Just do a Derek Clayton, just run so hard and long that you loose control of yourself, run into a tree and knock yourself out.
Just do a Derek Clayton, just run so hard and long that you loose control of yourself, run into a tree and knock yourself out.
Phil - I used to think this too, but wouldn't this same logic apply to training at altitude then? I don't hear anybody saying training at altitude is foolish because you can't run as fast as you could at normal altitude.
I don't understand the point of trying to always train in optimal conditions, if anything it should be the other way around. If you train in harsher conditions than you race in then you are better prepared.
I wouldn't underestimate the value of cross training, whether it's at the gym pool, or biking out on the road if you can. I also have a tough time in the summer heat. In July, I often can't do the kinds of workouts that I do in February, which is frustrating, but I supplement with biking and swimming.
You can't simulate everything, but you can definitely add hours to your total volume, do some varied heart rate work, and just give yourself some mental relief. Hopefully, enough cooler days pop up that you can find days to push the pace for your legs.
Since I'd intended to run 7 this morning and quit with 4.25, disgusted by the dewpoint & sun, I'm reading this thread with interest.
The first thing to be said is that all this gets worse as you age. The body has a harder time dealing with heat.
I rarely do tempo runs in the summer, but when I do, I'm always willing to adapt them to conditions on the ground, and I never worry too much about pace, since it's guaranteed to be slower. So instead of a standard 3-mile tempo at around 90% of max HR, I'll sometimes do the following:
1) pull the plug after one mile, pause for 30-45 seconds, and run tempo miles instead of a tempo run--i.e., follow that one mile @ tempo with two more, each separated by a break
2) give up on the tempo altogether and run fartlek, with the fast sections somewhat faster than tempo pace. That's actually a great way to get SOME harder work while dealing with actual conditions on the ground and your body's actual response to them
3) just say the hell with the tempo and put in the miles at an easy pace
Yeah, I have planned tommrow 6 miles at marathon pace. Which is pretty easy, when it's cool outside. But is hard to hit during the summer. I'll probably do 6 x mile instead.
I did 13 a few weeks ago in 1:50 and felt ok but not great.
I then did 14 last week in 1:55 and felt great, but it was 84'F and not 90'F. Big, big difference.
Did 10 last Thursday in 1:19 and felt even better, although it was 79'F. Every degree helps.
I feel like I'm starting to get there. When I did my 10 in 79 I held steady through 9 (71:55) and then ran a 7:42-ish for the last mile (uphill).
Give it time!
yeah i would agree that cross training definitely helps get some extra work in during the summer, especially on a recovery day when you dont want the heat to zap you too much. However I have had a very negative view of running in the summer for my whole running career until this year. This summer I made sure to take it easy and slow down while adjusting to the heat and I actually was able to adjust in about two weeks (I live in Oklahoma). I was training consistently in the heat every day until I took a trip to europe for a few weeks. When i ran in the lower temps there I felt like a machine. Going back to Oklahoma today, may have to adjust once again but I am more mentally ready for it.
Hope this changes some minds of runners to give heat training an honest chance.
Decided to do my run outside this morning, based on work/life schedule, I rarely can get to sleep before 11 PM so these starting in the dark runs can be difficult to schedule with any regularity. Was running by 6:45 was about 80 with a 76 degree dew point. After 5 "warm-up" miles (did 14 total, 7 tempo) averaging around 8:15 on the flats...I was soaked. Could only get under 7 min/mi. on 2 of the 3 miles on the 1st tempo interval. On the next 2, 2 mile tempo intervals...again only 1 of the 2 miles was under 7 with a best of 6:25 because of a little downhill. Considering I'd usually be 6:05-6:15...it was a fairly large decrease. Heat especially with humidity, just kills me.
So while I felt like I got a quality workout in, just not sure I was able to strain my muscles/tendons/ligaments as much as if it were cooler. I'm not going to sweat it (so to speak) for the time being, I'm going to take the advice of just running by the feel of what tempo or marathon pace is and not look at the actual pace so much. But, as LateRunnerPhil said, the closer Chicago gets I'm going to start paying attention to pace again so I get a proper musculoskeletal workouts. Being 185 lbs...it may be a little more important to get those workouts in because my legs take a beating in a marathon. Then again, going sub 2:50 is a little less lofty of a goal than 2:30 or something Kenyanesque.
Thanks for all your comments, it seems misery loves company. This weekend should be interesting for a lot of runners in the US!
I was in Naples in June. Did 10 miles in 83:30 around a loop course with little shade and it was the toughest 10-miler I've done since high school.
I did it apparently too late: Did the workout starting at 8 a.m. and got done around 9:20 a.m. And the temp said it was only 83'F but the humidity and dew points were probably just as bad (I didn't check).
I realized that I have to do FL workouts MUCH earlier!
gotta beat the sun!
What about upping your milage now that you run slower?