I ran my PRs a few years ago on 80-90 mph, however since then family and professional commitments don't allow me to train 10+hr a week. Since backing off the mileage ive run 2 marathons (2:39 and 2:43) but both times i crashed hard at the end. I feel like i have the aerobic/metabolic fitness to run quicker, but my muscles just can't take it.
I am wondering about running more mileage (specifically long runs) in firmer, more minimal shoes to force my quads to work a little harder, induce some of those micro tears in hopes that on race day in marshmellow shoes I can make it the full distance without cramping/crashing. Any thoughts?
I ran my PRs a few years ago on 80-90 mph, however since then family and professional commitments don't allow me to train 10+hr a week. Since backing off the mileage ive run 2 marathons (2:39 and 2:43) but both times i crashed hard at the end. I feel like i have the aerobic/metabolic fitness to run quicker, but my muscles just can't take it.
I am wondering about running more mileage (specifically long runs) in firmer, more minimal shoes to force my quads to work a little harder, induce some of those micro tears in hopes that on race day in marshmellow shoes I can make it the full distance without cramping/crashing. Any thoughts?
Lydiard firmly believed you should run road races in the same shoes you train in. I agree with him and for ages did all my training and racing in racing shoes. I also had a spell where I was doing most of my runs on soft ground. During that time I found that my legs were getting stiff in the last few miles of marathons. I interpreted that as a result of not running enough on hard surfaces. Once I did more of that the stiffness problem went away.
I suppose what I'm saying here is that I think what you're thinking of is a good idea. But I don't know how much of it you should do. Not many people seem to want to go to 100% or close to it in racing shoes and maybe you don't need to do nearly that much.
The other question here is what shoes you have in mind when you say firmer, more minimal, shoes. The kinds of shoes I think of when I hear that phrase are almost non existent now. If we go with Arthur's idea of racing and training in the same shoe and you're going to race in one of the super shoes I don't know if they count as firmer and more minimal, especially if you factor in the price. In general those shoes have really changed the game.
An unmeasurable amount of fatigue for sprinters, middle distance runners and long distance runners, gravity correlated fatigue. You will risk impact injuries doing long runs in racing flats No upside, not worth it. If you insist on running in racing flats, do so for 800m repeats, 1200m repeats, etc.
Nice try, have you ever read the legions of old threads from around 20 years ago with all the people that were able to run way higher mileage in flats than traditional shoes? I would encourage you to get a little more educated before spouting your opinion.