Double on easy days or hard days?

I've been told that doubling your easy days (but splitting it up into two, shorter runs i.e. 3+3, 3+4, 4+4, etc.) allows for better muscle recovery because you're not on your feet for an extended period of time on an easy but longer run but rather two shorter easy runs, allowing for extra recovery

Morning tempos before evening reps, evening tempos after long runs. It'll change your life... for better or worse.

Reptilians wrote:

With my current training program under the coach at my school, I am given the choice of what days I want to double in the mornings. Is there any difference/benefit to doing this on easy days vs. workout days? In my mind it seems to make more sense to double on the workout days, because that means less time on my feet on easy days and more time to recover. Is there a standard/accepted way to do this?

Both

I would say that your mileage should match your commitment, goals, and prior running history. But a big problem I have is when athletes increase volume and intensity but don't take care of their body with rest especially.

By the time you are a collegiate athlete (especially juniors and seniors) you should be able to handle doubling every day as long as you are committed to your recovery.

but we aren't Kawauchi

If you don’t understand, you never will. Double. Every day.

I certainly understand the benefits of running doubles everyday, but I'm not completely in control of my own training, my coach is. (Mid-Major D-1). We are given the choice of what days we want to double and how often in order to hit our weekly mileage. As a guy who isn't typically going over 75 mpw during the bulk of the season (the point we're at now), doubling everyday would keep me from running more than like 5 miles at a time in anything that isn't a workout or a long run, and I think at that point there is more to be gained aerobically from just doing 8 or 9 all in one go.

Previously, I was doubling every day besides weekends, it started to almost be like a compulsion and I would force myself to do it even though I knew I was dead tired. Be careful and don’t get stuck in that.

Lately, I’ve been doubling up on easy recovery days and just using those days to eat up mileage. Do your workouts hard enough that an afternoon run sounds just a little unappealing. I’ve replaced those with gym sessions (stability, core, some weights). Doubles three times a week and still able to get my mileage consistently in the 90’s, on top of feeling fresh and recovering quickly. Best of luck.

malmo wrote:

The days that end in "y".

+1

Hard or Every

Easy days are for recovery, not cramming in extra runs. Training=exercise+recovery Avoid overtraining and you'll go far.

Reptilians wrote:

With my current training program under the coach at my school, I am given the choice of what days I want to double in the mornings. Is there any difference/benefit to doing this on easy days vs. workout days? In my mind it seems to make more sense to double on the workout days, because that means less time on my feet on easy days and more time to recover. Is there a standard/accepted way to do this?

I would advice you to put in doubles on the easy days if you must to run doubles. It`s better to put in all the days energy

into the workout intervals , gives more quality to the workout. But I and f.ex Yuki Kawauchi have proved you get all you need from just running singles if you do it the very best way.

The Wizard

COACH J.S å ä ö wrote:

I would advice you to put in doubles on the easy days if you must to run doubles. It`s better to put in all the days energy

into the workout intervals , gives more quality to the workout. But I and f.ex Yuki Kawauchi have proved you get all you need from just running singles if you do it the very best way.

The Wizard

+ 1