(RR!) Training to best utilize limited time

Training Advice/Discussion General

15 years ago 09/22/2008 10:01am EDT

For various reasons, I have about 50 minutes per day to devote to training during the week and 75 minutes each day on the weekends. Recognizing that I'll likely get responses questioning my dedication or asking why one should bother, I'd like to start a discussion on how one can best utilize the limited time they have to train. I'm guessing there are others out there in the same boat.

So how should training be structured? I think that consistency is key -- it's better to run 6-8 miles a day every day during the week rather than 1 or 2 killer workouts and junk days in between. I also think it's best to do those 6-8 mile runs by feel, running "fast" when I'm up for it, rather than by some schedule. "Fast" could include 2-3 minute surges or middle miles at a hard pace, but for me this usually just means settling into a quick clip and holding it until the end. Afterwards, I'll throw in some 100 - 200m strides if time allows.

Any thoughts? What's the optimum racing distance? Should speedwork be included? Does a long run of greater than 11 miles make sense for this schedule? Should I have more structure?

15 years ago 09/22/2008 10:25am EDT

re: Mr. Efficiency

Train for the mile, and do what Dr. Bannister did.

15 years ago 09/22/2008 10:42am EDT

re: Mr. Efficiency

Depends on your goals. What are they? Fitness? Racing? Mile, Marathon, 5k, 10k?

15 years ago 09/22/2008 11:19am EDT

re: big orange country

yeah, i think you'll get more advice if you provide at least a distance to focus on, but if you really insist on just training in general...then i guess we'd all better decide which distance is the "most balanced" as far as endurance and speed goes...thats probably the mile or the 800m.

You can train for the 800m from the distance side and you should be pretty well-rounded.

15 years ago 09/22/2008 12:27pm EDT

re: Mr. Efficiency

Anything under the half marathon (assuming you are racing sub 6 min pace). You can pretty much do tempo workouts every day. Rotating through (2-3x2mile at 10k pace, 20-30 at hm, and 40-60 at MP) will get you in pretty good aerobic shape. Through in a few strides/faster repeats and you should be able to run 5k-21k decently. Every 2-3 days take an easy day. The tempo runs are tough workouts but they don't tear you down the way repeat miles at 5k pace or 12x400 at 1500m pace do.

15 years ago 09/22/2008 1:19pm EDT

re: big orange country

Racing. Over a distance where this training schedule provides the most bang for the buck. My guess is that my time constraints could still lead to a decent time for the mile or 5K.

big orange country wrote:
Depends on your goals. What are they? Fitness? Racing? Mile, Marathon, 5k, 10k?

15 years ago 09/22/2008 2:12pm EDT

re: Mr. Efficiency

Mr. Efficiency wrote:
So how should training be structured? I think that consistency is key -- it's better to run 6-8 miles a day every day during the week rather than 1 or 2 killer workouts and junk days in between. I also think it's best to do those 6-8 mile runs by feel, running "fast" when I'm up for it, rather than by some schedule. "Fast" could include 2-3 minute surges or middle miles at a hard pace, but for me this usually just means settling into a quick clip and holding it until the end. Afterwards, I'll throw in some 100 - 200m strides if time allows.
Any thoughts? What's the optimum racing distance? Should speedwork be included? Does a long run of greater than 11 miles make sense for this schedule? Should I have more structure?

Do what you described for a couple months, then before your goal race or series of races, sharpen up by doing some race-specific stuff. I think your plan will work for any distance as long as you tailor the last month or so of your training towards that distance: back off on pace a couple days a week and run longer harder tempos for HM - Marathon. Keep it rolling and integrate speed work for 5k-10k.

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