As a time crunched recreational hobbyjogger, why not train as a middle distance runner for 5k, 10k, hm?

Those performance calculators basically function as percentage away from world record. A 3 hr. Marathon is equal to roughly 5:30 one mile. That does not mean if you are able to race a 5:30 mile on (15 to 20) miles per week that you can train that exact same way to race a 3 hour Marathon. 800m training does not correlate with 5K races. Some 800m runners race 5K well, some 800m runners are very slow 5K runners. Train properly for event or events you will race.

What is the total time spent running though? Most weekend warriors spend the majority of their time doing just aerobic running. Run for an hour, shower, done. Even "workouts" are barely resemble what a pro distance runner would do. Don't have time? Cut the warmup/cooldown, cut the recovery interval short, etc. Don't middle distance runners quality sessions have even more ancillary stuff? Or more time in the gym?

I'm not sure you're wrong in your hypothesis, but at the very least, it would take away a lot of what most recreational runners like to do, and that's just go for a nice jog.

1. Hard reps beat up the body more than easy jogging. Also, hard running results in a greater chance of injury.

2. Training specificity.

Because many hobby joggers do it for fun, health, or just a bragging right. Not there to see how fast they can get, plus it's hard trying to reach your max potential. Several of those that I personally know say that they cant be fast, so they'll go longer. For me and my injury proneness, I get hurt every freaking time I try to do any type of speed work.

I don't see why you wouldn't have pretty good results doing that. If you are fit enough to run a really quality 1500, you'll run well over distances up to 10k, maybe even a half.

When I train for a 1/2 marathon I follow a 10k training plan, because you are using the same system. Racing a half marathon is more like a 10k than it is a marathon.

one up &/or one down wrote:

Train properly for event or events you will race.

Yeah, but that's my question: as a time crunched, one can not train properly for a 10k, or longer distances.

hunterco88 wrote:

it would take away a lot of what most recreational runners like to do, and that's just go for a nice jog.

But I'm not speaking about "most" recreational runners. I'm speaking about determined recreational runners who want to train right.

Ezekiel bread wrote:

2. Training specificity

That's where the suggested "do the 5k/10k/hm specific work for the last let's say 2 months?" comes in.

TMad wrote:

Because many hobby joggers do it for fun, health, or just a bragging right. Not there to see how fast they can get, plus it's hard trying to reach your max potential.

Same as hunterco88: my question is not about hobby-havefun-joggers.

I know it's not optimal, can it be the best way to train for someone having 8-12 hours a week available for training (running, gym, stretching etc).

Kumite wrote:

Same as hunterco88: my question is not about hobby-havefun-joggers.

Eh?! What is your distinction between a hobbyjogger and the "time crunched recreational runner" you specified in your OP?

I do so. my training is oriented towards 800m to 1000m racing distance. due to my age i am skipping the hard 800 m specific repetition work very most time but do everythin else in moderation. results for 800 m: decent according to my age. results for 10k: decent according to my age. but hey: it makes me feel like being 20. if the legs are fresh, i feel so powerful and free to do everything. it feels like a long-term sustainable way beiing able to hammer fast short runs and fast longer runs when i like to do it. thats my freedom to do so.

Because that training hurts and most hjs are not comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Banana Beard wrote:

Kumite wrote:

Same as hunterco88: my question is not about hobby-havefun-joggers.

Eh?! What is your distinction between a hobbyjogger and the "time crunched recreational runner" you specified in your OP?

Okay, my bad. I should have used "competitive age grouper" instead of recreational.

hunterco88 wrote:

Most weekend warriors spend the majority of their time doing just aerobic running. Run for an hour, shower, done.

Don't good runners up to elites also spend most of their time running easy/aerobically? Spending "the majority" of days running easy/aerobic for an hour seems pretty much standard training practice. Workouts are on top obviously.

1 hour/day @easy pace =

Hobby jogger/weekend warrior @10:00/mile = 42mpw

Rec runner @8:00 = 52mpw

Good runner @6:30 = 65mpw

Elite @5:30 = 76mpw

OP, I think you are on to something. If one only has time for 40 mpw, ideal training for the 10k probably does look a lot like 800m/1500m training, at least until you get close to the goal race and start working in a lot of race paced work. Of course the obvious question is why the obsession with the longer stuff? Why not race the 1500m? As someone in your position, I think i know that answer: it's hard to find low key track races which really is too bad.

I think you're right. I'm late forties and have been training like this for years, won't do anything longer than a 5K. I will say though that even the middle distance approach has to be modified. What I mean is less speed work/intensity to prevent injury - in a sense similar to a beginner HS runner. So in practice:

-Aerobic runs (60 mins or so)

- Tempo pace (I like the georgetown quarter type of stuff - short repeats, short rest)

- Speedwork, judiciously applied - short hill sprints, max effort - fast strides year-round

- Race pace, judiciously applied - a few weeks before race

- Strength and mobility - lots of it - including weights and ROM stuff -I used to think it was a gimmick, the older I get, the more value I see.

I think there's some truth to this. I'm not training to race, but I do something similar. I have about 30 minutes each day while I'm waiting to pick the kids up from soccer. I used to just jog for 30 minutes, but lately I've been doing workouts varying from 15-20 min at tempo, 3 x 5 minutes at 10k, 5 x 3 minutes, 10 x 1 minute, even sets of 10 to 20 second sprints at times. Just stuff like that. No real structure or plan. But I can tell that I've gotten a lot stronger than I was on the 30 minute steady jog plan.

I guess I'm a hobby jogger. I jog/shuffle about 25 hours a week and manage about 75-80 miles. My goal isn't to be fast but to continually in crease the length of time I can run for. I'll never be Greg Armstrong or Joe Fejes but I'd like to be able to crack 400 miles in a 6 day race.

Ezekiel bread wrote:

1. Hard reps beat up the body more than easy jogging. Also, hard running results in a greater chance of injury.

2. Training specificity.

Yeah, shuffling around the neighborhood at 10:00 mile pace is really "training specifically" for an 18 minute 5k. Stay out of coaching, stick to making bible bread you chump.

joggr wrote:

I guess I'm a hobby jogger. I jog/shuffle about 25 hours a week and manage about 75-80 miles. My goal isn't to be fast but to continually in crease the length of time I can run for. I'll never be Greg Armstrong or Joe Fejes but I'd like to be able to crack 400 miles in a 6 day race.

You sound like an ultra runner. Completely miss the point of competitive running.

Yung Nasty wrote:

Ezekiel bread wrote:

1. Hard reps beat up the body more than easy jogging. Also, hard running results in a greater chance of injury.

2. Training specificity.

Yeah, shuffling around the neighborhood at 10:00 mile pace is really "training specifically" for an 18 minute 5k. Stay out of coaching, stick to making bible bread you chump.

Google how easy Noureddine Morceli and Taoufik Makhloufi did/do there easy runs.

I'm a chump wrote:

Yung Nasty wrote:

Yeah, shuffling around the neighborhood at 10:00 mile pace is really "training specifically" for an 18 minute 5k. Stay out of coaching, stick to making bible bread you chump.

Google how easy Noureddine Morceli and Taoufik Makhloufi did/do there easy runs.

Google how fast Noureddine Morceli and Taofik Makhloufi do their interval workouts. ???