Why NOT the marathon

ecoli

nerraw1111 wrote: »

Just to take up Krusty’s point.
Is it the case that by putting in a marathon training cycle, it will help you increase your times in shorter distances? i.e. you’ll have quite a solid base?

Think its more a case the higher mileage usually associated with Marathon training also significantly increases performances at shorter distances

provided there is also specificity in training also

menoscemo

nerraw1111 wrote: »

Just to take up Krusty’s point.
Is it the case that by putting in a marathon training cycle, it will help you increase your times in shorter distances? i.e. you’ll have quite a solid base?

When I was training for Conn Ultra this year I was hitting 70+ miles every week all pretty much easy miles (with the odd Marathon paced effort thrown in). I jumped into the Raheny 5 mile race at then end of Janury having done no specific training for that and took 1.5 minutes off my PB. For me at the time it was an excellent PB and I was not expecting to go so fast.

When I lower the mileage and do a few more tempo/interval session per week I do not get the same results.

Obviously the ideal scenario is to do high mileage with quality sessions but I would take high mileage with little quality over low mileage with quality any day of the week.

Krusty_Clown

My hypothesis is that you will get more benefit by following a 5k training plan that maxes out at 100km/week, than you will by following a 5k training plan that maxes out at 50k/week (assuming you have built up to a level where your body can cope with the distance and intensity and can stay injury free). This is based on a structured training plan (ecoli's specificity), rather than just going out and plodding the mileage.

For my own part I have seen those same gains without the specificity, though the higher mileage (kilometerage!) marathon programs I typically follow would have intervals at 5k pace (but not faster).

MrCreosote

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

My hypothesis is that you will get more benefit by following a 5k training plan that maxes out at 100km/week, than you will by following a 5k training plan that maxes out at 50k/week (assuming you have built up to a level where your body can cope with the distance and intensity and can stay injury free).

I don't think anyone could disagree with that.

My hypothesis would be slightly different- that you can get nearly as much benefit out of a well structured 50k/week 5k plan as a 100k/week one, and save yourself 4-5 hours of training time.

Cartman78

MrCreosote wrote: »

I don't think anyone could disagree with that.

My hypothesis would be slightly different- that you can get nearly as much benefit out of a well structured 50k/week 5k plan as a 100k/week one, and save yourself 4-5 hours of training time.

That depends on what exactly your definition of 'nearly' is.

Imho, the performance benefits of doubling your mileage/kilometrage (as part of a structured plan for any distance) would be quite significant

ecoli

I think we are all in agreement and that there has been an additional point brought up in the following - At what point do personal circumstances limit potential (i.e how much work is enough to put to run the best you can from this level of training)

village runner

menoscemo wrote: »

nerraw1111 wrote: »

Just to take up Krusty’s point.
Is it the case that by putting in a marathon training cycle, it will help you increase your times in shorter distances? i.e. you’ll have quite a solid base?

When I was training for Conn Ultra this year I was hitting 70+ miles every week all pretty much easy miles (with the odd Marathon paced effort thrown in). I jumped into the Raheny 5 mile race at then end of Janury having done no specific training for that and took 1.5 minutes off my PB. For me at the time it was an excellent PB and I was not expecting to go so fast.

When I lower the mileage and do a few more tempo/interval session per week I do not get the same results.

Obviously the ideal scenario is to do high mileage with quality sessions but I would take high mileage with little quality over low mileage with quality any day of the week.

In my last London marathon in Thr 7 months before it I did 2 ten mile races 1 5 mile race 10 x 400m once and no other miles fast. So lOnger and slow works for me

Nermal

This is why not the marathon.

corny

Nermal wrote: »

This is why not the marathon.

Exactly. Who wants to be a drug cheating *******!

Pisco Sour

corny wrote: »

Exactly. Who wants to be a drug cheating *******!

Certainly didnt pick a good example to illustrate his/her point.

But there have been plenty of drug cheating *******s in the marathon also.

corny

Pisco Sour wrote: »

Certainly didnt pick a good example to illustrate his/her point.

But there have been plenty of drug cheating *******s in the marathon also.

Obviously. I was joking.;)