What would be the best type of training for an 800/1500 guy?
How much mileage and how much speedwork should be done
What would be the best type of training for an 800/1500 guy?
How much mileage and how much speedwork should be done
This depends on your age and base level of training. I've seen some really really bad programs because they were high intensity and/or high mileage from day 1. Initial work should work on developing balanced strength, flexibility and form rather than mileage/speedwork. The worst thing I see happening year after year with middle school and high school coaches is using the coaches personal marathon training plan as in-season training for teenagers. 30-35 miles per week is not low-volume for 800m in season.
Ah99 wrote:
What would be the best type of training for an 800/1500 guy?
How much mileage and how much speedwork should be done
There have been at least a dozen books written on the subject. Here's an idea....buy one and read it.
I'm 17 and I'm doing an average of 70 miles per week,my typical week is
Monday-short speed session (200-400's)
Tuesday-easy run x2 (12miles in total)
Wednesday-8x600m hills
Thursday-8 mile progression ru
Friday-12 miles easy (in 2 runs)
Saturday-14x200m hills
Sunday-14 mile long run
Ok, and your PB are?
How much you improve year after year?
Thanks
Parent wrote:
This depends on your age and base level of training. I've seen some really really bad programs because they were high intensity and/or high mileage from day 1. Initial work should work on developing balanced strength, flexibility and form rather than mileage/speedwork. The worst thing I see happening year after year with middle school and high school coaches is using the coaches personal marathon training plan as in-season training for teenagers. 30-35 miles per week is not low-volume for 800m in season.
Some long runs are important in the early stages of training. In events above 400 meters ultimate performance is determined by aerobic ability. However speed endurance and speed development should also be in the mix at some point along the conditioning periodization program.
I do agree that many kids would do well to do nothing but 6 X 400, 8 X 200, 16 X 100 work. But that is a limited program and only talented kids would benefit long term. We need to teach kids how to train. If they only do hard intervals they will feel uncomfortable attempting runs of 3-15 miles.
By the way my longest race was a 10K and that was because I was late for
the 5K!!!
Read COACH TIMMONS. 40 x 400 is the gold standard prescription.
Aerobic work has its place but it shouldn't be the focus of high school track.
How many Olympian 800m and 1500m runners were doing 15 mile runs in High school much less as freshman or middle school? Even 5 mile runs require some build-up. High school seasons basically have one to two weeks practice then they are in-season for two months so we are talking about in-season training for kids that have been running for a month. The drills and intervals build should build strength then the mileage can be increased. What happens is kids try to stay with the group on the "recovery days" of high mileage then have nothing for the intervals. I hear kids talking about how worthless the track work is and they are injured. The type of nonsense I've hear is this something like this mid-season week of workouts for freshman 400-800 runners:
M 9 miles
T 6x800m followed by 6x100m
W 6 miles hilly terrain
R 10x600m
F 6 miles
S meet or 90 minute run on their own
"Coaches" like this are bad for the sport. There are plenty of references -the post shown above is good.
To the poster and other young runners, the point here is that if you don't have a good base from drills and intervals don't look to mileage. You can increase aerobic fitness from biking or pool work but don't let it interfere with your track training days. The pros post plenty of pictures on social media of their ab, balance, and plyos.
Ah99 wrote:
I'm 17 and I'm doing an average of 70 miles per week,my typical week is
Monday-short speed session (200-400's)
Tuesday-easy run x2 (12miles in total)
Wednesday-8x600m hills
Thursday-8 mile progression ru
Friday-12 miles easy (in 2 runs)
Saturday-14x200m hills
Sunday-14 mile long run
Impressive training plan you are well on your way to a nice season ending injury.
Ever hear about a day off?
70 miles a week is too much running for your age.
Buy a book written for teenage runners and read it then report back
Maybe there's actually a little hope for the LR forums after all. This thread started with a far too open ended, and bordering on overly simplistic, question. I assumed it would get two or three obnoxious replies and die a quick death. But instead there are signs that we may have the beginnings of a real discussion. Amazing.
On to the subject.
Speaking of overly simplistic, this is definitely so, but it's still a relevant area of discussion. There are basically two categories of high school distance runners. You have the kids who are serious and committed year round (the minority) and the kids who show up at practice most of the time and try fairly hard, but that's all they do (the majority).
The first group can effectively build a true aerobic base that develops and grows over the long term. The second group is getting into some degree of shape quickly, which includes their competitive season, and this is followed by a significant amount of time away from running (a long break until the next season or school year, another sport the following season, etc.). Thinking in terms of building a true aerobic base for this second group is simply not realistic and a waste of time.
So while I agree that many high school programs are too heavy with intense interval workouts, the best approach is not to go to the other extreme. With the partial exception of the relatively few kids who are clearly committed for the long term, a good and balanced program needs to get kids into racing shape pretty quickly and be focused on getting the most out of them in the time frame of a couple of months.
Last year was my first year competing and I ran a 4:14 1500m and 2:02 for the 800m
Last year I would average 55 miles a week and 70 this year.
Sadly this kid and many others are stuck with their coaches workouts. It appears the only place for change is Sunday and maybe the second workout on Tuesday or Thursday. What can an athlete and parent do in these situations?
What could I change with my training to improve?
Parent wrote:
Sadly this kid and many others are stuck with their coaches workouts. It appears the only place for change is Sunday and maybe the second workout on Tuesday or Thursday. What can an athlete and parent do in these situations?
I know, stop being a helicopter parent. What a brilliant idea.
Ah99 wrote:
What would be the best type of training for an 800/1500 guy?
How much mileage and how much speedwork should be done
My coach was a world class MD runner & my training was HS to college has changed a lot. I went from running 20 mpw (mostly speed work) to about 60-70 off-season & 30-40 during season. Volume is about the same but during season it's a lot greater. Off-season conveys of easy/moderate runs, tempo, fartleks, circuit training, & strides. During season since we race on weekends we have a shorter LR of 8 miles between workouts (moderate). M are weight training + speed (40,50,60, all the way until 120) T & Th are interval training or circuit training. Intervals will range because of the season barely starting, etc. An example workout at beginning of season are SPEED ENDURANCE workouts of, 3 sets of 8x200 with 45 sec & 2 between sets done at mile pace. Volume increases & reps decrease. Then once we're midseason we hit SPEED. 4 sets of (150,200) at 400m pace with spikes. 4 minute rest between reps & 6 between sets. 300s faster than mile pace, 400 & 600s at mile pace. Doubles the days of workouts & always do strides & core. A MD runner is strong & has solid form. Good luck & let me know if this helped or if you need another workout.
Sandiegorunner,
My race season starts at the beginning of may so how much mileage do you think I should be running now?
This is my training for this week
M-5x200,5x300
T-8 miles easy
W-8x600m hills
T-10 mile progression run
F-10 miles east run
S-14x200m hills
Sun-12 mile long run
There is nothing inherently bad about the schedule.
There is NOTHING wrong with running 70 miles a week at the age of 17. Are you kidding me? Please, save it.
If you are taking things day by day, and not working out when tired then you are probably okay. Would I rather see you doing a tempo run a week and one short speed workout with easy days in-between - sure. But if you have a coach that is at least average, which by this I assume that they are, then listen to your coach, not people on here.
You didn't tell us pace or rest, so for anyone to try and tell you your training is bad, with such little information, is rather silly. It may be true that your training doesn't make sense, but no one here can tell you that so far.
The most important thing is that you believe in your training. Without that you don't have much, and I don't want you to starting thinking such - especially when someone is just going to flat out say that 70 miles a week is too much. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, but no one on here knows.