A non-racing coworker asked me how much she should run for minimal fitness. I told her Lydiard espoused 15 minutes daily as the bottom floor.
I also mentioned that most of the modern literature offers that 30 minutes 4x weekly @ 130BPM is beneficial, however she seemed happier with the 15 minute figure.
Anyone else get asked this question?
I understood it as 15 minutes was the starting point for someone starting to run, but that one didn't see any aerobic benefits (improving the runner's physical fitness, which I would assume would be the point of taking up running) until at least 20 minutes.
I got the sense from our conversation that she wanted the absolute minimum. She has two kids and an elderly mother plus a full-time job. I surmise it is a time issue.
if you only want to exercise for fitness (read: get trim enough to wear Banana Republic fittingly), get an indoor exer-bike, choose either Atkins or South Beach, buy a cushy SUV with a 6-CD changer to cruise through life in, and keep your 10 minute mile spandex wrapped ass off my trails.
I'll relay your message to her you High IQ genius.
Read the thread again.
Wow, is this place deteriorating.
Yeah, and next time I pass your slow 6:30 mile ass on MY trial, I'll give it a swift kick. Go do your homework son.
I think most doctors will say 20 minutes of aerobic work a day is bare minimum for what is considered healthy and active. I think Lydiard was most concerned with training his athletes to the MAXIMUM aerobic capacity. A book where he states that "15 minutes daily as the bottom floor" is geared to an entry level runner. ANY running book will say something like that in the generic sense for the neophyte - why mention Lydiard? Pardon the nihilism; i don't often post, let alone post like a jaded crank - but really - what is the point? Why bother searching for accuracy in numbers when "minimal fitness" is the goal?
"College Tossers" must be another co-worker yuppie dreamer, sleeping with his Nike Shox 2:45's on.
A non-runner is starting jogging and rather than just throw some banalities her way I was attempting to give her some info based on what I and others knew.
She was looking for a routine that could be done by someone with extreme time limitations, that's all.
No harm, no foul.
Perhaps it is best to start with 15 min/day for 4x/week.
This new runner might find that level is easy enough and then you can tell her to do 20 minutes/day.
In my humble opinion, giving her the higher level first might only serve to discourage her.
i would start her off w/ 30 min 3 times a week moving to 4 times a week. Tell her about gallowalking. A lot of runners may curse me but it is a good way for someone to start. run 4 min walk 1 etc.
fighting blue hen wrote:
if you only want to exercise for fitness (read: get trim enough to wear Banana Republic fittingly), get an indoor exer-bike, choose either Atkins or South Beach, buy a cushy SUV with a 6-CD changer to cruise through life in, and keep your 10 minute mile spandex wrapped ass off my trails.
Though it may be irrelevant to the subject of this thread, I think this is a fantastic quote.