Wejo was right when he said it's not how hard you run, it's how fast you run. Why do people always want to know the easy way to get fast? It really kinda bugs me when people aren't willing to put in the time to build up, yet when they don't run fast they complain.
I am taking a year off of collegiate racing to build up some strength and endurance to hopefully run sub 4:00
It's part of the type A personalities a lot of runners (especially American runners) have. I've had the same mentality, but I'm finally learning that it doesn't work especially if you are injured.
tex, how much buildup do you do before your season per se?
It's been a while since I've had a real season and I was building up incorrectly when I did (too much speedwork, racing, etc. during the summer). That and every time I did try to come back after an injury, I'd jump into hard workouts, racing, too high of mileage, etc. too soon. I'm just now trying to take it way more slowly than before, but who knows if I'll ever be at the level I'd like to be. I just want to run consistently without pain.
I think it goes to something that was on a thread earlier today about elites looking not all that tired after a race. The phenomenal aerobic base that allows you to run like that also allows you to make it look easy.
What strength and endurance workouts are you planning then?