The pace matters greatly. only like 5% out there I believe would be able to handle the miles at a normal pace. The point is for them to be easy, not just running, but easy running. Just ask yourself for a moment...what is the point of running long days, or just regular runs? It is primarily to (in basic elementery terms) to get used to running and to recover between hard days. It has been proven that running more and more makes your that much more efficient. No matter what pace you run it at. As long as you are running alot your body will find a way to do it easier and save energy. This will happen even more so with a large number of miles. Now the second goal is to do all this distance at a recovery pace enough to recover best for your next workout to maximize it. there is no point in doing a workout when you are still sore from the last one, it becomes counter productive, thus a downward spirial. I, as many could, would have the same heart rate at 7min pace as I do at 8:30 pace. It is true, I've done the testing. My heart doesnt start to rapidly speed up untill I start to push around 6:45-30 pace. So if my heart rate is 65-70% from 7min to 8min. My heart and blood/oxy system is getting the same workout no matter what the pace is, the only thing is what will help me recover better and faster. That most certainly is the slowest pace I can do without cheating myself. Hence the 8min pace as easy running. Does the trick, anyone who is refusing this fact needs to open thier eyes. There is a point to easy running, it is meant to be easy- for the purpose of getting stronger overall aerobically and recovering! THEY ARE NOT JUNK MILES. THE ONLY JUNK MILES ARE THE ONES DONE TOO SLOW TO TOUCH MY L.T. WHILE BEIING TOO FAST TO RECOVER FULLY FROM. It is easy, it just takes hard work. Truly does. it is not easy to run this much, mentally, but I do just "jump into it." It is alot easier than you think. And it is not just me. Get the right shoes, Double every day. Don't push yourself too hard on workout days to the point of death, remember the big picture and run EASY ON YOUR EASY RUNS. Just do it alot more than you did before. That is all there is to it. Trials of Miles.
and I really don't appreciate the comments about my coach and my situation. It is really no one's business. I was an average runner, 14:50 type guy, running alot. 100+ miles a week, at 7min pace or faster, and just not getting to the place I wanted. As I am sure (becuase of the level of interest from some of you) many of you feel the same way. It just wasn't getting me anywhere. My coach is not a nazi, but he isn't stupid either. I talked to him, go figure. I told him I wasn't getting the drastic improvements I wanted, and was considering transfering. We talked one day for at least 4 hours. He told me to do research on some training I felt would help me best, becuase the others on my team were getting better, but I was only by small bits. I read alot. JK's stuff is gold. That thing on Bruce Hide is something everyone should read. Between Bruce and Wejo everyone should look into this system. But more than that I looked into A.L. and snell's training, even some of steve scott's. Also looked into what some people over time did, and what they all had in common on a large timeline. They ALL stayed, for the most part, injury free and did A LOT of miles. NOW HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? could it just be a coinsideince? So I went back to my coach for another lengthy convo. I had tons of notes and print outs and we talked it all over. Told him what I think worked for me in H.S. when I was my own coach, and what had worked for me here. I was convinced about having tons of miles, and for them to be as easy as they need to be (just came out to be around 8ish pace) and did alot of LT stuff, and then tons of hills (from steve scott's training). Combine all those factors and me and MY COACH came up with what I have now. Granted I don't really know how to peak well off this much mileage. We have tried, do a three week build down w/fast reps in place of my prog/hill runs. But it just left me tired and mentally worn out. It also left me with the feeling that I wasted almost a month of training, totally interupted the flow I had going. I'd perfer not to try and peak at all. I feel peaking, like burning out, is all in your head.
Now I really am shocked that people want to hear my story, but I will ask to please stop asking about my coach and making assumptions about what is going on. 1st of all it is really none of anyone's business, and it is not important in this topic. Deal with it.
All this training ask is for you to open your mind and grow a pair of balls. It takes alot, but you just need to keep terlling yourself it can be done. But it all relys on the easy running, as long as you are doing alot (100 wont cut it, it needs to be 135+ to take FULL EFFECT) and yiu are doing the right workouts inbetween. it will not happen over night. it will take 1/2 a year untill you see great results, and it could not max out fully for a couple of years. Just hang on, and enjoy the very boring ride of a long distance loser.
-FREE