Its has been a while since my last blog, let me give you my excuse first of all! I just have not done allot of running through Aug, I was unable to get to any of the track races that I had planned to so in the end decided that I would take August very easy and even had a few weeks off running. A brake from running is always good, the running calender is full 12months of the year, Cross country, road relays, track season, road relays and then cross country again at what point do you take time off. From reading and researching the African Runners after they hit their aims for the season the then have 3 - 4 weeks off with no running at all, yes this does depend at what level you run and 2/3 runs a day you will need some time off at some point.
For me only running once a day is an easy day, here is a question for you, how much millage do you think you should run in a week?
I worked with a strength and conditioning coach in south wales for a few month and he hated training runners as all we do is run, he stated that Paula R does strength and conditioning work, to which I replied that she also cover in excess of 130miles a week and is full time. So what do you do lose a run and do strength work or run. I believe to get good at running you need to run. Steve Jones, Ron Hill, Dave Bedford all ran and did very little if any strength work Bedford was notorious for BIG millage well over 150miles a week. Again it comes down to a similar question what level you run at, but what If you have hit a plateau in your running whats the next step. It might be adding an extra run in your week or even splitting one run a day into two runs a day.
I would be very interested into finding out what other people's views are regarding running and weekly millage or weekly time spent running.
Well I followed a similar plan for August on the weeks that I have ran, no really set sessions bit of fartlek and a 5km time trail chucked in with Thetford AC mid month which I did in 15mins 51 secs.
Mon - 45min - 1hr run - Pick up pace at the end
Tues - Same as monday
Wed - 1hr to 1hr 15mins
Thurs - am - 40min easy / pm 40min easy (depending on how I feel)
Fri - 1hr Run
Sat - 1hr run with Fartlek efforts i.e 3 x 8 mins of 2min jog recovery
Sun - 1hr 30min or 1hr easy out then beat time back in run on a similar route
Looking forward Cross country is not far away and there will be a few Half's in there too, with Peterbrough and Norwich potentials.
