what's better, one a days or two a days?

I know this isn't an answer, but I've almost always used the morning run as extra miles. The afternoon is what it is. If you can "tack on extra miles", then just run those miles. Typically the general response is breaking up long miles in two sessions reduces the stress on the body, and for a track guy this probably makes sense. Half or full marathon training does need those continuous long runs.

having been strongly attatched to both sides of the issue at different times, I think doubling is great once you can handle the mileage. If you can train mid-season at anything over 70 miles with intensity (a standard collegiate week with workouts), give doubling a shot. The morning run really just gets your metabolism going and loosens you up for the afternoon run. I don't think you really need to go more than 30 minutes in the morning, but should go at least 20. If the added 20-30 minutes easy in the morning doesn't bother your afternoon, then go for it. Everyone is different. I didn't start doubling until a few months after college - I used to hate it because it made me so tired at first. Now it is part of my routine and I love it. It is nice to knock out a run first thing in the morning because if the worst happens during the day, you still got your run in. It all depends on the volume you can handle and what you are training for; again, everyone is different - you can only learn by giving it a shot.

Fighting Blue Hen, who are you??

It has taken me a while, but I finaly figured out how to get doubles into my routine. In general, your number one goal is to maintain a high volume of training (relatively speaking). You will always be able to run more miles with doubles than with singles. For example, if you can handle 8 miles a day (56 miles a week) you can probably handle two 5's most days....say 5. That'll give you 64 miles.

Anyway, I don't know of too many elites who don't double. Try working it in with 2 morning runs a week of about 3 miles, then progress from there.

Carl Kinney. Concerning mileage, I like the Wetmore/Lydiard stance on the subject - it really matters more what you can do in singles in terms of mileage; you will get more fitness out of doing 10 straight that 5 and 5. I agree with you that two fives is better than 8 miles straight, but maybe ever so slightly; it depends on what that mileage total entails in terms of intensity. Also, with the notion that running 100 a week in doubles is not as beneficial as if you could handle it in singles - I would agree with that. I don't think you get that much by banging out more than 5 miles in the morning - haven't there been substantial studies showing that runners who train solely in the morning have comparatively higher injury rates than those who train solely in the afternoon? Hey I don't know everything obviously; it's just my opinion based on experience.

I have a question if I may. I hear alot of runners talking about how they do their primary runs in the afternoon and do ancillary miles in the morning. I work 2nd shift and so my primary runs are done in the morning. About 10 a day up fron 9 recently. During my 7:30 half hour lunch break I was considering doing 30 minute runs a few times a week. Has anyone done it this way and how did it work out? I would like to get my weekly mileage up to 80 to 90 a week from 70+. I'm 46. Is this a good or bad idea or should I just stick to 1 a days?. Any comments appreciated.

Thanx

Running on lunch break worked wonders for Steve Jones back in the day in-between fixing airplanes.

That is a healthy dose of mileage; I would just say that everyone is different. But there is a lot more beneficial work that you could do during lunch break than just easily banging out another 4 or 5 miles. Maybe an AT run or drills.

But I am confused: does this mean you would head out the door 3 times a day? Or is the lunch run in lieu of a PM run?

Yeah i have a great deal of respect for that system of train, and i'am currently running80-90mi in singles. My week consist of

SUN 1:45 6:00to sub6:00 pace(some of the last few miles i might hammer pretty hard)

Mon 1:00 easy

Tue 1:00 easy

Wed 1:15 around 5:45 pace(this will change later)

Thurs 1:00 easy

Fri 10X400m bounds and strides uphill

10x400m bounds downhill

30min warm and cool

Sat 1:00 easy

alright so ive been holding here for awhile, I truely undertand the importance of the Singles on the hard days. But, what about easy days?

Instead of running 9miles easy what if i were to run like 6 and 6?

What would the differance be?

Sorry Blue Hen. I should have been more clear. I run every morning (AM) before work. My lunch break (PM), I should have said dinner break, is from 7:30 to 8:00 (PM). That's when I'm considering doing a 4 mile run.

Hope this clears it up.

Oh yeah sure, that's fine. I am assuming you are training for a 1/2 marathon or more, so even if you are just going easy, that is not a bad way to introduce new mileage to your body. I guess I would say 'see how you respond'. General fatigue got to me more than anything when I switched. I started going at 8am for 20-30 minutes, and a longer run or workout @ 3pm. Your runs are really spaced out; you will probably feel the added mileage more on the morning runs if you double. It actually took me 3 tries to switch to doubles for good - I stopped twice because I was so fatigued throughout the day I couldn't stand it. I felt like I was constantly running and showering. This may not be the case for you, of course. Again, there is a lot more you can do though in a 30 minute window that is more beneficial than going easy once your body adapts; use it to your benefit, don't use it just to make yourself tired.

Through January my doubles were lunch/after work. I don't do well running soon after I wake up. This worked pretty well. My buddy Marc (also a blue hen, as was I Carl) will double 5 days a week. Three days he runs to work and then runs home, the other two he runs durinng lunch and then right after work.

The break between lunch and after work is short but very similar to the Kenyans who often run at 6am and then at 10 am (I believe).

Hey - very cool. Marc Washington? According to what I have read, if it's true, they do run at 6 and 10, then again in the afternoon. I am on the 7am 2:30pm schedule myself, not more than 30 minutes in the morning. Still coming out to about 80-85 a week. I'm still training for the 5,000m out in Boulder.

Marc Washington indeed. Did you guys run together? Marc was a senior my freshman year. His class included Bryan Lennon and Bart Sessa.....and Radsavage, I believe. Matt Huppie too, I think (2 flat Matt).

No way - I'm class of '03; towards the end of the Digennaro era. Riley's class.

Are you still in the area? You should come out to Tuesday night practice if you are. Me, Marc, and John Brannon have a pretty good group together. Mike D shows up sometimes and we try to work stuff in together....pluss there's a ton of other runners who are a little slower.

hey thanks, but I'm in Boulder

Congrats. Hope all is well out there. I missed you by a year. I actually ran with some guys on the team last year...including Riley...as I returned to school to get another degree.

Eric Albright and Lee Brannon both live in Colorado now...though I'm not sure where. I'll see John and Marc this weekend and can ask. Eric and Lee are pretty big into Ultimate Frisbee out there.

Good luck.

Another option. Rather than run again in the morning, crosstrain on the stairmaster, eliptical, poolrunning, etc.

This will "loosen" you up for the run but is no impact and keeps the chance of injury from overuse at a minimum. You are still working your heart and burning calories, but use slightly different muscles giving the running muscles the recovery they need.

Another advantage is if you do get a slight pain from running, you can just substitute the crosstraining for a running workout and the extra day recovery usually takes care of an injury before it gets worse and you have to take several days off.

You will be able to do a little more crosstraining than running. You should be able to crosstrain an hour compared to running a half hour. Just make sure you cross train at an "easy" pace effort and save the hard effort for running.