A close friend of mine who has affiliations with Harvard XC just told me about their training regiment. The team follows a normal 2-workout/1 long run training schedule, but supposedly (on top of their 6min/mile easy runs), the team completes a circuit of weighted lifts (bench press, trap bar deadlift, etc.) following each running workout rep. They'll even make regular stops (once every 2-3 miles) on their weekly long runs to complete the circuit in question. Thoughts?
A close friend of mine who has affiliations with Harvard XC just told me about their training regiment. The team follows a normal 2-workout/1 long run training schedule, but supposedly (on top of their 6min/mile easy runs), the team completes a circuit of weighted lifts (bench press, trap bar deadlift, etc.) following each running workout rep. They'll even make regular stops (once every 2-3 miles) on their weekly long runs to complete the circuit in question. Thoughts?
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That'd explain why they tend to underperform compared to the quality of athletes they tend to recruit.
A close friend of mine who has affiliations with Harvard XC just told me about their training regiment. The team follows a normal 2-workout/1 long run training schedule, but supposedly (on top of their 6min/mile easy runs), the team completes a circuit of weighted lifts (bench press, trap bar deadlift, etc.) following each running workout rep. They'll even make regular stops (once every 2-3 miles) on their weekly long runs to complete the circuit in question. Thoughts?
Discus
This is quite interesting to hear, I have heard of these types of training regiments being implemented in the Ryun and Lindgren era, but not so much with modern training. Especially in the NCAA, let alone a powerhouse program such as Harvard. Although Alex Gibby has been known to find great success with more uncommon training, perhaps this is the next step in his bag of tricks. I love to see teams innovate and not just follow the same formula.
Looked through Graham Blanks' Strava and yeah, they definitely do some strange training there. Given the ~10 minute differential between moving and elapsed time on most of his long runs, it's definitely possible that they actually do weight circuits during their runs.
Also some crazy hard workouts in there. 40 minute tempo (+ 3xK), 4 miles of which were at the pace of his 6k race 4 days later? Sub 6 on easy days? Geez.
A close friend of mine who has affiliations with Harvard XC just told me about their training regiment. The team follows a normal 2-workout/1 long run training schedule, but supposedly (on top of their 6min/mile easy runs), the team completes a circuit of weighted lifts (bench press, trap bar deadlift, etc.) following each running workout rep. They'll even make regular stops (once every 2-3 miles) on their weekly long runs to complete the circuit in question. Thoughts?
Discus
Deadlift unnecessarily increases risk for sport hernia. Ask William "Frig" Perry about the risks of deadlift. W. Perry was THE DEADLIFT guy, 1980's. Deadlift is a necessity as a professional DT. W. Perry body slammed running backs for a living. Skip deadlift. Unless readers of this site are also T&F throwers, no one else besides throwers on T&F team need to deadlift.
Looked through Graham Blanks' Strava and yeah, they definitely do some strange training there. Given the ~10 minute differential between moving and elapsed time on most of his long runs, it's definitely possible that they actually do weight circuits during their runs.
Also some crazy hard workouts in there. 40 minute tempo (+ 3xK), 4 miles of which were at the pace of his 6k race 4 days later? Sub 6 on easy days? Geez.
Feel like im taking crazy pills. Thought it was an obvious joke when I read OPs post, and people are responding as if its real? Now im confused.
Bench press & trap bar deadlift every 2 miles on their long run, seriously?
I can believe bodyweight stuff, maybe medball stuff, but the logistics of benching and trap bar deadlifting mid-workout in a college athletic system would be nearly impossible to execute. How do you fit 20 - 40 hex bars in the van?
As far as "running circuits" that mix actual running and general strength exercises, it's not new and there is some value in it this early in the season in terms of general conditioning. I personally would just focus on the running but I wouldn't call this crazy; maybe unconventional by today's standards.
The sub-6 mileage is a joke though. You have to recover in there somewhere.
A close friend of mine who has affiliations with Harvard XC just told me about their training regiment. The team follows a normal 2-workout/1 long run training schedule, but supposedly (on top of their 6min/mile easy runs), the team completes a circuit of weighted lifts (bench press, trap bar deadlift, etc.) following each running workout rep. They'll even make regular stops (once every 2-3 miles) on their weekly long runs to complete the circuit in question. Thoughts?
Discus
Isn't 6:00 pace for easy runs a bit fast? Wouldn't 6:30 be more appropriate?
A close friend of mine who has affiliations with Harvard XC just told me about their training regiment. The team follows a normal 2-workout/1 long run training schedule, but supposedly (on top of their 6min/mile easy runs), the team completes a circuit of weighted lifts (bench press, trap bar deadlift, etc.) following each running workout rep. They'll even make regular stops (once every 2-3 miles) on their weekly long runs to complete the circuit in question. Thoughts?
Discus
Have they produced any runner of interest at an international level the last 10 years? (Honest question, if not - why would we care?)
A close friend of mine who has affiliations with Harvard XC just told me about their training regiment. The team follows a normal 2-workout/1 long run training schedule, but supposedly (on top of their 6min/mile easy runs), the team completes a circuit of weighted lifts (bench press, trap bar deadlift, etc.) following each running workout rep. They'll even make regular stops (once every 2-3 miles) on their weekly long runs to complete the circuit in question. Thoughts?
Discus
Have they produced any runner of interest at an international level the last 10 years? (Honest question, if not - why would we care?)
1) This is an obvious troll post
2) Regardless, are we not allowed to care about the training of a team that finished 12th at XC nationals last year just because they aren't internationally relevant? Its still interesting to many people to see