Re: Running help please
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: WhiskeyWebber</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Google the Tabata protocol and work that into your plan. Contrary to popularly held opinion, endurance is the easiest adaption to acquire when compared to strength and speed.
...and no endurance is not more important than strength and speed... they don't award medals to athletes who had the easiest most comfortable effort in the competition (good endurance). Medals go to the fastest strongest athletes who have figured how to titrate in just enough endurance. It's all a balance and endurance can be added in once you have a base of strength and speed. </div></div>
Spoken like a non-runner with no experience.
You are probably racing most of your runs. The bulk of your runs should be at a conversational, very easy pace. If you have to walk, you are running to fast. Slow down, whatever you need to do to lengthen your run. Once you have endurance and aerobic base, you can work in speed. Contrary to what the know-nothings will preach, slow running DOES make you faster, in fact much faster than over-working yourself with fast running you are not ready for.
But what do I know, I went from barely being able to run 2 miles continuously in junior high to doing 10K in under 31min (sub-5min mile pace) by my mid-20s. By doing a ton (100+ mpw regularly) of mostly easy running with 2-3 real workouts per week.
Go to
www.runningahead.com, sit back, and learn.
Medals go to athletes who typically run more miles than most mortals would dare consider, most of them at a comparatively easy pace. It's knowing when to run hard, how often, and how much, that wins medals. Not running hard all the time.
Oh, and the marathon? Seriously forget about it for now. People put WAY too much focus on the marathon. This coming from someone who spent 4 years trying to get into the olympic trials. Focus on the 5K and 10K. A couple years down the road when you are faster and more experienced, start thinking of the marathon. Really, it's over-hyped. You are no less of a runner for not having done one. Wait until you are ready.