Interesting that in one of these threads there is a link to John Kellogg’s piece on tempo training, something that I’ve never read before. In it he touches on the concept of ‘training by feel’ something that I’ve never thought there was, or could be, any other way. Reading comments on this message board, that many of you (at least the vocal minority) don’t train by feel. Is there any other way? Can you imagine a gymnast saying they don’t know when they are balanced? Do you know when you’re tired? sleepy?, hungry? thirsty? The only reason to use a watch is to confirm what you are already feeling. Your body tells you everything you need to know. Listen to it.http://www.letsrun.com/2005/jkfitness.phpWith this quote from ‘kudzurunners"Having run easy on the out leg, with a few gentle accelerations as the turnaround point approached, I'd now do what I called 'opening up the throttle.' I'd gently and persistently float up into what I might now call my 'maximum aerobic pace' but had no words for back then. Sometimes, realizing that I was pushing just a little too hard, I'd back off the throttle just a hair, let my breath settle - and, as often as not, suddenly feel a little 'release,' a deep bubble of relaxation."Compare kudzurunners description to mine when I wrote about Henry Ronohttp://2008olympictrialsakatommyleonard.shutterfly.com/544“Without a doubt, my memories of Rono got me through many a cold, rainy winter training run. I'd cock my head back, lean forward, push my chest out, pump my arms and let my body follow my imagination down the road. I even think there were a few times that I felt what it must have been like.”That’s tempo running.
I disagree with you. While I have no problem with five or more tempo runs in a week, except in a base building phase, I can’t see any reason limit your training efforts in this manner. The point of saying that “you could do 4-5 tempo runs a week if you wanted to” is to give you an idea what the effort level should be for a tempo run.
Sure it’s planned, but it’s not ‘planned’ in the limited definition that you are ascribing. Extemporaneous tempo runs, in my opinion, are always planned, and they only way to do them. Does something have to be written on paper to be planned,? Is it any less planned for you to know that on any given day if the instantaneous feedback your body is giving you says ‘go’ you will respnd? The former is rigid and not a very organic way of training isn’t it?
“Running to the barn” can be anywhere from 1-5 miles (sometimes even longer, 8-9-10 miles) but generally 2-4 miles. Increase the tempo during an easy run until you ‘feel the zone’. Your body will be perfectly synchronized in rhythm – your breathing, your stride cadence, you should feel like you’re walking on air. When you are done with a tempo run you should feel exhilarated, not exhausted.
Feel your Kung Fu, Grasshopper.
I wouldn’t now. But lets make it clear, we never heard of ten percent rules, we just went out and ran. The physics of low-impact aerobic training (mileage) was no different then than now. However, the psychology of low impact training has made a dramatic turn. Anyone who abides by the so-called ten percent rule is like a little kid playing with his food. If you want your dessert just eat your food and eat it now.