Do any of you begin a training plan without a goal race in mind?

I don't see issue. Train base and when You know when race will happen, then taper.

lvrhs1992 wrote:

I don't see issue. Train base and when You know when race will happen, then taper.

Thanks for the help. Sometimes I think I question my training too much.

Why can’t you identify a goal race? If you’re so against the “podunk” races, then find a race with good competition and train for it. This is a problem with a simple solution.

Just do two 24-week blocks. In the last 6 weeks of every block, race or time trial every week, then take 2 weeks of rest before starting another block. Simple.

my two pennies wrote:

Just do two 24-week blocks. In the last 6 weeks of every block, race or time trial every week, then take 2 weeks of rest before starting another block. Simple.

Perfect advice!

Canefis wrote:

my two pennies wrote:

Just do two 24-week blocks. In the last 6 weeks of every block, race or time trial every week, then take 2 weeks of rest before starting another block. Simple.

Perfect advice!

Do whatever length of the blocks as long as you get some variation. I have not race plan cause it does not fit my private schedule, but I still train 8-9h a week. I want to be generally fit to race pretty well so I don't have a base, but use micro-blocking and 2-3 weeks cycles. That is maybe extreme, but you could do 18+6 as the suggestion above or 4+2 weeks or somewhere inbetween. The most important is to get variation and motivation

lvrhs1992 wrote:

I don't see issue. Train base and when You know when race will happen, then taper.

especially with the pandemic, this is what I do. Even without a goal race, I'll run 35 - 40 miles over 6 days a week just because it's what I like to do. And then when I get a goal race I'll up the mileage, extend my weekly long run and add in speedwork and track workouts

When everything was closed in 2020 and spring 2021, I would just build up to peak mileage, and then add 2 workouts a week. Instead of a periodization approach, I would just cycle between thresholds, v02 intervals (in the form of fartleks), and short reps every 3rd workout. You can get in really good general shape and pretty much hop into any race from 5k to HM and run well.

I never really had goal races. I wanted to be as fit as I could for anything that came along that I wanted to run.

If you want something super simple for base training, one or two ~1.5 hour runs, and a ~2 hour long run per week at a conversational pace, and whatever other shorter runs you feel up for. I read this in one of Lydiard's books. This can be continued indefinitely.

bfef wrote:

If you want something super simple for base training, one or two ~1.5 hour runs, and a ~2 hour long run per week at a conversational pace, and whatever other shorter runs you feel up for. I read this in one of Lydiard's books. This can be continued indefinitely.

I think you're referring to this:

Cross country (non-race week)

Monday: repetitions 3 × 1,500 meters or 6 × 800 meters

Tuesday: aerobic running 60-90 minutes

Wednesday: time trial 3,000 or 5,000 meters

Thursday: aerobic running 60-90 minutes

Friday: fast relaxed striding 10 × 100 meters

Saturday: time trial 3,000 or 5,000 meters

Sunday: aerobic running 60-90 minutes

Cross country (race week)

Monday: wind-sprints 6-10 × 100 meters

Tuesday: easy fartlek 30-60 minutes

Wednesday: time trial 1,500 to 2,000 meters

Thursday: fast relaxed striding 6 × 100 meters

Friday: jog 30 minutes

Saturday: race

Sunday: aerobic running 90 minutes or more

Road (non-race week)

Monday: repetitions 3 × 1,600 meters or 6 × 800 meters

Tuesday: aerobic running 90 minutes

Wednesday: time trial 3 miles

Thursday: aerobic running 90 minutes

Friday: fast relaxed striding 6-10 × 100 meters

Saturday: time trial 3 miles

Sunday: aerobic running 90 minutes or more

Road (race week)

Monday: wind-sprints 10-16 × 100 meters

Tuesday: easy fartlek 30-60 minutes

Wednesday: time trial 1 mile

Thursday: fast relaxed striding 4-6 ×100 meters

Friday: jog 30 minutes

Saturday: race

Sunday: aerobic running 90 minutes or more

You really over analyze things too much.

HRE wrote:

I never really had goal races. I wanted to be as fit as I could for anything that came along that I wanted to run.

Bingo

I did not think about this at all. I just copied the :Lydiard Race Week-non Race Week schedule and pasted it.