can a person get long-term burn out just by doing (a lot) of easy running...without speedwork?

I would bet on bored out before burned out

depends. have you ever run a lot before?

i used to run 100 mile weeks in college before quitting running for a while. i am now getting back into it and doing what you are doing-just doing a lot of easy runs. my legs get tired and when that happens i take a day off or have an easy day.

nobody can really answer this question except for you. if you feel like you are running too much and may be burning out then take it easy for a while. maybe drop the mileage and run some shorter tempos or something...

Just run baby.

gonzo wrote:

Just run baby.

so...I should or shouldn't try gradually increasing mileage.

"I've never run more than 7 miles in training--and that was 6 miles too long. I've always felt that long, slow distance produces long, slow runners."

-Sebastian Coe

Ears2Yoo wrote:

"I've never run more than 7 miles in training--and that was 6 miles too long. I've always felt that long, slow distance produces long, slow runners."

-Sebastian Coe

yeah, um...I want to run the marathon. not the 800.

i did nothing but jog and run easy for 2 months and then i had injuries. my quads were pretty strong but that kind of running is actually too stressful on the knee joint. if you want a long gradual build up, you can still do the easy running, but throw in 1 tempo run every 7-10 days, some striding or surging once or twice a week, and do some hills every week or two. everything else can be a varying pace of moderate to easy running and you can probably be fine that way.

cool, sounds good. I myself always suspected that there might be something about mixing up speeds a little that helps prevent injuries (like fixing form, perhaps). your suggesting it has more to do with increased pressure associated with slower running?

still though, this doesn't really answer my question...I mean even if I was to say "MOSTLY easy aerobic running" (like one tempo a week), could I still get long-term burn out after a while that way? or would some rest fix me up while feeling tired.

Easy running is fine when building mileage but after a certain point you won't get benefits from running more, you will get better by running faster.

Hah look at guys like Dean K. All he does are long easy runs, and he's "slow" when you consider the amount of mileage he runs.

Yes. Still, it is necessary. Doing nothing but speedworkouts would just make most of us just mediocre, injured sprinters.

want to run a lot wrote:

Ears2Yoo wrote:

"I've never run more than 7 miles in training--and that was 6 miles too long. I've always felt that long, slow distance produces long, slow runners."

-Sebastian Coe

yeah, um...I want to run the marathon. not the 800.

Relaaaax. This post was a good point of entry for me to get that quote out there. I was thinking of it the other day and thought this is likely the most appropriate chance I'll get to build it into the context of a discussion.

Best of luck with your training.

Ears2Yoo wrote: "I've never run more than 7 miles in training--and that was 6 miles too long. I've always felt that long, slow distance produces long, slow runners."

-Sebastian Coe

Is there a written source of this quotation, or is it a running myth?

If he actually said it, he must have been being coy, or maybe trying to throw off the competition, since he admitted a couple of years ago to a British journalist (guy who posts on here as martin-x) that he regularly ran 100+ mpw back in the day. Now it may not have been slow distance, but he sure as shit ran more than 7 miles at a time, some of the time, to put together 100 mpw.

fUrCeOsNhN wrote:

Easy running is fine when building mileage but after a certain point you won't get benefits from running more, you will get better by running faster.

I agree. but the idea is to adapt to high mileage before doing speed workouts.

still nobody has answered the question...

Yea he definitly did more...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdPy_3AXTQ4&NR=1

"why climb that flight of stairs when you've got 10 miles on the road this evening..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnb_yvKv0po&feature=related

Also going for a "10 or 12 mile run" the day after the Moscow 800m final

If it TRULY is easy running, I doubt it would burn you out the way you are talking about. Assuming you get adequate sleep, fluid intake, food etc. you should be fine. Take it to the extreme: If you walked 10 hours a day, but otherwise took good care of yourself, would you deplete your adaptive reserves?

Most people get burned out because they run faster than they realize on easy days.

You might get injured, or you might not. I know that's not your question. But if you are going to try this, recognize that it takes a while to learn good form for running easy too. Too many people start pounding on their heels when they run slow. Take very quick, short strides and you'll be amazed out how little pounding you get....at least that's what has happened with me.

I do agree that it is good to mix things up a bit though. However, it is possible to work a better range of motion for your legs without stressing your system during your easy aerobic period. Simply doing 6x60m with PLENTY of rest between each, say 2-3 times a week will keep you out of that "jogging" rut your legs would otherwise get locked into. These aren't sprints but should be relaxed, controlled speed.