Per your comment... speed workouts are pretty common for marathon training- and in fact many of our workouts are adaptations from those espoused by Hansons':
General marathon link: http://runningtimes.com/rt/articles/?id=4447&page=1&c=83
speed sessions: http://runningtimes.com/rt/articles/?id=4420&page=1&c=83
Also, we're not exclusively marathoners- before boston we're racing a 5k, 10k, 8k, and jake's doing a 10 miler... so we need some speed.. so three miles just under 10k pace 4:55-4:45 and the 800s were for the shorter races we have coming up.
And yes, we will be doing tempo runs in late feb/early march. Last year this involved 12 miles at 5:40s then dropping into 5:30s.
I definitely agree that speedwork should be done early on, with a gradual increase toward specificity. This is a mistake I've made before.
ReplyDeleteHowever, though I might get accused of workout out too hard, it seems like the speedwork posted is a little too easy. I feel like 12x400m @ 5k pace with almost 2:1 recovery wouldn't feel that taxing. It just seems like too much rest.
Then again, running magazines are notorious for printing cupcake workouts, though they've been doing a better job in recent years.
our workout was: 4:58, 4:58, 2:24, 2:23, 4:49, 2:23, 2:21, 68 (sub 70) 400 recovery between each rep.
ReplyDeleteYou guys are running hard. Even though you are all under 30, remember to get body maintenance or you will suffer down the road. take days off, get massages, etc.
ReplyDeleteI concur about doing track workouts. The ones I am doing with Jason keep me fresh and alert. I don't like doing them, but it's the missing ingredient in my training...and I need it. They work too. I've been building a good base now for about 6 weeks sans any workouts. Prior to that I was keeping fresh by racing. Too much racing and too many track workouts may be regrettable, but one or the other seems to work.
ReplyDeleteMarathons aren't "fun" to me...but they are a challenge. I don't want to put all my eggs in one basket (like i did last time) and hope that the conditions (weather, stomach etc) are perfect. This is why I'm running Cherry Blossom too. Plus I see a benefit is racing 15 days pre-thon.
Also - I aim to use my legs/body now in my youth. Push it as hard as I can. If I have knee problems or some other soreness when I am 64- so be it. Damn the torpedoes. When I'm older, I'll probably be drinking Bourbon in a wheelchair next to a fireplace thinking about "glory days".