Master question did 3 doubles a week for last 3 weeks should l go to 4 this week

master question wrote:

Until the last week of January this year, l had only been doing 2 doubles a week and that is for many years, like since 1993 or 1994 , although l got away from serious running during some of that time. Now l am 48 and committed to get back in shape. I started adding doubles 2x a week again in October 2020. I am increasing my sessions and long runs slowly. I am doing 2 hard workouts a week at present. My miles per week probably are between 60-70. This will be my 4th week of 3 doubles. My doubles are an extra 4-5 miles. Will doing 4 doubles a week vs 3 take me to the next level? I am on my 3rd week of 3 doubles. Should l make it 4 doubles instead and double this week 4x? When is it time to increase and should I?

Stay at 3 for awhile.

If you want to increase your mileage to 75-80mpw then I'd add the 4th double. Also I am not sure how far are your daily runs but I can't see why you would need 3 doubles a week to get only 60-70miles? I use to hit 80miles a week with just 2 doubles.

Don’t you recover slower as you get older?

I always wondered if the typical 2workouts a week and a long run programs were still applicable to people over 40.

Easy miles are easy though, so mpw might be the same - does that feel true?

samesame wrote:

Don’t you recover slower as you get older?

I always wondered if the typical 2workouts a week and a long run programs were still applicable to people over 40.

Easy miles are easy though, so mpw might be the same - does that feel true?

So should l stick with 3 or move to 4 this week. Is there a big difference between 2,3,4 doubles a week?

master question wrote:

samesame wrote:

Don’t you recover slower as you get older?

I always wondered if the typical 2workouts a week and a long run programs were still applicable to people over 40.

Easy miles are easy though, so mpw might be the same - does that feel true?

So should l stick with 3 or move to 4 this week. Is there a big difference between 2,3,4 doubles a week?

Okay wasn't going respond, but....

I would suggest you stick with three. Head coach UMass had it right in his answer above ^^^^.

If you can handle your desired mileage in one workout, you are going to get a better results. You are going to be stronger both physically and mentally. Plus the added benefit of not having to lace up twice.

I only use doubles for shakeouts before an afternoon hard workout or to run with a friend on his way home from work.

Currently I average 0-2 doubles a week and am 64 - I have an average of about 55 mpw over the last five years with a unbroken 28 year streak. With 47 and change total time in the bag. There WERE times in my younger years when I was training over 100 that I absolutely did lots of doubles, but those days are behind me now.

I am adding to a lot of aspects of my running, like adding a mile or so to my daily easy runs, and like l said at the end of January, moving up to 3 doubles. I don't want diminishing returns. I don't want to keep adding workouts, miles, and time away from my family to run worse. I used to do 2 runs a day everday in college, but ran much better in my mid 20s, just running 6 something pace every day and doing doubles twice a week. Now here l am, 48 and ready to put the work in. At 48 all my easy runs are easy. Should l start adding miles, like a mile or two put on to my daily runs? Is that the secret? Or is it the workouts?

“What is something you believe about running that no one else does”

Me: that doubles are almost never worth doing.

Quit doing doubles. More important what pace you do on just singles.

Re "master question":

"At 48 all my easy runs are easy. Should l start adding miles, like a mile or two put on to my daily runs? Is that the secret? Or is it the workouts?"

Yes and yes. Maybe a little of both IMO

But a more important question may be what are your goals? (both short and long term)

Adding miles, just to add a lot miles when you already have an excellent base, like you do now, doesn't seem to make a lot of sense (at least to me).

Having said that we are all an 'experiment of one'. I have found that backing off for 60 to 50 mpw and making the hard miles count, allowed me to recover better and perform just as well (if not better) with less time on the road.

Please remember; seldom is there linear progress and that as we age it is imperative to minimize injuries. If that means running a fewer, but better miles then so be it...

Good luck