I'm about 20 posts behind where I want to be... sort of like my training is behind schedule. I've been trying to figure out how best to explain what I want to do and why anyone should bother reading about it.
Most people who read this are training to run a 1/2-marathon or marathon on the roads or 50 miles to 100 miles on trails. I'm going to train to do 1 mile on a track, preferably at national-class level for men my age. Though it sounds at first like there's nothing in common, I think I know how to keep people reading (besides stories of personal failings, especially in dating).
When I first started this blog, one of my goals was to write "my book on training." I've done that. Unfortunately, the few people whose eyes didn't glaze over immediately told me things like, "I read that four times... it's brilliant, I think, but maybe I need to read it again..." or "What am I supposed to do with that?! Just tell me what I'm supposed to do!" I covered all the details - excruciatingly, at times - but I never said quite how to create one's own training schedule.
So, I'm going to show how I created my training plan and show how it compares to those written by well-known coaches, which will go to explain concepts that get tossed around by people who don't understand them. I hope people will learn when a fast continuous run becomes a "threshold run" becomes a "tempo run" becomes a "time trial," plus a few other useful things.
I'm also going to try to cover how I implement the plan as I do it and how I make changes when things go wrong (for example, this week I blew out my knee). Eventually, it could end up looking like a standard training blog, pllus reviews of zombie films, experimental confectionery, bushwhacking in the Boundary Waters and the eternal struggle to find a woman who can tolerate me for more than a week.
Well, maybe it won't change so much, after all.
For Pete's Sake - who is Pete?
1 day ago
9 comments:
According to this link, the Minnesota single-age record for an unaided road mile at age 48 is 5:25. But I think you just turned 49? Then the record drops to 5:02 by Pete Kessler this year, and the 50-year-old single age record is 5:15 (which Kessler could lower next year). If you can wait a few years, the unaided 55-year-old record is 5:53, but I'll bet it's lower by then ...
I don't know what the records are for a track mile, and the aided course results (e.g. Rice Street Mile) are much harder. So if you want to get in the record books I'd recommend peaking for the Farmington or Grandma's miles ...
Even better, try running a certified 12K within the next year, as the 49-year-old Minnesota single age record is only 51:32 (but I don't think there are any active certified 12K races in Minnesota).
Whatever you decide to write about, we'll enjoy reading ...
I hope your knee gets better soon!
You are not the only one behind is posts!! Keep 'em coming.
I'll keep reading, because you are a good writer.
I second Anon. As long as you keep posting, I'll keep reading.
And, as long as you occasionally share some fun stuff...like, oh, say, troubles in relationships.
Colin, that list is just horrible and embarassing. The true record for men over 50 (and yes, I have a year to train - and need it) is Paul Giannobile's 4:45 on the road and 4:41 on the track. Pat Billig will probably kill the road record without even trying next year.
The 12K hasn't been a recognized distance since about 1975. THAT's how bad that list is!
Good luck, Steve. I just hope that you don't set your goals too high resulting in likely disappointment. If you're shooting for a 4:40 mile and end up running 5:15 you'll be disappointed (even though that would be a fantastic result by any objective measure).
Based on your official 4:32 PR, a 50-year-old equivalent performance (according to the age graded calculator I ran) would be 5:09. Add in your injury problems and I'd call anything under 5:20 equivalent to your PR performance ... wouldn't that be a better goal to start with? You can always go for something faster if you achieve that.
Purple Nation unite!
@Colin: over 50, "National Class" or "All-American" is just sub-5:00. That's the real goal here. Possible, but difficult. I do like to shoot for the impossible and settle for the merely remarkable!
pllus reviews of zombie films
"The extra 'l' is for the missing 'ha' because I meant to write 'phallus reviews of zombie films', because zombie films are just full of phalluses and somebody has to review those. First review: Night of the Livid D*ck."
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