"A runner needs a LT run every 2 to 5 days in order to not lose any aerobic ability."

Yeah. Is it true that if you don't "use it" you will "lose it?"

You've never heard it before because he made it up.

That's what I was thinking too.

historical perspective wrote:

You've never heard it before because he made it up.

All coaching advice is made up.

I can clarify that statement if you'd like. A runner might be able to maintain their cardiovascular (aerobic) system with a weekly tempo/LT run. But for a runner to improve that system as quickly as possible, than every 2 to 5 days is ideal.

During the track season, some fartlek and track workouts may tax the aerobic system enough to maintain or improve it (and have the same effect aerobically as a LT run).

Really, the runner should max out their aerobic system in the off-season and maintain it during the competitive season. Races and in-season speed work will help develop the runner's lactic acid training (ability to go into oxygen debt during the race and not slow down drastically).

happygolucky_beat wrote:

But for a runner to improve that system as quickly as possible, than every 2 to 5 days is ideal.

Thanks for your response. Do you have a source on this?

Define "speed work". At what race pace does it begin?

markeroon wrote:

Thanks for your response. Do you have a source on this?

He just said all coaching is made up. If he quotes some other source, he's really just referring you to another person who shares his opinion.

You think any of this is set in stone? Lydiard's methods are based on his own trial and error, then tinkering it with his athletes. Same with any coach, except nowadays you can read other coach's opinions rather than having to trial and error it all on your own again.

For the record, I happen to disagree. I've continued to make aerobic improvements throughout the season even without LT every 2-5 days.

I could be wrong, but I think he is just referring to how, if you don't utilize an energy system every 10 days or so, you'll start to regress in that area (i.e., if you don't run an LT at least once every 10 days, or a workout that gives a equivalent but different physiological stress, then you'll start to regress in the progress you've made with LT workouts).

Saying that doing it every 5 days (twice every 10 days) is talking about doing more than maintaining, but rather improving.

You can certainly improve aerobic fitness without running an LT every 5 days, but you won't improve your LT as efficiently as you would if you did it every 5 days.

happygolucky_beat wrote:

All coaching advice is made up.

I can clarify that statement if you'd like. A runner might be able to maintain their cardiovascular (aerobic) system with a weekly tempo/LT run. But for a runner to improve that system as quickly as possible, than every 2 to 5 days is ideal.

During the track season, some fartlek and track workouts may tax the aerobic system enough to maintain or improve it (and have the same effect aerobically as a LT run).

Really, the runner should max out their aerobic system in the off-season and maintain it during the competitive season. Races and in-season speed work will help develop the runner's lactic acid training (ability to go into oxygen debt during the race and not slow down drastically).

Thank you for making up a clarification to the thing you made up originally. That makes it all so much more official.

watchout wrote:

I could be wrong, but I think he is just referring to how, if you don't utilize an energy system every 10 days or so, you'll start to regress in that area...

How do you know that? Why 10 days? Why not 2, 5, 20...?