I have found through my own training and the training of others that periodic training is the way to go but i'm not sure about a few things.
How long should each period last? base? strength? speed-endurance? speed?
Also how does one bring this all to a peak at the right time?
I was trying to research some stuff on peaking yesterday, and I really couldn't find too many answers. What do you all think about peaking? How far out should you start the peak? Should it be a gradual drop in mileage, a sudden drop in mileage, no drop in mileage?
From personal experience I started gradually dropping the mileage three weeks out from the main comp, and gradually increased the intensity of every year. This seems to work best for me.
I believe that the general level of volume and intensity are 2 squiggly lines on a graph. Both gradually increase, but a few weeks before the main race, volume peaks. As volume gradually falls towards bare bones levels near the race, intensity continues to gradually increase.
Dropping mileage too much is a huge mistake. Sure, a guy running 120 miles per week can drop to 60% (72 Miles per week) for the last two weeks before peaking and he or she does well, most of the time, but a guy or gal running 50 miles per week dropping to 60% (30 miles per week) is going to lose endurance and pay a huge price in his or her race; loss of capacity to hold pace. That is, the 30 mile per week peaker is going to suffer acidosis to a huge degree.
Agreed Tinman. Passenger jet analogy. Higher altitude = begin descent earlier.