Obviously a sprinter must sprint, and a Marathoner must do long runs.
Over the last few years, with the success of Phitzies book and some others, I have noticed a greater surge towards "VO2max" workouts and "LT" sessions. I understand how these are physiologically important.
But there seems to be a surge away from something that used to be more valued: Pacework For The Goal Distance.
Over the last few months I've noted more and more comments like a 10k-er saying "10k pace isn't in that really usefull zone" or a Marathoner saying "Marathon Pace does absolutely nothing for me."
Since when did "Goal Pace" fall so far out of fashion? Is Horwill and his 5-pace theory "so Seventies"? Is Canova and his Event Based training not catching on?
Isn't 2x3000m at 10k pace more important for a 10k runner than a classic VO2max 12x400m with 1min recovery or a 30min tempo at 15-21k pace?
I believe in the multipacing models, and we cannot isolate one particular workout, but, in a nutshell, shouldn't the CORE of training be sessions that explore Goal Pace for the Goal Distance? Shouldn't they be The Most Important Sessions, and "Physiology be damned"?
Discuss.
(PS: I was just reviewing The Grand Locked Thread with Mr's Cabral and Canova et al. There's a bit of garbage and infighting here and there from various well known letsrun personalities, but Damn!, that thing is the best document I have ever seen on Training. I think I'll print it all and make my own book, before wejo starts successfully charging to view it.)
Cheers
Darren Skuja