I am a high school runner. I increased my mileage this summer from 40 km a week to 60 km a week. I also run 3 hard sessions a week (2 interval sessions and a tempo run). Do you think I will still have really good long term development even though I'm doing 3 hard sessions a week instead of probably just doing 2 and sacraficing some high school success. I really need some input on this.
Thanks
How often do you race?
2 tempo and 1 interval is better for most people. You might be better off with 2 workouts and work on building the mileage during the base phase. Make sure you are getting at least one 90 min easy run a week.
speedy1417 wrote:
I am a high school runner. I increased my mileage this summer from 40 km a week to 60 km a week. I also run 3 hard sessions a week (2 interval sessions and a tempo run). Do you think I will still have really good long term development even though I'm doing 3 hard sessions a week instead of probably just doing 2 and sacraficing some high school success. I really need some input on this.
Thanks
I don't really see a need for you to build up now. 60mpw is a good amount. You are in great shape for long term development. The only way you would hurt it would be if your coach is an idiot like some coaches out there who over race their guys. I know of some coaches who have their runners race throughout the summer and then at least once a week every week during the season. That stunts your long-term development. Don't do that and you will be in good shape. Those kids probably won't last running all 4 years of college because of this.
He said 60 km per week, not miles. Why are you doing so many interval sessions, especially during cross?
I ran 2 races this summer, both 5 k's. I actually run 70 km a week. I am most likely just going to go with 2 workouts a week (1 tempo and 1 interval session). I ran 3 hard sessions the last 2 weeks and feel fine but I think it will hurt me by the end of the season. I have 9 weeks until my peak race.
speedy1417 wrote:
I am a high school runner. I increased my mileage this summer from 40 km a week to 60 km a week. I also run 3 hard sessions a week (2 interval sessions and a tempo run). Do you think I will still have really good long term development even though I'm doing 3 hard sessions a week instead of probably just doing 2 and sacraficing some high school success. I really need some input on this.
Thanks
I'd argue that you wouldn't be sacrificing high school success at all by getting rid of so many hard interval sessions during the summer.
Why not just go for a run twice a day and double your mileage? I think that would make you a better runner within a month or two than hammering intervals in the summer.
I ran PR's at every distance from 1 mile to a half marathon in the span of two months when I decided that I was just going to run a lot during my build up.