Training Discussion Thread - outsiderunner

Agree that the track and the roads are different animals (and that Meb/Rupp press conference is one of my all time favorite clips despite The fact that I tend to hate awkward encounters) , but I also agree with too hot's underlying point of locking on to Juan.

To your point, you don't need to be at 6:00 relative to the other runner to lock onto that runner - you can do 5:00 or even 4:00. Personally, I prefer being at 3:00 (right next to the other guy, maybe a step behind).

But the key is to allow for no separation.

As to Stoneface, yes OR might have been a better runner with a pro coach, but he had progressed nicely using his own approach for these first few years of running and when he feared he had plateaued, he took a chance to change things up and went with someone who had demonstrated not only a pretty comprehensive understanding of the sport, but also an understanding of what makes OR tick. Both he and Stone Cutter - who is doing his for free and who might coach another athlete differently than he is coaching OR because that athlete would have different preferences and a different history - deserve a lot of credit for the decisions and progress that they've made.

Wow, Smoove, you really get it. Thoroughly. Bravo.

I like to be at 8oclock when racing someone ... just off the left shoulder where they cant really see me without turning the head a bit.

Stone and OR is a great combo. We need to find you some VaporFlys before Boston OR.

After a good week last week of 89 miles, this week will be something of a pull back week, as per Coach Stone's plan. So, 88 two weeks ago, 89 last week, and upper 60s for this week. Snow and ice are on the way, though.

And because of the snow/ice event beginning tomorrow, I went ahead and did the 4 x 2 today, with coach's blessing. So, 4 x 2 on the roads with 3:00 jog rests...the target was 5:47-5:53, and I went...

5:53.6, 5:45.8, 5:44.6, 5:43.3...for a 5:46.8 average

Felt good the whole way. Was surprised I handled the long reps that well.

All the best, folks...

runrincerepeat wrote:

Stone and OR is a great combo.

Thank you for the compliment. But really, OR has been the ideal student thus far. I couldn’t ask any more from a runner than what he has been giving. He asks great questions, makes great recommendations, and gives me valuable honest feedback that allows us to learn together and make positive adjustments. He is very deserving of the success that is about to come his way...

I use to like being wherever I thought I could get into the lead runners head without interfering with them.

That's a good one Stoneface. I don't often laugh from posts.

Training is going well. Did a nice 4/3/2/1 workout on Tues. and am about to go out for a 3 x 3 with 4:00 jog rests. This week will probably be my peak week.

Should I run the CIM? Having a very hard time deciding between that and Philly for a fall marathon. Pros and cons to both. Stone is running CIM, which is a big plus. Philly is close and will mail me my packet...

Forgot to mention...a win and a 5k PR on Saturday...17:19...in case you missed it on the regular thread.

outsiderunner wrote:

Forgot to mention...a win and a 5k PR on Saturday...17:19...in case you missed it on the regular thread.

Great stuff OR! Congrats

I think it’s safe to say OR managed his first Special Block pretty well today.

AM: 12.13 in 1:17:28 (6:23 overall) in the hills...

6:59, 6:46, 6:44, 6:43, 6:39, 6:38

6:04, 6:05, 6:04, 6:03, 6:01, 5:56

PM: 12.57 in 1:21:27 (6:29 overall).

7:01, 6:50, 6:51, 6:48, 6:48, 6:49...then this (with :90 jogs)...

5:56.0, 5:56.8, 5:54.8, 5:53.5, 5:46.4

Just over 5 weeks to go...

Wow, way to go, OR!

@outsiderunner or others who know of his progression: I remember back in the day (Fall 2016) that outsiderunner's PR was 3:05 or perhaps 3:07 and he had been sick or experienced adverse conditions on a subsequent tries. From what I gathered back then he was in 2:55-3:00 shape.

And he trained real fast.

What happened between that time and getting to ~ 2:45 shape? That is a massive improvement regardless of age etc. Very very impressed. Amazing job to you OR...but I'd love to get some context on the improvement!

Hey guys, how has the training been the last few weeks? 3 weeks to go!

@outsiderunner how are you feeling compared to your previous buildups? What would you say is the main difference with how you’ve trained/felt in the past. Any words of wisdom to share?

DNF at Boston

What went wrong?

Jumping in as I had an exchange with him about it after the race and I'm not sure how much he's focused on this thread right now given his disappointment.

He doesn't know for sure. He caught a chest cold a week before the race and then on race day, his quads were killing him by the first mile of the race. While quad discomfort sounds like the result of the classic Boston mistake of hammering the downhills too hard, his pace was restrained the first mile and, in any event, you wouldn't expect to pay the price for that during the first mile.

A disappointing finish to a great build, butbit takes nothing away from the discipline and dedication that he showed throughout the years, and throughout this training cycle.