I recently came across an article on Cross Fit Endurance (CFE) which also advocates lower mileage and more intense running coupled with cross fit training. I don 't do cross fit though. I don't really have all of the equipment and can't afford to join.
I think I will stick to doing HIIT training, which I think has been very beneficial to me and work on not being a mileage numbers junky. I think it is easy to get caught up in the number and since I am a wee bit competitive I want to see how many more I can do and more and faster. Not always a good idea. Just ask the muscles on my lateral hips, they are pretty pissed off at me right now.
I need to be more focused on quality than quantity. Anyone else have a problem with this?
I am thinking of trying the Run Less Run Faster approach next spring when I start training for another half marathon or marathon or whatever. Just curious if anyone else has tried it and what thoughts you had about it.
and totally unrelated but, time to go play with these two munchkins!
Evie, I was just diagnosed with FAI; femoral ace tabular impingement. The ball of my left hip joint rubs abnormally and causes damage. Anyway, it hurts!! I was just diagnosed on Friday, but what I understood is that I really should pick up another way of exercising instead of running :-(
ReplyDeleteI was considering cross training and only running a little. I don't know. I can't stand the thought of not running!
By the way, I saw you did the Hood to Coast!!! Good job!! I did that back in 1998 and the Ranier to Coast in 99.
So fun!
Seems to me that Vanessa (Gourmet Runner) did a blog post last year about the Run Less Run Faster book and her experience with it. ??
ReplyDeleteHave a great time with the kiddies today!
I had PRs with RLRF at 5K, 10K and half-marathon, so I'm a fan. It gets a little dull, though, and once your injury improves you'll probably want to run more. I am a fan, though, and could see myself using it regularly as I get older if/when running starts to hurt on a regular basis.
ReplyDeleteI am sure I will want to run more too, but I think I am going to try really hard to stick to it for a full cycle and see how it works.
DeleteAs someone who has run over 2,000 miles for consecutive years, I definitely have a problem with quantity vs. quality. When I signed up for my marathon, the plan had me running 3 and 4 miles easy on many days. I felt like I hadn't done anything! But the lower miles during the week helped me get through 18, 20 and 22 mile training runs injury free.
ReplyDeleteThe hardest thing for me? Walking. Why walk when I can run. I walked 5.3 miles this morning and forced myself not to run a single step. That took great control!
Walking is hard for me too, running is so much quicker and funner!
DeleteHey - I am with you on this quest for fewer miles and hoping for health. I promised myself that after the marathon I would take the winter to do less mileage, and work on building strength and speed. We can do this!!! There should be some sort of support group with a 12-step program for mileage junkies!!!
ReplyDeleteI think we just past the first step, by admitting the problem, but now we have to keep each other on track. And what is considered less anyway, 20 percent?
ReplyDeleteMaine Mom on the Run is doing RLRF - for her marathon training. You should check her out! I have a feeling that after this marathon I'm going to step back and do a heck of a lot more cross training. Rest up girl!!!!
ReplyDeleteI have never used RLRF, but the author knows his stuff! Maybe you would like the book "Run Faster - from the 5k to the marathon" by Hudson. That book is geared towards higher mileage.
ReplyDeleteI used RLRF this time last year when I was training for CIM. My highest weekly mileage topped out at a whopping 37 miles. However, I ran my marathon PR with this plan so I think it worked out great for me.
ReplyDeleteI tried RLRF in the spring to train for a half and gave up after a month or so. With 4 kids at home and one under four months old it was too hard to be sure I could do the quality runs a written. As soon as i went back to six days of running I was able to make more of a routine of it and fit those quality runs in when I could.
ReplyDeleteI am trying the less is more half marathon plan.I got injured due to over training, and I heard this plan is really great for us injury prone people :)
ReplyDeleteSo far so good. I do a lot of cross training though. I don't do cross fit but something similar. You could always try it and see how your body likes it.
I know it's really working for me right now.