LucKY2B wrote “Question of the week. Where do you get most of your training advice?”
My succinct answer is today it is mostly from Brad Hudson's book, better objectivity about my own running experience, and better listening to my own body.
As a self-coached runner (my only track or running coach was in 7th and 8th grade) I have gotten advice wherever I can find it - fellow runners, people who sell me running shoes, magazine articles, books, ... I've even stooped as low as reading LRC forums. I have a library of Noakes, Daniels, Pfitzinger, … all of the main (and not so main) books since Fixx's Complete book of Running.
This quote from Hudson's book summarizes why I find it different from the others on my shelf:
“But I have discovered that the athletes I coach don't really need me for my knowledge of training, they need me above all to help them gain knowledge of themselves as runners, because therein lies the key to getting faster.”
My recent recovery from chronic Achilles issues for 4 years very much resulted from inward focus and analysis of the problem since I was not getting permanent relief from the myriad of prominent experienced medical professionals and athletic trainers. So, this Hudson quote appealed to me as I was able to resume training, and was very committed to NOT injuring myself any more.
I am presently “following” a plan revised around his “Marathon Level 2” (of 3) Training Plan. One of my most salient revisions is reliance on my own instinct for recovery days rather than what is in the plan. I am able to keep up with the hard workouts for the most part, however, this Over 50 body needs more recovery. Some recovery or easy days, I bike in lieu of easy run. Here's another Hudson quote that has revised my training significantly. “ In my own running career I had to learn the hard way that the details of any runner's next workout should be informed 90 percent by how he or she feels after today's workout and only 10 percent by the training plan that was created before the training process actually began.”
Frankly, I think I sucked as a (self) coach in my 20s 30s and 40s. Hudson's “Run Faster from 5K to the Marathon” has been a great aid to my present consistent, injury free training.