Meb Keflezighi runs just once a day

Yeah doubles all the way!

Plus you generally see more hot chicks at the gym than on the trails, so there's lots of reasons to cross-train.

Not to pick a fight here but it was this "New" way of training that did us in from 1984-2004.

He may only run once a day but thats probably because he is a full time athlete which means he has the time to get in a 15 mile (just a randmon figure from my head). Instead of an 8 mile in the morning before work and then a 7 mile after work (again just an example!). The afternoon cross train he does is probably just complimentary and something a little different for him to do for his training! Basically what I am saying is he has the time to do his daily runs as one run rather than having to split it into two runs like most of us have to do because of work commitments!

i usually do doubles 3-4 times a week, with about 4 in the morning, then a good workout session or run that usually totals about 10-12. What ruins my chance to do doubles is work.

When i am scheduled the later shift (2-8pm for example); i am forced to run only a single. My coach has me do less mileage that way, because more will not make it easy to recover from harder workouts. (and i am not going to run at 9pm after my drive home b/c i usually get up around 7-8.)

The fact that he doesn't have a "normal" job has nothing to do with the fact that he has more time to put in a single run.. besides he's going to the gym anyways in the afternoons.

I knew it! I remember reading this somewhere and posted it on the Ritz injury thread. Of course, everyone told me I was not "remembering" correctly.

I'm not saying this is what all runners should do, but I think that if Ritz has a stress fracture right now or gets another, he would be an idiot to not consider replacing some of his regeneration runs with pool running.

For instance, maybe 7 running sessions in 6 days, pool on the seventh day, and supplement with pool on three afternoons as well. He can still RUN 90-100 mpw plus all the cardiovascular benefits of the pool! Best yet, no injuries.

Yes it does have to do with more time, his normal job never gets in the way. He never has to cut a run short and can wait an extra hour or two to do some runs if he feels like it. he would not get in the gym in the afternoon if he had a normal job, he would have to do it at another time that may interfere with his running.

Still that does not say it is good or bad. I still say double days are best anyway. its not the supplementary running that gets you hurt it is the stuff you won't cut out.

For some though, like Ritz, the excessive extra pounding even from supplementary running is never kind.

speedster wrote:

I knew it! I remember reading this somewhere and posted it on the Ritz injury thread. Of course, everyone told me I was not "remembering" correctly.

Everyone was right. Ghost is only telling part of the story. Meb ran once a day for a stretch before the 2004 Olympic Trials when he had a knee injury. He normally runs doubles, as he's been doing since high school when he was being coached by 2:09 marathoner Ron Tabb. It was Tabb who first told Meb he was going to be a marathoner on day, even though Meb had run 4:04 as a prepster.

ghost wrote:

On the subject of doubles, Meb. generally just runs once a day, and cross trains in the afternoon. He also does a lot of gym work and foot speed work.

ghost

Nice try, but false. Meb runs doubles.

Ok, I'll accept that, Snopes. No one before told me the reasoning, just that I was wrong. So thank you.

I still stand by my previous opinon though that Ritz would be better off supplementing his training with some pool running/zero-gravity treadmill training rather than easy running.

For him, I think this would be an effective way to train....if someone else has a better idea of how he can go about training at an elite level without getting injured or sick so often, please give your opinon.

people double cuz of work commitments? huh? as a teacher i only have time for one run a day. i couldn't imagine taking the time to run twice... thatd be so much extra time to get ready, shower after etc. when you're short on time, singles makes sense. if i were an elite though id probably still do singles just because id rather have the extra recovery time and id like to be able to relax instead of constantly thinking about my next run.

NEWSFLASH:

There is not one single optimal way to train. Just because Meb does one thing does not mean it is "right." It seems to work for him, so more power to him if that's what he actually does. There are 50 gabillion (actual total) examples of other ways to train that are the "right" way. Find what works for you and don't obsess about what others are doing.

ray wrote:

Not to pick a fight here but it was this "New" way of training that did us in from 1984-2004.

It wasn't this "new" way of training. It was increasing the pace and intensity while reducing the miles that caused a falloff in American distance running.

I am always for running the most miles you possibly can and those who are able to will be the best. I also believe that crosstraining done in addition to running can help you get in better shape and make it easier when you are able to increase the mileage you run. At some point in time, every runner has a limit to the mileage they are able to do. Crosstraining will allow you to workout like an elite runner (and run faster) until you are able to get to the elite level by running only. Since there are very few at this elite level, virtually everyone can benefit from crosstraining.

ray wrote:

Not to pick a fight here but it was this "New" way of training that did us in from 1984-2004.

Right right...you mean the time period where we got better? THat time period. Good point. When will people realize the reason running went down was because it stopped becoming popular after its huge boom in the 60's and 70's. Which despite that we actually improved in that period that did us in...But morons point to us not winning medals...which was not because of the training that people like to think went down more then it did. But because the Africans rising to a new level. Or People point to the US not having 200 people run 222 in the marathon. An occurance that was because it just lost its popularity...people didnt want to run 140 miles a week. Not because they thought it would make them run faster. But because no one wanted to do it.

The great runners put in the miles...and everyone knew thats how it was done. But morons like you think the scientists were the reason...and everyone else was like...oh Scott and Kennedy dont know waht they are doing training that hard. The less miles way is the better way to go because we are running much slower!! Yes thats what everyone thought....

Thanks for backing up my point. I would have thought that stastics show running was more popular in the 80's and 90's than it was in the 60's, but you're probably right there as well. You should write a book.

By the way, I wouldn't necessarily refer to Runner's World and Fitness Magazine as Scientific Journals.

We got better from 1984 to 2004? At what?

losing

Smartest post on letsrun in a long, long time.