Thank you a lot for your reply!
Yes I'm sure stamina/speed decreases but how about general muscle issues? I see that in base building you're supposed to do some tempos and maybe these CV intervals fartlek etc. The problem is, I may not be able to do them at all if I try to get the mileage higher than about 34-35mpw unless I do all the rest very easy just like in racing season. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to do the base building like that too...?
In the initial post in this thread, I didn't go into details too deep but I also have the problem of failing even at easy runs if things get really bad in base building. I only complained about not being able to do higher intensities in the first post, but that's actually a manageable thing I guess you're right about that. The issue with easier paces is a different and bigger problem for me. That to me sounds like the bad kind of overreaching but I just don't understand why that would happen in base building.
Case in point; I'm finally past the marathon I think (30mpw mostly easy stuff for some weeks). So now I wanted to start real base building. I tried going just a tiny little bit higher than 35mpw two weeks ago. My last two weeks were 39 and 38 miles respectively. However, I could not finish the second week without this annoying muscle problem. I had the long run last Sunday, I was running easy, and yet I could not go without muscle pain after about 4-5 miles. I was far from home, no way to get home, it was too cold weather for walking so I kept running but the last 30 minutes I could only do with three short (~50sec) stops to make the pain go away temporarily. It's then pain free for a few minutes then starts to get worse again. My heart rate was also low, I couldn't really even think of pushing it higher, not that I wanted to anyway. That was true for running on flat roads at least. At the end of this long run, I had to run up a big hill (more than a mile long and it's a pretty decent grade!), going uphill I was able to push up heart rate to an extent without pain. So it's not about being low on calories or anything, I think. More like some kind of fatigue in certain parts in the muscles I dunno though.
I hate this. And I'm totally fed up with this. What's this, a built-in hard limit at 35 miles specifically for base building?
I am going to call this a paradox. Because, I was able to do more than 35 miles per week in racing season without issues (I did 38-39 miles for a few weeks), that was really simple, I did two hard runs (intervals tempo whatnot), I did two easy runs, I did a long run (easy and pick up for last few miles). 5 runs a week. I was happy with that, muscles were happy, and I was improving, had big jump up in level of fitness.
The base building is still 5 days of running a week. No true hard runs. Still two easy runs and the long run mostly easy too just like in racing season. The rest of the runs moderately easy, when slightly faster, it's not ever really faster than marathon pace in this early phase of base building. Seems to me like it's not too much. I must be doing it wrong somewhere though and it IS too much in some way. Or actually the opposite, too little?? I know though that I never had this issue on lower mileage. I just don't get this.
What I also don't get is this, the first week of these two first "higher mileage" base building weeks, I did a bit more intensity than in the second week. I didn't have a problem first week but just to be sure (still had a slight nag of a little "injury" as well, that's gone since then), second week I decreased the intensity, so it was easier overall than first week. So why this then? :/
Okay, sorry for the rant... But this is now a very fresh experience with yet again failing at this. And it's also frustrating that no one ever could so far explain what the hell's going on with me about that. Maybe I have some special problem genetically. -.-
Ok, don't take those last words seriously, I do believe I can fix this, I just don't have any idea about how...
PS: You raised a point about some people always trying to PR in races. Well I'm still a beginner enough to expect that for myself but yeah I'm sure I'll get to a point eventually where I can't expect big PR's that easily. I just hope I'll be fast enough by then
[quote="dkggpeters"]
If you neglect the quality workouts over base building then your speed and stamina will decrease as is expected. The good news is that these will come back fairly quickly once you incorporate them back in. There are pros and cons to doing quality all year round which you may want to consider if you want to always be able to race very well.
1.) Burnout can occur from doing to much quality. You will really need to learn to walk that fine line. Running the correct paces and intensities is a must. Do not race those workouts (this applies no matter what method you use but is really critical if you do quality year round). I personally like having the month or two after a marathon of just easy running.
2.) You may feel like you are grinding all year and seeing small improvements. Granted, losing that speed and stamina during easy base building may not provide any better PR's but you will see improvement in speed and stamina because you lost some of it. This can be motivating as the improvement is really noticeable.
3.) Doing faster running all year round could increase your risk of injury.
You need to find what works for you. I know a lot of people want every race to be a PR potential which can be mentally draining as well. I like to use my races prior to my A event as a gauge as to where my fitness is at and am not concerned about PR's.
Dave
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