Well, not a lot of you, but there were a handful of adventurous trainees taking advantage of "free" training as part of the 3 consecutive speedwork sessions that were added to the training package. For those that made it, I know they got a very good feel for what this interval training is all about when it comes to running the marathon. It's not all about running all-out to your lungs feel like they are going to bust and you want to puke your guts out when you finish, but rather a more controlled form of running faster that puts one in the "threshold" zone.
Even if one just wants to "just finish" a marathon and has no big worry about finish time and such, doing the interval work can have its benefits in other ways, simply by confusing the body and stimulating it to make changes that have other benefits.
Like what kind you ask? Well, you have heard me preach about long-slow-distance and enhancing the fat-metabolism contribution to fueling the body's energy needs. But, if one alwyas runs the same old game in terms of speed, the body adapts quickly and just gets lazy again. Bottom line, is you have to "mix-it-up" with the running routines to not let the body get too comfortable. By doing the speed interval work you not only can make your effort of finishing the marathon a bit easier, but you also can stimulate an increase in metabolism that you can loose more fat weight, not when you are necessarily running it, but in the aftermath. So, you can do speed-work not necessarily to boost performance in your marathon, but to simply stimulate greater weight loss.
Doesn't matter how young or old you are, if you want to be "lean and mean" you got to mix up the running and vary the speeds/intensity. Every individual is oh-so different in what works best for them. Their is science, their is the field of physiology of sport exercise, their are training principles and techniques that Coaches or yourself can apply, but finding the right combination is the "art" of the practice that leads to better performance. You might recall a quote I used earlier of similar wording.
If you think I am redundant, well, then I am, and for a reason. Repetition builds the foundation to accomplish. Speed-work is repetition and it only makes you a better runner, not to mention just a better person physically and spiritually. You really discover a part of your inner self when you do these routines. So, why aren't you out here doing it with us?
A Coach is always pleased to see those that go the "extra distance" but never completely satisfied until he sees them all out there jumping at every opportunity offered to work harder and be better at what you want to do - run! So, not some, not just a handful, but every single trainee giving it a go and giving it their best to improve their physical condition, is what I would love to see!
You still got a chance - two more sessions the next two Tuesdays at 6-pm at the Fleet-Feet store.
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