Aerobic threshold runs add excitement

Easy days easy, hard days hard

I like the occasional progression but when I'm doing high(er) mileage and two workouts a week plus a long run there is no way I have the energy (or the legs) for progressions. Low mileage or base phase then its not a bad idea.

Honestly, I just get bored running at a consistently slow pace. I know they're important, but I may not be very discipline.

For the record though, I do 34-38 mpw. So I think I fall in the low mileage category.

i'm not going to say this is "good" but you won't get hurt doing this.

just be cautious if you're feeling busted on workout days and stop doing this if you want to up mileage.

fastboy77 wrote:

For the record though, I do 34-38 mpw. So I think I fall in the low mileage category.

like you intimated, it all depends on mileage. at 34-38mpw you can absolutely do what you describe.

when i was fittest, i was running 80 miles per week, two workout sessions and a hard day, and i had to run my easy days EXTREMELY easy -- probably 90 seconds slower than my marathon pace give or take depending on the day.

i had a kid, dedicated a bit more time to my job, etc. and decided I wanted to cut my running time down significantly, so i run 50mpw now and do all my "easy" runs at more like 45ish seconds slower than marathon pace. it definitely helps make up for the lack of mileage somewhat. i am less fit not but significantly so, and i save a bunch of time.

salazar actually had his runners run their easy runs at the latter pace give or take, but obviously they still ran very high mileage because of the alter-g, their intense recovery regime, etc. none of which i have time for.

so the tl;dr is that you probably can't achieve peak fitness, but i agree that it makes running more interesting and if you have a full time job and family it's not a bad trade-off.

fastboy77 wrote:

Does anybody else do every non-workout run as an AT run? I find it hard to run at a consistent, monotonous pace for 7 miles, for example. I find it much more enjoyable (and beneficial?) to start every run slow and get progressively faster ever couple miles, finishing close to tempo pace.

Anyone else do this?

Do you mean aerobic threshold or anaerobic threshold? Those are very different intensity levels.

fastboy77 wrote:

Does anybody else do every non-workout run as an AT run? I find it hard to run at a consistent, monotonous pace for 7 miles, for example. I find it much more enjoyable (and beneficial?) to start every run slow and get progressively faster ever couple miles, finishing close to tempo pace.

Anyone else do this?

yes, but --

My thinking for non-workout days is to start really slow, loosen up, warm up, make sure everything is working, then let nature take its course. I don't usually approach tempo pace, unless the run has turned into a "workout".

The trick is not to force the pace. The progression varies by day, and you should accept that.

Quite a few people I run with disagree with my approach. They are injured a lot.

I am guessing that you are young, in which case you can usually get away with what you're doing, until you can't. Make sure that you are ready to go on workout days. If you're starting to show up with unusually tired legs or otherwise not getting it done in workouts, dial back on the progressive easy days. Your garmin can't help you here; you just need to pay attention.

Don’t forget a hot recovery burrito! 🌯🌯🌯🔥🔥🔥

Nike man wrote:

Don’t forget a hot recovery burrito! 🌯🌯🌯🔥🔥🔥

Yes, make sure and ingest it anally for maximum effect. Also - if youre feeling good enough to run ‘threshold’ pace on easy days you’re bishing out on your workouts. 👍🏼