What is "float"?

I've understood it to not slow way down after a hard burst...but just keep floating with that momentum until the next hard burst.

Float is running between reps, maybe a bit faster than a jog though

It's something other than "rest" or "jog" or "rep pace." Not as slow as a jog, slower than rep pace. Usually has a pace range given when the coach communicates with you. That help, sparky?

My assumption is that a "float" is a jog that is somewhat faster than complete rest. If someone says that they ran a workout of 10 X 3 min hard/1 min rest, I'd assume that the rest is standing or a very slow shuffle. If someone said that they ran a workout of 10X 3 min hard/1 min float, I'd assume that the workout involved alternating between a hard pace and a steady jog pace without ever slowing completely to a true recovery pace.

I've always understood float to be somewhere between marathon and HM pace depending on the workout. Lets you keep the effort level high so that a shorter workout still gives good training stimulus.

Guys guys guys... Are we sure that we aren't talking about a POOL workout here???

Float pace is just under your LT. By alternating efforts above LT pace and just below LT pace, you will improve your ability to clear the extra hydrogen ions that cause acidosis and utilize lactate as fuel.

Ho Hum wrote:

I've always understood float to be somewhere between marathon and HM pace depending on the workout. Lets you keep the effort level high so that a shorter workout still gives good training stimulus.

Yes, I view it as a steady pace between hard efforts rather than a jog. Deek's quarters would be an example of a session where floats are used. It can be slower than marathon pace depending on the session, but should be proper running, not jogging. Extremely good training.

Sham 69 wrote:

Guys guys guys... Are we sure that we aren't talking about a POOL workout here???

As a software engineer, I thought he was talking about double precision floating point numbers ...

For me it involves slowing down but maintaining regular running form as opposed to a noticeable jogging gait between fast bouts.

When I was in college we would do 150m repeats.

Some were sprint, float, sprint

Some were float, sprint, float

The sprint part was a near all out sprint.

The float part was a relaxed stride.

50 meters sprint then back of for 50m float then accelerate to 50m sprint.

Or float for 50m, sprint for 50m and then finish the last 50m with a float or stride it in.

jaspfwsd wrote:

I hear people use the term "float" to describe part of their workouts. How is this different from "rest" or "jog"?

I assume it is just a pretentious substitute for rest, but maybe I am missing out by not floating?

Distance coaches and sprint coaches use this term in two different ways. For a sprint coach a "float" is usually put between two max or near max efforts where it's often times described as "the cessation of driving." Basically shifting into neutral where you aren't trying to hit the brakes, you're just maintaining the bare bones needed to let momentum carry your speed with very little effort. Outside of a sprint-float-sprint workout you'll usually hear them tell athletes to run the first turn of a 400m hard then float the 100m back straight.

For distance coaches, the term is usually reserved for recoveries where you want athletes to be jogging the recovery at a solid pace. This has a ton of range for how fast it can mean. Some would describe Pre's 30-40 workout where he would alternate between 30s 200's and 40s 200's without a break. The 40s 200's could be called a float, though that's about as ambitions a pace as you could probably call it. I think more commonly you'd see coaches wanting athletes to go back to their regular run pace. A lot of people would be surprised how truly slow their athletes run their recovery jogs. Most that think they're running their normal 7-something per mile are pretty often doing the ol' sprinter shuffle at +10-minute miles.

Star wrote:

When I was in college we would do 150m repeats.

Some were sprint, float, sprint

Some were float, sprint, float

The sprint part was a near all out sprint.

The float part was a relaxed stride.

50 meters sprint then back of for 50m float then accelerate to 50m sprint.

Or float for 50m, sprint for 50m and then finish the last 50m with a float or stride it in.

Did the same in college and I’ve never heard the term “float” used outside of this context.

"Float" is the running motion you employ between interval efforts when you're already in tremendous shape. It's a sense that's not attainable by someone not in epic condition already. It's a bit of a hard workout in itself!

Can be used interchangeably with "levitate."

When you're driving a car and you hit the accelerator, that's sprinting.

When you are done sprinting, take your foot off the gas, and hit the brakes to get to a slower speed, that's jogging (or walking).

When you take your foot of the gas but *don't* hit the brakes, that's floating.

lease wrote:

When you're driving a car and you hit the accelerator, that's sprinting.

When you are done sprinting, take your foot off the gas, and hit the brakes to get to a slower speed, that's jogging (or walking).

When you take your foot of the gas but *don't* hit the brakes, that's floating.

POTD

About what you go on a easy day to marathon pace. Some examples are: 3 x 2 km tempo @ LT w/ 1 km float at MP or the classic Oregon 30/45 workout, the float was 6 min pace or the pace they'd usually do for easy runs and the on rep was about mile pace. But it would work out to a 5 minute tempo.

Sham 69 wrote:

Guys guys guys... Are we sure that we aren't talking about a POOL workout here???

This is actually one of your better posts.