Running • Page 16

Any of you guys do track workouts? I just did my first one today, and I'm going to try to incorporate them into my weekly training for the two half marathons I have in the fall. Just curious if anyone had noticed any benefits from doing them for distance running.

 

I think they make some sense to mix in to your routine as long as your mileage doesn't dip too low. This is also assuming you've got a good base together. I would also include tempo and progression runs just to mix things up.

 

i used to do some 400s on my local track until they made it private. theres no good options for me around where i live which kind of sucks. speed work is the one thing i really need to do more of. i'd say do it if you can

 

I usually do track work one a week. Currently with only running 6 days a week I do two speed days one on the track and the other out in the wild.

 

i wish i could run that much. i have to pretty much go every other day. i think i broke my body when i was young when i'd do 7 days a week with no breaks ever

 

I used to run every weekday after work last summer. Lately, I've only been doing two or three runs per week. I need to get motivated to go for five again.

 

Pay money for a race haha. I find that's the easiest motivation.

 

Agreed. I pretty much stop training if I don't have any races coming up. Then I usually wait just a little too long to start up again, and then I am motivated by panic. It works out well, haha.

 

I've found if I pay for a race in advance, I'm already on the hook so I may as well get my money's worth and run well. That said, I know some folks that aren't really into the competiveness and are perfectly content just maintaining. Whatever gets people active is cool with me.

 

Rand a half yesterday. Did pretty bad which confirmed that I need to take a couple weeks off from running to mentally recharge. My training since my last 5K race was poor.

 

bought this pair of altra torin 2.5's the other day. look funny as hell but they are super comfy and working good for me so far out on the road.

 

Damn, those shoes do not look real at all haha. But hey, looks come secondary with running shoes. Fit and comfort are the most important aspects.

Edit:
I still run in last year's New Balance Foam Zante's in the green and black color scheme. I like them and I can get them for like $50, so that's pretty fucking cool imo.

 

yeah, they are butt ugly but im cheap and thats the only color they had in the older version of the shoe. they are super comfy so w/e!

 

Last week my running friend and I challenged each other to a 100m duel (as I was a sprinter from middle school through end of college, and friend never did track; just played tennis), and to complete this duel we went back to our university's outdoor running track. The day before our challenge/race, we both participated in our running club's monthly long run. I ran 12 miles, while my friend did 18 miles. So our legs weren't really fresh, haha. But in any case we did the race, and suffice to say I lost; I was THREE seconds slower in my time(another friend was timing us) than my best time in the 100m in college. 3 seconds! Shows you how I've pretty must lost most of my fast-twitch muscle fibers since graduating in 2010, with most of my runs now 5-ish miles in length. Probably could go a second faster with several days rest, but still, was pretty disappointed, haha

 

Sprinting is not much different than distance running or lifting in the sense that if you aren't staying active with it you lose it pretty quickly, as I am sure you are well aware. Sprinting, even more seems like it has a small window to stay at peak form, and the race itself is so short too.

That said, in the distance running landscape, I would guess you haven't necessarily "lost it" entirely since you only need to be an effective kicker. Depending on how you distribute your energy during a race and towards the end, your sprinting background could help you out. Quite frankly, your ability to quick twitch and turnover is better than the average runner. I feel like with distance running, you either have that kicking/quick twitch instinct or you don't. You can mitigate it some by doing speed work, but that only helps a little bit. You are really looking for that balance of having a little bit left, but not having too much left at the end. After that it just comes down to how competitive and how few fucks you give. Some people don't want to red line and some don't care.

For me, I am not much of a sprinter, so I tend to pick the tempo up early before my kick to compensate. I know in a vacuum, if it comes down to the last 100 or 200 my natural sprinting ability won't win me something. What will win me something is the ability to come up with a race strategy and execute, along with my compete level. When push comes to shove, I fall in the not giving a fuck category.

 

Got in a 20-miler yesterday in some pretty terrible humidity. About a month and a half away from the Columbus marathon. Should be an interesting ride.

 

Finally got back to hitting the trails. Feels good/miserable.

 

You training for a trail race, or just getting out there for the shit of it?

 

i've been hitting the trails a ton lately. honestly always been a road racer but my friend is doing wasatch 100 on sept 9 and asked me to pace for a segment so i've been getting out there and climbing. so much fun.

 

Living in Utah, I could see it being really easy to get into trail running. I've gotta believe you have some of the best ones out there.

 

got to pace a friend for 13 on the wasatch 100 course yesterday. had a blast. might be a little addicted.

 

Addicted like you are about to get into the ultra game?

 

i might but i dont think my body would hold upp

 

I was just curious what you meant by addicted. Yeah, I don't see myself doing anything like that until I lose a lot of my speed. The shorter stuff is still fun to me.

 

Just ran my first 5k today! It was the Dirty Dash and it was awesome!