Tinman,
I write with regard to your post about aerobic and anaerobic effort on the 'Renato Canova/Lactate Threshold' thread.
Please can you write more about the 'aerobic threshold'? You mention it being about a minute a mile slower than 5k pace but why (or why not) and when you think it's important to run at 'aerobic threshold' pace would be most interesting to hear.
I am familiar with anaerobic threshold pace - pace you could race at for about an hour and so half marathon pace for elites - but am unsure of the value of this aerobic threshold work.
I ask this keenly as the aerobic threshold pace you refer to would mean runs which are around 5.30 pace for me (FYI my 5k pr is 13.50 and my 10k is 28.40, my half is 65) but this past six months i dumped all mid-range solid steady pace running from my training. The 'mid-range' runs i've eliminated were steady ten milers between 5.30-6.00 pace, which were typical of my between-workout days until last year. I eliminated work at this pace because it seemed like quality junk - i.e. it was inhibiting my recovery between workouts but while apparently not making me better for the extra effort required to run at 5.30-6.00 pace compared to if i jogged these recovery runs.
FYI, My training is currently track reps on tuesday at 5k pace, tempo run at 4.50mile pace and all recovery runs 6.20 per mile to 7.00 pace for pure recovery. I'm doing 90mpw in 11 runs with an easy 15mile longer run on Sundays.
I appreciate this is perhaps a slightly incomplete explanation of my own background and aims, but your further input on aerobic threshold would be great to hear.
Many thanks in advance.