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

"Members of your college xc team" is a group of outliers, thank you very much.

Try your high school team instead for a starter (which is still an outlier to a lesser degree).

When did I say I quit?

In the last 10 years, I have run more mileage each year than previous year, in spite of having multiple setbacks with injuries. I have found I need to sleep more, run slower on my easy days, and do more supplementary exercises to support a higher mileage.

But I guess that means "quitting" to you, because I simply do not run, run and run more without worrying about injuries.

Maybe the reason you couldn't increase your mileage the way HRE and others did is because it took you those 10 years to realize you need to run slower on your easy days. Or slower nearly EVERY day, if you're trying to increase your milage. Some people have known that since day 1.

Maybe there are more epiphanies waiting to happen... maybe there's more that those 100 MPWers know, that you don't. But if you choose to curse your genetics and refuse to listen to those who have done it, I would agree that you're a quitter.

Just Another Hobby Jogger wrote:

When did I say I quit?

In the last 10 years, I have run more mileage each year than previous year, in spite of having multiple setbacks with injuries. I have found I need to sleep more, run slower on my easy days, and do more supplementary exercises to support a higher mileage.

But I guess that means "quitting" to you, because I simply do not run, run and run more without worrying about injuries.

You are slow learner and a hypochondriac.

Just Another Hobby Jogger wrote:

You are missing the big picture.

The first guy is running hard every day, eating crap, and sleeping only 5 hours. A high mileage guy needs to sleep more, eat better, and take the easy day easier than a low mileage guy.

Unless you are the great HRE, who can overcome anything with his determination. But the mere mortals have to take the recovery seriously if we want to run more mileage.

You haven't given any evidence that your two runners are anything more than hypothetical so you can make anything you want happen for them. In real life the 100 mpw guy is running maybe one more hour in a day than the 50 a week guy is. If he halved his miles and slept with that time he'd still only be sleeping six hours a day, well below generally recommended levels. Assuming the 100 a week guy needs two hours to get his runs in and spends another 10 hours working and commuting he's still got 12 hours so he should be able to get sufficient sleep assuming he disciplines himself and organizes his time though it's a lot easier to run much less and whine about how you can't possibly do more.

+1

Just Another Hobby Jogger, what is your weekly mileage, age, and PRs?

Where did I write it took me 10 years to realize I needed to run slower on easy day. You should learn to read.

Aside from taking easy day easy, and gradually building up mileage, what else was suggested here? (And I had known both for years.)

Huh? Can you read???

I didn't suggest the first guy run less,. Learn to read English language, please. It is not that complicated. The first guy needs better recovery if he wants to continue running 100mpw.

My age: old. My PR: very slow. My mpw: very low (under 75).

I have run some stretch of 65-70mpw, but average only about 50mpw for a year, because of both planned and unplanned breaks. I am planning to get up to 70-75mpw this fall, assuming my body holds up.

Most overrated:

modern running shoes and gimmicks

Most overlooked:

the damage that modern running shoes do to feet, legs and hips

Logging.

Just Another Hobby Jogger wrote:

Aside from taking easy day easy, and gradually building up mileage, what else was suggested here? (And I had known both for years.)

There have been dozens of suggestions in this thread: overrated long runs, hitting splits in workouts, not enough hills, too much focus on times and splits, too hard of tempos, too much reliance on schedules, and many, many more, not to mention the rest of this website. Every single one of these is related to injuries and prevention, as well as performance. If you've only read two relevant suggestions in this thread, then you officially Don't Get It, and only want to preach at people.

It's a wonderful life. wrote:

Just Another Hobby Jogger wrote:

Aside from taking easy day easy, and gradually building up mileage, what else was suggested here? (And I had known both for years.)

There have been dozens of suggestions in this thread: overrated long runs, hitting splits in workouts, not enough hills, too much focus on times and splits, too hard of tempos, too much reliance on schedules, and many, many more, not to mention the rest of this website. Every single one of these is related to injuries and prevention, as well as performance. If you've only read two relevant suggestions in this thread, then you officially Don't Get It, and only want to preach at people.

Those were not suggested as underrated aspects of training, not as ways to avoid injuries. (And I had known all of those things for many years, too.)

Just Another Hobby Jogger wrote:

It's a wonderful life. wrote:

There have been dozens of suggestions in this thread: overrated long runs, hitting splits in workouts, not enough hills, too much focus on times and splits, too hard of tempos, too much reliance on schedules, and many, many more, not to mention the rest of this website. Every single one of these is related to injuries and prevention, as well as performance. If you've only read two relevant suggestions in this thread, then you officially Don't Get It, and only want to preach at people.

Those were not suggested as underrated aspects of training, not as ways to avoid injuries. (And I had known all of those things for many years, too.)

It goes without saying that all of those things will help avoid injuries - it shouldn't need to be spelled out for you. Breaking those suggestions is a major cause of injuries, just as much as too high mileage or lack of sleep. If you couldn't make the connection between those things and injuries, then I would have to say you certainly have not understood those things for many years.

Uh.. it's not that simple. Hill works can prevent injuries, but they also be the cause of injuries. The same goes for the long run. It can be over emphasized, but you need at least some of it if you are preparing for longer races.

If you read through this thread, you can find almost everything listed both as underrated and overrated. "Too much" focus on splits could cause injuries, but if you do not pay enough attention to splits, you may end up running your tempo too fast. It's a delicate balance act.

But of course, I am a quitter. You can feel the life is wonderful because you are so much better than me.

Just Another Hobby Jogger wrote:

Uh.. it's not that simple. Hill works can prevent injuries, but they also be the cause of injuries. The same goes for the long run. It can be over emphasized, but you need at least some of it if you are preparing for longer races.

If you read through this thread, you can find almost everything listed both as underrated and overrated.

Wrong - there are many common themes in this thread that are virtually unanimous.

Just Another Hobby Jogger wrote:

"Too much" focus on splits could cause injuries, but if you do not pay enough attention to splits, you may end up running your tempo too fast. It's a delicate balance act.

But of course, I am a quitter. You can feel the life is wonderful because you are so much better than me.

How would splits tell you if your tempo run is too fast? A tempo is a comfortably hard effort, regardless of pace. Many people run them too hard BECAUSE they're looking at splits and ignoring the obvious strain in effort.

You may feel "comfortable" because your cardiovascular system is not taxed, but your pace still may be too fast for your legs to handle. I have got injured by running my tempo "by feel." In hindsight, I was going too fast just because I was "feeling it." The same thing has happened with cruise interval. Checking your watch would prevent you from going too fast.

Running too hard by trying to hit splits is a more common problem. But it is not the only problem.

You should be able to adjust your feelings then. A tempo should be comfortable in the sense that your legs can handle it just fine. In no way can your watch tell you if you're going too hard, it doesn't know your tempo pace.

Injuries don't come because you did a tempo too fast or too many miles in one week, your body doesn't know or care about that information. If you can do stretches of 65-70 mpw fine, you can do 80 fine as well, just by slowing down the effort.

Looking to bring this thread back. There is some great stuff here!