Do you run with faster people? (Read 953 times)

I did pretty much the same thing with a guy on my team a week or two ago. The thing is, he didn't call it "pushing himself", he called it "letting loose". To be completely honest, I felt horrible during the run, but, in the end, it was pretty satisfying (I don't know know you feel about it). Of course, we also do workouts on the track a few times a week (4X400 with 200 meter intervals, stuff like that). I guess my point is, it is definitely a good thing about once a week. Like I said, we do speed workouts once or twice a week, and no-one is getting injured or anything (if that is what you are asking). Our coach also always says that you are getting better when you are pushing yourself even when you are wicked tired during the workout. Just think, you'll be able to keep up with him no problem soon enough! I dunno, I guess I am relating track to road running, and I really have no clue if that is "legal". I'd say go for it, but, really, what do I know? Good luck breaking 40 minutes!

“Get some balls and run hard until you are dying on your hard days!" What a crock. I’d suggest working out with your brother only when you plan on racing. That’s what he is doing—racing his training. Always running “until you are dying” on hard days is a great way to not live up to your potential. You might get some quick results his way, but you will plateau much sooner and reach a lower peak ---that is if you are lucky enough to avoid injury before then. It’s a very common misconception that your brother has. Of course you have to incorporate some faster running into your training if you want to race well, but there’s a difference between running hard and running hard enough. I’m a big believer in doing workouts that are consistent with current fitness level and saving my best for the races. The time to run “hard until you are dying” is when you put on a number and enter a race. I went from a 21:30 5k to a 39:22 10k within 3 years while almost never doing goal paced workouts or even as fast as current 5k race pace. Most of my gains have come from mileage plus workouts in 10k-Marathon pace range. What gives me great confidence is to do a good strong workout and walk away knowing I could have a done a little more if I'd wanted to--much more so than having that wasted feeling. When I started my push I was 59 years old and am 62 now. It’s all about consistency—putting in the miles week after week, and consistently doing workouts that are hard enough to facilitate improvement but easy enough that you can consistently do them and have something left for your races. I’m sure that it won’t take you as long at your age, but the point is that you are better off not trying to force your training. It’s the consistency that’s going help you continuously improve much more than these “super hero” workouts that your brother thinks you need to be doing. In you case I think you have gone to extremes, with the MAF training being one extreme and running yourself into the ground like you did before you got hurt the other extreme. I believe that something in between those 2 extremes would work better and probably be more fun too.

Sometimes but not on a regular basis. For short distances I would go with someone 30-40 seconds faster pace and for a long run maybe 15-20 seconds faster. Anything more for me and I would worry about injury. That's just me.

I run with people who are faster than me once a week, but I dont run all out. I run a little faster. Like a tempo run. It makes it easier( more fun) to do the tempo run, but trying to keep up with them would kill me. Your brothers advice of going all out is crap. Thats what races are for. ESPECIALLY since you are coming back from injury.

Did I imply that you should be running all out? If I did, I apologize. I'm the idiot if that's the case. You should always save your best for the races. I agree with Jim's advice, don't run at race pace, but it can't hurt (only help) to incorporate faster runs into your regiment. Again, I apologize if I sounded like your brother, who is wrong (but, I did, however, say that I am relating two things that may or may not be apples and oranges). Another thing I wasn't really clear on is whether or not you were running at a race pace with your brother. I don't know, I'm just trying to offer friendly advice (wow, maybe I should shut the heck up...) Bottom Line: Jim is right, listen to him...

A good way to get the benefit of the faster runner without killing yourself is with a fast-finish progression run. Do a comfortable moderate run with them, then have them pull you through the last mile. You can get some good gains with such runs, and since you are accelerating through the last mile you're only at a truly hard effort for maybe half of that. For years I did my intervals with faster guys. Helped me a lot.

Eddie, I think it's a good thing every now and then to run with faster folks--and with slower folks. By the way, you might check out this post from Nate Jenkins on how to structure 10k training. You can't reach your potential just running easy or just running hard. The key is to blend hard and easy running intelligently.