What is the most overrated part of training? What is most overlooked that shouldn't be?

The long run is the most overrated. If you're doing decent mileage, you're getting sufficient aerobic work that one single run of extra-long mileage really isn't going to make any difference compared with covering the same weekly mileage without a long run.

Sleep might be the most underrated. I couldn't believe how much faster I recovered and how much better untrained once I started really being disciplined about getting enough sleep.

The most overrated is definitely the LSS (Long Slow Slog) that every SKINNYFAT distance runner includes in their unhealthy training plan.

The most overlooked is doing long, hard WORKOUTS that give you practical fitness versus being able to skip along for 2 hours straight. I'll take an X-Fit WOD in the BOX any day over a typical runner's schedule.

Nailing splits on every workout is the most overrated. In the US, we are so OCD about workouts and statistics that we end up wrecking our athletes just to follow a somewhat arbitrary training plan. The E. Africans understand that you sometimes have bad days and sometimes are not in good enough shape to follow the schedule. They will bail from a workout and do it again later in the training cycle instead of forcing themselves through it or getting all psyched out by not hitting splits.

Most underrated is hill training. People never do it with enough consistency to fully realize the benefits. Too many runners just do it during a "strength" phase and then lose the benefits by neglecting it during a "specific" phase.

I think rest and nutrition are the most overlooked aspects of training. Most high level runners I know tend to fall for the "if the furnace is hot enough anything will burn" theory. Though it may be true, it's more about what you eat than how much. Rest is tough because it takes a disciplined athlete to truly get enough rest to perform at their peak level.

Precious Roy wrote:

Nailing splits on every workout is the most overrated. In the US, we are so OCD about workouts and statistics that we end up wrecking our athletes just to follow a somewhat arbitrary training plan. The E. Africans understand that you sometimes have bad days and sometimes are not in good enough shape to follow the schedule. They will bail from a workout and do it again later in the training cycle instead of forcing themselves through it or getting all psyched out by not hitting splits.

Most underrated is hill training. People never do it with enough consistency to fully realize the benefits. Too many runners just do it during a "strength" phase and then lose the benefits by neglecting it during a "specific" phase.

I'd pretty much go with this as well though from the OP's list I might put any non-running items, nutrition, lifting, etc.even higher on the over rated list.

PS,

I'd add regular racing to the underrated list. Learning to race is separate skill that you can learn. Simply being fit doesn't always translate to racing well and most people now do not do nearly enough of it to master the skill.

The most overrated is peaking. If you're in good shape, you're in good shape. If you need rest to optimize performance, rest. Rest weeks with lighter workouts/lower mileage should be present in all training plans anyway, regardless of whether it's early season or late season.

From what I see, the most overlooked is core body strength training. Too many runners neglect it and obsess over nothing but mileage.

Overrated: Workouts, workouts, workouts.... Over complicated workouts, too much reliance on race pace or faster workouts..... Crap

Underatted: lifting weights, hills, fast contious runs even during racing season.

HRE wrote:

PS,

I'd add regular racing to the underrated list. Learning to race is separate skill that you can learn. Simply being fit doesn't always translate to racing well and most people now do not do nearly enough of it to master the skill.

I couldn't agree more with this. Had I not done so many road races during the offseason in my high school years, I never would have been as successful as I was. Being able to experiment with different race strategies and seeing which worked best for me gave me an edge when track season hit.

Overdone:

Hill repeats.

Tempo.

Underrated:

Easy days easy.

Training at "VO2 max pace" is the most overrated (because VO2 max pace is not magical and because VO2 max is not the limiting factor in performance).

Probably the most overlooked is development of speed across the training phases, including hill training.

Science of running wrote:

Training at "VO2 max pace" is the most overrated (because VO2 max pace is not magical and because VO2 max is not the limiting factor in performance).

Definitely agree, though when people say "VO2 max training" I just assume they mean repeats in the mile to 10K pace range... fast but not sprinting.

Overrated: Cross-training while injured. You should be focusing on getting back on your feet. All that aerobic fitness won't do you any good if your body can't structurally handle it - and it may only encourage you to do too much when you start up again. Not saying you shouldn't do it, just saying it's highly overrated.

Similarly, running too fast when returning from injury. Most people don't account for the fact that impact on the body is a function of mileage AND speed - running a mile at 6:00 pace is a lot more stressful than one at 8:00 pace. I think runners returning from injury would be well advised to go slow - even if the effort felt too easy - until they're used to being "on their feet" again. But most only think of a workout in terms of the aerobic effort, not the overall stress on the body.

runnerwhoprofesses wrote:

Underrated:

Easy days easy.

agree that easy days easy are often overlooked, especially as runners age.

I find a lot of value in the slow runs now. It was an article of faith to commit to, but it's made all the difference as I approach 40.

runnerwhoprofesses wrote:

Overdone:

Hill repeats.

Tempo.

Underrated:

Easy days easy.

Can't say I agree with this.

Too many runners fall into the trap of just going for a run every day. While they obsess over hitting certain weekly mileage totals, they never change pace or push themselves, but they get in their 5-10 daily miles.

sleep is good wrote:

The long run is the most overrated. If you're doing decent mileage, you're getting sufficient aerobic work that one single run of extra-long mileage really isn't going to make any difference compared with covering the same weekly mileage without a long run.

Sleep might be the most underrated. I couldn't believe how much faster I recovered and how much better untrained once I started really being disciplined about getting enough sleep.

Long run is definitely the most overrated IMO. There is a good thread on this very subject from a few years back.

Malmo might remember this one. I still refer to it for training:

I will also agree with sleep being the most underrated.

Purple flower wrote:

Overrated: Workouts, workouts, workouts.... Over complicated workouts, too much reliance on race pace or faster workouts..... Crap

Underatted: lifting weights, hills, fast contious runs even during racing season.

Lifting weights is definitely the most underrated IMO right now. It has been so noticeable how squats, deadlifts, abductor exercises etc. have helped my running form and being able to feel relaxed at faster running speeds.

sleep is good wrote:

The long run is the most overrated. If you're doing decent mileage, you're getting sufficient aerobic work that one single run of extra-long mileage really isn't going to make any difference compared with covering the same weekly mileage without a long run.

Sleep might be the most underrated. I couldn't believe how much faster I recovered and how much better untrained once I started really being disciplined about getting enough sleep.

While I agree the long run is somewhat overrated, the purpose of the long run isn't just to add more total miles to your week.

Overrated>essential

1. cross training

2. lifting

3. nutrition

4. rest

5. speed work

6. long run