Critical Velocity - Anyone using it?

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My buttplug reaches critical velocity when I fart.

I think a lot of people do it and don't call it "critical velocity".

Critical velocity is just another name for threshold pace....and it`s very important part for every runner trying to reach individual best capacity.

The Head coach

Actually it is 90% of VO2 max, or about 2-3% quicker than LT pace.

seniorbp wrote:

Actually it is 90% of VO2 max, or about 2-3% quicker than LT pace.

Look at threshold range as a spectrum instead of a single number or pace and this is just the far right end of the spectrum. Maybe a little faster. 8k pace for some people, 10k for others?

I think if you vary the threshold paces a little bit, you're likely to have positive training effects that are enhanced instead of just simply doing "tempo run" pace and having a fixed number.

Anyway, we do "CV" type of stuff in the form of cruise intervals and it ranges from 3 to 5 miles of work. I've always thought it was very effective for distances 800 and up. Depends on the runner, though.

wurd wrote:

Been reading a lot about it. Seems like Ben Rosario at NAZ elite has really emphasized it a lot in the programs of his folks running at USAs.

Seems like the progress out of base into a phase that uses a lot of Threshold work and Critical Velocity work, with some races that serve as other stimulus.

Within 3 weeks or so of USAs, he has incorporated more VO2 max stuff. Thinking about it from a Daniels perspective, his "phase III" seems to be pretty much CV stuff while phase 4 was more VO2 max. Anyone else feel that is accurate?

Just curious to see how other people are using it, if it at all.

Critical velocity has been discussed once or twice on here in recent memory. Evidently it's a staple of Tinman's program, and it's about the same intensity as "cruise intervals" on the McMillan calculator (slightly faster than Daniels' cruise intervals at T pace).

I looked at the NAZ elite stuff. Seems like a great way to build fitness and then hit the end of a cycle hard with 2-3 VO2 max workouts to round things off.

Do you use it in a similar way?

Lots of coaches use critical velocity without using the term. It has been around for years and years. If you are looking at it from a Daniels perspective, he would never actually incorporate it because it is in that grey area of training for him. He subscribes to the training zone model and largely popularized it. CV is faster than threshold work and slower than VO2 max. If you look at coaches who like to focus more on specific race pace work, it is often there in the form of 10k pace or their collegiate XC paces during the fall season.

I moved away from the training zone model the old coach went by (a Daniels guy to the extreme) and part of my plan did include stuff at this pace. I can attest to it working but it was only part of the overall picture. Not a magic bullet workout. Lot of good results from it though. Interestingly enough, it went better for the girls as a whole.

15:05 team 5k avg before ---> now its 14:27

18:11 female 5k team avg (more girls on the team) ---> now it's 16:44

It works pretty well.

I used a critical mass bowling ball the late 90s. I averaged 214 one year.

The Critical Mass features a Versathane coverstock combined with a uniquely powerful modified 2 piece core capable of generating the lowest radius of gyration possible in any bowling ball. The Critical Mass requires less hand action to achieve maximum revolutions. The core contains the densest material ever placed in a bowling ball thus giving Critical Mass its unique spinning roll and sharp hook.

Seems like Tubman uses it for track sessions most of the year and then sharpens with VO2 and race spec. Did you do similar stuff?

Texas HS Coach wrote:

Look at threshold range as a spectrum instead of a single number or pace and this is just the far right end of the spectrum. Maybe a little faster. 8k pace for some people, 10k for others?

I think if you vary the threshold paces a little bit, you're likely to have positive training effects that are enhanced instead of just simply doing "tempo run" pace and having a fixed number.

Anyway, we do "CV" type of stuff in the form of cruise intervals and it ranges from 3 to 5 miles of work. I've always thought it was very effective for distances 800 and up. Depends on the runner, though.

This!

Tergot wrote:

Seems like Tubman uses it for track sessions most of the year and then sharpens with VO2 and race spec. Did you do similar stuff?

Why do 10k pace on a track?

COACH J.S å ä ö wrote:

Critical velocity is just another name for threshold pace....and it`s very important part for every runner trying to reach individual best capacity.

The Head coach

The term CV was coined by Tinman. CV pace is defined by Tinman (Tom Schwartz) as the pace one can hold for 35-40min. Threshold pace is generally 60min pace, so CV is faster. For some, it is 10k pace, but for elites it is a bit slower. Tinman has used it to great effect, because it provides a strong aerobic stimulus without being too taxing.

It is one pace of a very wide range of paces that runners should employ throughout the training cycle to be a well balanced athlete. J.S, please do a bit of reading before you post, and RUN DOUBLES!

I try not to criticize other people's velocity. My mother taught me that if I didn't have anything good to say, I shouldn't say anything at all.

Why is it "critical velocity" rather than "critical pace"? "Critical velocity" implies that both the speed and direction are prescribed, but I'm not sure why the direction component of the vector matters.