Comments on: Winter Workload

By: Steven

Steven — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 08:27:23 +0000

Skeptical also doesn’t really understand the quote (also that it’s not clear Einstein ever actually said that) … if you’re doing an experiment then it may be true. But anyone with even limited experience of athletic training will realise that repeating the same protocol reaps huge rewards and improving rewards. In fact, many athletes stop a successful protocol before giving enough time reap the rewards. The key thing is realising when a given approach has reached it’s fruition and a new approach is required.
I know I’ve mentioned this before but I’m not sure that your previous approach had reached fruition so moving to high volume was questionable. Given how you performed though it would seem you were right to do it.

By: RobQ

RobQ — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 17:31:46 +0000

+1 Tom – it does my head in to read negative comments written behind the veil of anonymity. Russ was running unbelievably well at the ITU worlds (I know, i saw it). One would expect if the volume had been the main instigator of the injury it would have happened earlier. Something I’ve thought (and I know Russ knows this) is to taper down more gradually from big mileage running weeks. Potentially (for running especially) the temporary adaptation in muscles, tendons, ligaments etc from big blocks may cause imbalances/issues if a rest week follows a big volume week. I know the week after Epic I developed a few niggles that i’d never had before.

By: Tom Williams

Tom Williams — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 14:02:30 +0000

A great answer to a pointless comment Russ.

I love the way that negative comments are so often accompanied by anonymity and so rarely by questions that may allow a more informed comment or constructive form of criticism.

It’s also a shame that those such as ‘skeptical’ seldom find time to offer praise and congratulations in times of success.

By: russ

russ — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 20:51:18 +0000

I’d agree that it’s certainly a judgement that can be made and perhaps I should have left in the comment that I’d probably not go as high a volume as I did in the summer when I edited this post.

I can’t rule out that the 100 mile run week led to the injury or that the injury was a result of a cumulative high run load. However I can check my logs and see that I first noted the issue 10 days after the end of the 100 mile run week. Following the big mileage week I’d run a 30 mile week and then tapered into my race with a 20 mile run week. The injury itself occurred during the second of a pair of low mileage run weeks. Recovery was then aggravated by racing on the then minor issue.

What also has to be considered is that the choice to try high volume was based on trying a different approach and seeing the result. In terms of performance compared to the past two years of training I shifted from a run pace which at my best gave a 3:10-3:15 marathon in long course to one that was closer to 3:00 hours. Not only that my perception throughout LD Worlds was that I was running easy and could up the pace if needed (hence the sub 6 minute miles to finish).

If high volume caused the injury it also caused my best run performance of the past two years. A single sentence stating I’ll be taking a high volume approach isn’t a training plan. Of course I’ll consider the risk of injury, but I’ll also take on board the benefits I reaped. If I can approach it correctly, avoid injury and reap the same benefits then this is what’s going to take me to a faster IM marathon.

I could of course repeat the previous lower volume, high frequency run approach, but then by your quote I would also be insane to expect to run faster than 3:10.

By: skeptical

skeptical — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 19:48:55 +0000

From the outside observer reading this blog big miles looks like what kicked you in the ass and got you injured. Then you missed out on the opportunity to train and race in Kona the way you wanted to. Now you’re planning to go and do the same thing and expect different results. Albert Einstein once said “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”