TheFinalSprint.com - Track & Field, Marathons, Racing News, Training Advice, Elite Athlete Blogs, Interviews, Podcasts, Videos and More! - TheFinalSprint.com is the Premier Destination for Track & Field, Marathon, Cross Country, Olympic and Road Racing Enthusiasts.

Lead Stories: Sunday, September 7, 2008

Determining the range of your “base” training pace

Posted February 8th, 2007 at 4:10 PM by Jim Fortner

Section: Running & Training, Training Tips

Jim Fortner is a weekly, guest contributor to TFS. Also check out his own personal running and advice site: “Jim2’s Running Page”.

There are three ways to determine and measure your “base” training pace range, which should be used for all training, except for speed work.

1. Base it on a recent race pace. Your training pace should be 1-2 minutes per mile slower than 10k race pace. That should be well within your aerobic zone.

It can vary depending on a several factors, such as weather and how tired/stressed you might be. However, the 1 - 2 minute range allows for a lot of variation.
Read the rest of this entry »

One comment, add yours | Permalink

Endurance training techniques for runners of all levels

Posted January 5th, 2007 at 12:00 PM by Emily Hoskins

Section: Running & Training, Training Tips

Unlike many recreational activities, training for a marathon is serious business. If you fail to train properly you not only run the risk of not finishing, but you could seriously injure yourself.

There are several types of endurance training out there, so finding the right one for your personal goals and needs is crucial. The types of aerobic endurance training differ in duration, frequency, and intensity which will lead to different physiological adaptations within the body that improve your overall fitness level.
Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this post | Permalink

The longest, long run in marathon training

Posted December 26th, 2006 at 7:00 AM by Jim Fortner

Section: Running & Training, Training Tips

Jim Fortner is a weekly, guest contributor to TFS. Also check out his own personal running and advice site: “Jim2’s Running Page”.

There are two distinct camps among runners on the length of the maximum long run during marathon training. There are those who believe that it’s best to run 26 miles (and even longer) in training for a marathon … and then there are the rest of us. I am on the “doubting Thomas” side of the fence. Let me explain why.

I do not subscribe to the generalization “to race the distance … train the distance” for all runners and all distances. For instance, to take it to an extreme, do ultra runners “train the distance” while preparing for a 50 or 100 mile race? How about for a 6-day endurance race? Of course not.
Read the rest of this entry »

One comment, add yours | Permalink

Technological Evolution: Measuring & Planning Routes in the 21st Century

Posted October 11th, 2006 at 4:00 AM by Trish Monks

Section: Running & Training, Gear & Apparel, Miscellaneous

TFS is proud to welcome our newest writer - Trish Monks. She is our first writer from our neighbor across the Atlantic. Although Brits might speak a little differently and make us laugh from time to time - we still love them and we love Trish’s writing. Enjoy!

Back in the olden days, when a string vest was considered suitable race wear and over-pronation didn’t exist, measuring the length of your training routes was fairly torturous stuff. Depending on your preferences, it usually involved fiddling about with a bit of string on a map, driving around your route in a car (tricky if you like a bit of the muddy stuff!), or pushing a trundle wheel ahead of you: not ideal.

These days your options are rather more sophisticated. There are a plethora of gadgets available to take with you on the run, designed to tell you how far you have gone and how fast you are going (I have a Polar S625x which is a fabulous bit of kit - I’ll tell you about it some day!) or, as an alternative, software which can be used as a sort of “virtual” piece of string.

Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this post | Permalink