Scandinavian Fellow wrote:
Im surprised by this. Im not a long distance runner, but know several. None of them are even close to the pace you talk about on their easy days. And they are all way faster than 15.30. 6min mile = 3.43/km. Thats fast. The ones I know about (and it seems to be this way in Scandinavia) runs their easy runs always slower than 4min/km, and often more like 4.40/km or slower, but thats also including varied terrain for some of the runs.
Its always this when I read in here, people always talk about surprisingly fast easy paces, far faster than anyone I know, but every single time they mention their time its always much slower than what the guys I know run.
Whats up with Americans running so fast on their easy/recovery days?
Same here in Europe, i only know one german runner who does all his running at 3:30-3:40/km pace (5:50-6min/m) and he is a 13:12 guy.
Sub 30 guys do it around 7min/mile pace which seemingly is slower than every college team in the states.
Has to do with mentality and the unit conversions. Like 'i wanna become good so i have to push the pace' whereas here most of the runners go in the nature, get the distance in and maybe run some hills.
Despite the lack of good performances from europeans (i don't count in Farah), a fast easy run pace doenst seem to have a big impact on race times and is not worth the added stress. Far too many people burn out on that and Baumann i.e. went like 7-8min/mile on his easy days. Could have been faster with quicker pace on easy days? Don't think so.