Everybody is so obsessed with "workouts"

High School Running Distance

8 years ago 11/23/2015 1:36pm EST

I see all these HS kids asking for mile or 5k advice and everybody always goes straight to arguing about track workouts. They're new runners, probably way underdeveloped aerobically and just need to put in the time.

I never ran in college but started in late 20's and got down to 4:22 mile and 2:39 marathon the same year just by running an hour everyday after work and never doing a single structured track workout. They aren't great times, but proof you can get there without doing "workouts".

Just f&*(ing run!

8 years ago 11/23/2015 1:41pm EST

re: adding value

I did run in college, and the track workouts are really important for gaining "the next level." Depending on where you stand genetically, you can do very well with solid day-to-day running. I think you're right when it comes to regular High School kids. You're not going to do anything great unless you can knock out solid maintenance runs year-after-year-after-year. Kids are definitely overthinking their training. Most people do, though. Not just kids.

I ran sub 9:20 in High School off of very minimal track workouts that were basically designed for an 800 meter runner. The one thing I did do was run decent mileage day-after-day-after-day. I am talking 60 mpw, nothing crazy.

I also did hill workouts, but only because I lived on a huge hill and used to do three repeats after every run. I am guessing the hill was about 400 meters. I treated them like most people treat push-ups or sit-ups. Just something I did every day. Took about 5-10 minutes.

8 years ago 11/23/2015 7:50pm EST

re: adding value

adding value wrote:
I see all these HS kids asking for mile or 5k advice and everybody always goes straight to arguing about track workouts. They're new runners, probably way underdeveloped aerobically and just need to put in the time.
I never ran in college but started in late 20's and got down to 4:22 mile and 2:39 marathon the same year just by running an hour everyday after work and never doing a single structured track workout. They aren't great times, but proof you can get there without doing "workouts".
Just f&*(ing run!

By and large, these HS kids are about telling us what they're going to do, not what they did.

8 years ago 11/27/2015 11:48pm EST

re: adding value

Totally Agree

As a high school runner I've seen most improvement by simply putting in the time for running. My most beneficial workouts are generally short or based off improving aerobic capacity. Stuff like 200 intervals and tempo runs.

8 years ago 11/28/2015 12:50am EST

re: Scotty-2-Hotty

Scotty-2-Hotty wrote:
Totally Agree
As a high school runner I've seen most improvement by simply putting in the time for running

Most of your improvement at that age is due to puberty.

8 years ago 11/28/2015 2:12am EST

re: malmo

Depressing to think about, but I must disagree. I personally see more improvement when I do tempo, short intervals, and anything with hills than when I do long intervals. So I believe that even though puberty is still a big factor, different types of training still have major effects.

8 years ago 11/28/2015 5:39am EST

re: Scotty-2-Hotty

You're banned, fool.

8 years ago 11/28/2015 6:51am EST

re: adding value

adding value wrote:
running an hour everyday after work and never doing a single structured track workout.

What is the point of even racing then? Don't you like to run fast?

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Everybody is so obsessed with "workouts"

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