People are not houses. Thus, there is no need to build a "base" in training.

People are not laptop computers. Thus, there is no need to "sleep" at night.

Forget the piano. This *post* gave me the blues.

Blues Pianist wrote:

Actually some people are blues pianists, thus, a need to stride exists...

However.

People are not warm soft semi-spherical bread products made from dough. Thus, there is no need to "roll" out their muscles.

sc42 wrote:

People are not music, so there is no need for tempo.

good one! +1

Actually the OP's premise is correct: base phase is another old school myth.

The value of base phase is the net increase (delta) fitness improvement from start point towards goal + the net increase (delta) capability to tolerate work to allow further progress towards goal.

Thus the notion / requirement to avoid moderate intensity and above when starting training is illogical.

Likewise, the argument that volume is the measure of base phase effectiveness is also incorrect.

You train to produce and maintain power. The real question is what sort of training gets the desired results? This might mean jogging miles for some runners, but certainly not all.

dsrunner wrote:

Actually the OP's premise is correct: base phase is another old school myth.

The value of base phase is the net increase (delta) fitness improvement from start point towards goal + the net increase (delta) capability to tolerate work to allow further progress towards goal.

Thus the notion / requirement to avoid moderate intensity and above when starting training is illogical.

Likewise, the argument that volume is the measure of base phase effectiveness is also incorrect.

You train to produce and maintain power. The real question is what sort of training gets the desired results? This might mean jogging miles for some runners, but certainly not all.

Base phase is an old school myth? Ummmmmm, no! Maybe the types of training that are undertaken in base phase have evolved, but the need for a solid and varied conditioning period prior to beginning intense workouts is sacrosanct. Please point out one coach who jumps in with a new athlete or an athlete coming off of a lay off with high intensity, difficult workouts.

dsrunner wrote:

Actually the OP's premise is correct: base phase is another old school myth.

The value of base phase is the net increase (delta) fitness improvement from start point towards goal + the net increase (delta) capability to tolerate work to allow further progress towards goal.

Thus the notion / requirement to avoid moderate intensity and above when starting training is illogical.

Likewise, the argument that volume is the measure of base phase effectiveness is also incorrect.

You train to produce and maintain power. The real question is what sort of training gets the desired results? This might mean jogging miles for some runners, but certainly not all.

People are not electrostatic generators. Thus, there is no need to produce and maintain power.

It's not sacrosanct for the people who hold the world records: El Guerrouj and Bekele started with things like 6-8X1000 @ 3K pace in October. Similar situation with Jama Aden which starts sets of 400+200 right at the beginning: It starts with 8 sets @57 for the 400 and ends up with distance people running 2 sets in 46-47, which is something Americans can NOT do.

Maybe if US distance people paid attention to what the best were doing like those of us who sprint pay attention to the Jamaicans they wouldn't literally be losers.

coach d wrote:

It's not sacrosanct for the people who hold the world records: El Guerrouj and Bekele started with things like 6-8X1000 @ 3K pace in October. Similar situation with Jama Aden which starts sets of 400+200 right at the beginning: It starts with 8 sets @57 for the 400 and ends up with distance people running 2 sets in 46-47, which is something Americans can NOT do.

Maybe if US distance people paid attention to what the best were doing like those of us who sprint pay attention to the Jamaicans they wouldn't literally be losers.

You are probably referring to this article here

I've read it too. I've always assumed that the buildup starting in october was after a re-introduction period after a short break at the end of track season, which probably went to mid to late august (sorry, I don't have the international track calendar stored in my memory banks....world champs were in Gotenburg, but I don't remember the exact date). That would have given him a couple of weeks of active recovery and up to 8 weeks of "base" prior to beginning the harder workouts. Since the article does not specify what El G did prior to October 18, we cannot really know for sure, but I think it's safe to say that he wasn't sitting on his butt from the time of the World Championships to the first day of his training cycle for the 1998 track season.

Add to that the fact that we are talking about a man who has years and years of high level experience

It depends on how you structure your training and racing year and how you fare in winter. If the weather is cold and gloomy, it is surely more healthy to gain a few pounds and lose it again slowly when the weather improves and you are re-inspired. So there would be no point in trying to retain speed endurance during such a period, it would just increase fatigue.