TOUGHEST WORKOUT EVER(!)

200 27

300 41 these are done with 50 seconds rest

200 26

100 13

rest 5 minutes

400 53

rest 5 minutes

200 27

300 41 these are done with 50 seconds rest

200 27

100 14

if many of you could stand after this then you guys are awesome - I couldnt stand, and at this stage I was running 1min48.5 for 800m

Liked the take on the "Oregon workout" that my coach used when i was a frosh- 1200 (3.09)- 8 miles steady at 5.45 pace- 1200(3.13)...last 1200 is full on lactate...

This is a relative question. If I said the hardest workout ever was 10 miles on flat ground, you would all laugh. But what if it was after 3 years of no running at all?

you are right Harry Mo, but its just a big blow-ass, chest-puff-out opportunity for us. No harm surely.

Racing was always much harder than practice for me! The

two workouts I loved and my teammates all hated was:

5 x 400m in sub 55 sec with 3 min 400 jog recovery

if a 400 was over 55 sec or recovery too long-repeat one

1 x 500m ALL OUT= 1:02.1 (about 5 min jog/walk rec)

1 x 300m " " = 35.0 sec

Vipam

vipam, what were your 800 PR's?

Dude! I'll say - that is the session of a 1min45-46 and 3min35-36 runner!!!

Run 200m in 32-33 sec and then continue with 'jogging' 200m in 45 sec( this 200m 45 sec is the recovery). and then continue with 200m 32-33 sec(approx.4:15min/mile pace) then 'jog' 200m in 45 sec(approx.6min/mile pace) and so on and so on.

The best one I managed to hold those 2 paces training was 14.5 laps.

The post says toughest workout...y'all....not necessarily beneficial....

Never did it but some I have heard of:

Steve Scott- 1x300 @ 35, 3x200 @ 23 w/ short rests, also 3 sets of 800-400-800 @ 1:56/55/1:56

Geb- 27x400 @ 57-58 w/ 60 seconds rest

Not a running workout, but one that my high school wrestling coach, who also happened to be the cross country coach, made us do once a year:

(250-300m hill)

3 x 2 laps up and down the hill

-minute rest between sets

get a partner and carry him on your back up the hill

switch and get carried

-four hours of drills, so intense that room fogged up, clouds of vapor in the air

-15 minute "wall sit"- legs at right angles, back firmly against the wall

only time that i've seen the kids on my team (16-18 years old) cry

with that, i think u manage to run 1:44-1:47 and u should be at the grandprix by now, NOT here.

wait, im sorry....

the post thread subject is 'the toughest workout ever' and it doesnt mean uve done it before, might be only your imagination.

sorry, i'd missed interpret.

u're right vipam.

gosh!

A few of the toughest I've heard:

T&FN talked of Seb Coe running 5X800, rest=1:30. He supposedly hit 1:52 with the fifth in 1:49. The same article said Ovett ran 6 X 200 in sub :23 also with minimal rest.

A friend attended Oregon when AlSal was preparing for his first New York Marathon. Al did 3 X 2M on the track in 8:40 with rest intervals of 1 mile at 5:20 between. My friend witnessed this so it did happen.

This link brings up the question of "Are these runners great because they can do these workouts, or can they do these workouts because they are great." I'm sure it's a combination of each.

Didn't I read an article about Webb doing a very similar workout prior to his hs mile record? It was something like 5 x 400m in 57 sec. with approx. 4 min. 400 jog and the last rep in 54. You must be better than a 3:53 miler then, Vipam.

well - if you go on Vipams theory, then you could say something like..

6x400 in 48 with 1 minute rest - or even 50 secs - or maybe even 30 secs - oh what the hell - 6 x 400 in 47.5 with 10 seconds rest - now thats the toughest workout Ive EVER heard of.

Just reading that call on Coe running those 800's. I know that he did do this session - but those numbers sound a little fast. I have read in his autobiography that he would run 6-8 x 800 in 1min54-56 with a 2min-3min rest, but it was done on a gravel road, at night, with his pops driving their family car behind him, with the lights on so he could see. Still pretty impressive anyaway ittinit!

I think the toughest workouts are the ones that keep you on the verge of tears, the ones where you absolutely have to block out any thought process for fear that rational thinking might prevent you from completing the workout.

Different workouts are tougher for different reasons at different periods in you're training career.

The 11 mile progression runs we did in college use to destroy me at age 18 but at age 35 I could handle 8 miles at 5:20 to 5:30 and 3 at 5:00 at the end. And I only run about 55 miles a week now.

What kills me is any efforts at 200 to 600 meters at top speed. I did this old Coe workout last spring and it sounds easy but my old slow legs were screaming.

150 at 1500 pace-150 jog

200 at 800 pace-200 jog

250 at slightly faster-250 jog

300 all out-300 jog

REPEAT

Did 2 300's at the end of the last set. There is decent speed, then there's real speed and I have neither. It works both ways. Its hard to believe the effort some 800 meter freshman runners have to put out to run a 5 mile tempo run at 6:00 pace.

The workouts I listed was done and with ease. When I ran

in college I had alot of raw speed; however, I struggled

doing fartlek and intervals for cross-country and timed

distance runs! The thing about some individuals are that

if they can't do a certain workout they tend to doubt others. I am not trying to belittle you two; however, it

seems you two clowns love TRYING to belittle others.

I would love to show you two clowns in person how fast I

can run (despite not competing anymore). You lame brains most really be slow because those workouts are not hard if you have any speed! Why not come to Marshall, TX and let me show you!

Vipam

Vipam, Good observation concerning how everyone struggles with different things. I too was blessed with speed and found your workout entry as 'no big deal'. However, ask for a fartlek or reps longer than 3/4 or a stinging surge in the middle of a 1500, and I would flounder. Those strength oriented runners who can do the fartleks and long intervals with ease would struggle with the stuff we find easy. This brings a new relevant question. Should your training focus primarily on improving your weaknesses, or building upon and honing your strengths? Obviously, we need to do both, but what would be your primary focus?

Very good point, just the facts!

I read once somewhere that its most important to concentrate and develop your strengths. Your weaknesses should be worked on but not as a primary focus. However, I feel as a "middle-long distance" runner with average speed(My best event was probably 4 miles) I always had my best results when my mile speed was good (4:02 to 4:05). When I was able to float 60 second quarters I knew a good 5000 was coming up.

However I knew guys with atrocious speed who were mainly 10,000 runners that running a 1500 was so ugly for them it didn't appear to serve much benefit. Although I still wish I would have concentrated more on the 1500 when I was younger.