a row is fine.

Body needs to build to get stronger, but much of that occurs before tomorrow, and a hard day does not sufficiently deplete your strength.

Many championship meets, including HS T&F state championships, have qualifying heats as well.

As the previous posts mentioned, why the run didn't go well is a factor, but nothing you said precludes a quality effort on the 2 miler.

Two hard days in a row can be OK. I would normally suggest that they be different types of workouts. Maybe tempo one day and race pace reps the other. I have generally gotten away from back to back workouts though and usually have 2 easy days between workouts.

The answer to the question of when it's OK to do hard workouts two days in a row is NOT when you've run a disappointing workout one day and want to make up for it the next. You didn't say whether the race next weekend is a goal race, but if it is, that would make it an even worse idea. Just do an easy run or whatever and do the next workout on your regular workout day.

I did it once last year.

14 days before a 5k: 7km at 10k pace

12 days before: 3x 2 miles at M pace

11 days before: 10x400m at 3k pace (200m easy jog rest)

After that I backed off a bit and was in shape.

Sorry should have written 7x 1k with 400m jog rest

76chine wrote:

Two hard days in a row is fine.

Many championship meets, including HS T&F state championships, have qualifying heats as well.

+1

I agree, In the championship, we would run 800, 1600 prelims on Friday and 800, 1600 finals on Saturday. And some of the really good runners would even triple with the 4x800 on Friday night. The only thing I'd suggest is that just make sure you're in good shape and that your body can handle the stress.

agreed, don't fall into the trap of trying to hit certain workouts. thats how you can lose physical and more importantly mental fitness towards the end of a season. back off and go for something medium paced instead. killing a workout versus hitting one at 85% wont make or break your race at this point.

Bumping this a bit. Just wondering what types of workouts would be ok to do back to back?

Some specific ones I'm intrigued with:

400 Pace Day 1 / Mile Pace Day 2

800 Pace Day 1 / CV Pace Day 2

My initial thought is that they work different enough systems, but I'm not too sure. Thoughts?

2 longs back to back

Not sure how doing only 2 miles hard would be remotely beneficial to your fitness.

Bump.