Anyone else just enjoy doing simple no fuss workouts?

That's it, it's simple. We have a few guys where I live you charge people money to write complicated workouts at this or that pace with this or that rest interval, etc etc and the runners talk about how their coach kicked their butt with that workout blah blah blah.

People come to me and tell me that I should be coaching- I tell them the Frank Shorter quote and then outline a simple plan that they can fashion into workouts to fit their lifestyle and goals- and there's no way I can take money for that.

Do hills, do tempo runs, do shorter speed reps and longer speed reps. Take adequate recovery days at a real easy pace. BAM!!!

It's THAT simple.

The old school Aussie style has worked for me over the years: Mileage plus simple quick workouts:

1 on 1 off x 10

2.5min on 1.5 off x 5

2x2 min 4x1min 4x 30sec all with one off. (A variation of the Mona Fartlek)

I largely agree with this as well. I have found that is best for myself and for my HS athletes to just keep a workout simple and focus on improving one energy system in one workout.

The only time I get a "little bit fancy" is during cross I like to throw in 2x 600 (faster than race pace + 2-4x 1200 (race pace) + 2x 600 (faster than race pace) to simulate an XC race.

For track I'll throw in either 2-4x (1000-300-300) at 2 mile-mile-mile/800 pace or 2-4x (1200-400) at 2 mile-mile pace.

But everything else is simple threshold runs, threshold intervals, or race pace intervals of appropriate/repeating distance.

Found myself coaching a local HS since I'm out for the spring season, I have 14 kids and 9 of them don't have a watch. You have to coach off effort and simple workouts for these kinds of kids, but why make it any more complicated for the fast guys and girls?

If you started running in 1971 you may not have heard of Van Nelson, though maybe you have. It would be hard for any training to be more simple or straightforward than what he did and it got him to the Olympics:

downthebackstretch.blogspot.com

1968 Olympian Van Nelson: Part II

Here's Part II of Chad Austin's interview with 1968 Olympian Van Nelson. The interview is the first in a new series where DtB will catch up...

Link:downthebackstretch.blogspot.com/2009/0...

Depends on the athlete/athletes.

Mixing things up can keep things from getting stale and repetitive.

That's a good point. If you had Igloi for a coach you did loads of reps but rarely ever something as straightforward as 10 x 400 or 30 x 200 from what I've seen. There was a lot of variation in every aspect and you often didn't know what was coming next. I can see where something like that could be appealing for some.

agree w the concept of this entire thread.. simple is best.. although I like adding some 200 ish meters or strides after threshold efforts, I think is good to touch on the faster turnover stuff when a bit tired. And it can be kinda fun. Usually I don't let the kids time them and often they are not measured.. just go hard from point a to b.. Anywhere between 120- 190 meters. Often on trails/grass using landmarks not exact distances.

I agree, especially with HS kids. I think posted this before but you could so a 2 week cycle of alternating between Hill reps Day and 6x8 Day, and keep a weekly tempo run, long run, and fill in the rest of the days with easy stuff, and that's your season's "training plan".

Agreed. You need to hit a variety of paces in training but not all in the same session. Keep it simple, and try to do the last rep/close fast. I love mile repeats and 12M progression runs. Some coaches like overly complicated workouts since overly complicated workouts reinforce the importance of paying a coach.....