Running With the Buffaloes

skinnyfish

posted: 2/20/2007 at 7:35 AM

I was rereading Running with the Buffaloes this fall as our cross-country season was winding down and decided to take a giant leap and perform every workout that Adam Goucher and his teamates ran that amazing year. I have now completed 10 weeks of base training and today was my first of I believe 94 days until I am done. I like the way Mark Wetmore interprets Arthur Lydiards methods and do believe that they will make me a stronger runner. At 33 years old I feel like I do pretty well, but I have no intention of trying to match the times those young studs were running. Since I decided to do this I have been looking for a venue to share my experience and I hope I have found it here. Like most of my running friends this community is full of Sarcasm and Humor. I share this experience with my athletes and tell them that runners are a family and you will always have support withing running. I had to put off the start of my project the past two weeks because my immuned system has been pathetic. I should finish the 94 days in mid May. This is a couple of weeks past our big race in Spokane, the Lilac Bloomsday 12k, but just in time for a local marathon. Wish me luck and I will keep you updated on my progress. Skinnyfish.

mikeymike

posted: 2/20/2007 at 7:51 AM

Good luck!

Runners run.

Jeff

posted: 2/20/2007 at 8:31 AM

Nice. I'm psyched to watch it happen. I haven't read RWB, but have always heard rave reviews. So, does it recount the exact workouts that the CU team did? What's the general approach? And most importantly: Are you freaking nuts? Those guys are animals!!!

The Logic of Long Distance

Scout7

CPT Curmudgeon

posted: 2/20/2007 at 8:34 AM

Does this count as "training talk"?

Jeff

posted: 2/20/2007 at 9:26 AM

I know...skating on thin ice with the one rule of the group...though I have a feeling that what skinnyfish is about to do is less like training and more like an experiment into the limits of self through a masochistic practice of pain. It might *sound like* training. But it's actually a process of becoming an elitist prick. I think these processes are wisely hidden from the public.

The Logic of Long Distance

Scout7

CPT Curmudgeon

posted: 2/20/2007 at 9:43 AM

True. The last time we had a discussion, we chased someone off, and we all get labeled elitist pricks. In the interests of the rest of RA, and maintaining some level of membership for the rest of the site, it is probably better to keep this thread hidden here. This is a sort of moral relativism, isn't it? Bending rules and such.

JakeKnight

posted: 2/20/2007 at 9:45 AM

I concur. As long as you're being sufficiently elitist and prickish, you can skirt the "training talk" rule. After all, being pricks is our primary purpose here, right? That and making fun of Trent.

E-mail: JakeKnight2002@aol.com
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CESrunner

posted: 2/20/2007 at 8:26 PM

Hey man. I checked out your training. Looks like good suff. By my standards you should be racing much faster than a 17:20. Your mileage is all well under 7:00 pace. Not sure what you have done in the past, but if you keep it going I can see you hitting some nice times. Good luck.

mikeymike

posted: 2/20/2007 at 8:32 PM

Quote from Jeff on 2/20/2007 at 9:26 AM:

I know...skating on thin ice with the one rule of the group...though I have a feeling that what skinnyfish is about to do is less like training and more like an experiment into the limits of self through a masochistic practice of pain. It might *sound like* training. But it's actually a process of becoming an elitist prick. I think these processes are wisely hidden from the public.

I knew the question of "the rule" would come up with this thread and this was almost my exact thought. That, plus I'm okay with breaking a rule once in a while if the payoff is big enough and nobody really gets hurt. Especially if it's my own stupid rule.

Runners run.

muse_runner

keep running.

posted: 2/20/2007 at 9:05 PM
modified: 2/20/2007 at 9:06 PM

crap! doubla posta

running until I hit 1900 miles for the year. whether fast or slow I will just run.

muse_runner

keep running.

posted: 2/20/2007 at 9:06 PM

Quote from muse_runner on 2/20/2007 at 9:05 PM:

I knew the question of "the rule" would come up with this thread and this was almost my exact thought. That, plus I'm okay with breaking a rule once in a while if the payoff is big enough and nobody really gets hurt. Especially if it's my own stupid rule.

OMG OMG PAHLEEESE tell me how I can be as fast as you are... please please whine whine whine Big grin

wait, you DON'T like posts like this right? scratching my head... gosh I must be so confused.

running until I hit 1900 miles for the year. whether fast or slow I will just run.

skinnyfish

posted: 2/20/2007 at 9:07 PM

Quote from Jeff on 2/20/2007 at 8:31 AM:

Nice. I'm psyched to watch it happen. I haven't read RWB, but have always heard rave reviews. So, does it recount the exact workouts that the CU team did? What's the general approach? And most importantly: Are you freaking nuts? Those guys are animals!!!

First, forgive me about the training talk, since I am new I didn't realize the was a rule. CU's head Coach Mark Wetmore follows many of the Lydiard principles one of which is high mileage all on singles. I realize that many of the athletes on this team well most are more talented and faster than I but this is the level I would like to reach before I am too old to get any better. The book recounts almost all of the workouts the team did with the exception of the easy days. They approach the season in steps as follows; A. Ascend to full volume (for me this will be about 80 miles/week) B. Aerobic short specificity (complete recovery between efforts, no oxygen debt accrued, get used to going fast. C. Aerobic Long Specificity (long fartleks, mile repeats, tempos, long hard runs. Increase speed and decrease rest interval throughout this stage. D. Anaerobic Specificity (short fast repeats with little recovery inbetween) E. Anaerobic Speed (Deep anaerobic stimulus all faster than race pace) I am a little nuts but am seeking a challenge. Those guys are animals and yet I am not trying to become as fast as they are just the best I can be. I realize that my latest race results seem modest at best, but in my defense I have been terribly sick the past two weeks and I have only been base training. I have some decent pr's 15:42 5k, 26:20 5miler,55:30 10 miler, 2:42 marathon etc... I have a great work ethic and can handle lots of pain. So there you have it, again sorry about breaking the rules, I plead ignorance just this once. Skinnyfish

mikeymike

posted: 2/20/2007 at 9:20 PM

Quote from muse_runner on 2/20/2007 at 9:06 PM:

OMG OMG PAHLEEESE tell me how I can be as fast as you are... please please whine whine whine wait, you DON'T like posts like this right? scratching my head... gosh I must be so confused.

You've been studying too hard. Take some time off. I am, at least for now, the 3rd fastest person to post in this thread. I'm just here to see how to become as fast as Jeff and skinnyfish. And to make up rules and then break them.

Runners run.

JakeKnight

posted: 2/20/2007 at 10:34 PM

Quote from skinnyfish on 2/20/2007 at 9:07 PM:

again sorry about breaking the rules, I plead ignorance just this once. Skinnyfish

Oh. Sure. It's easy to miss, since it's, ya know, posted at the top of the front page. And there's only one rule. You were probably running too fast to notice it. This post brought to you by Senor Sarcasm. Adios, gringos.

E-mail: JakeKnight2002@aol.com
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Jeff

posted: 2/20/2007 at 11:29 PM

skinnyfish, I look forward to being able to look in on your training. My goals are similar to yours, I think, but I haven't really figured out a program. My first idea is to get comfortable at 70-90 mpw over the next couple of months, mainly running aerobically with a few tempos thrown in. I'm curious to see how far a conservative approach will take me. I have some PR's from college that I want to chase down over the next couple of years, so it will be interesting to share contrasting ideas and see how they work. For example, I think I'm going to break my runs into doubles at least twice a week. I'll write more later about some thoughts I have about how to go about it--but for now, I admire your enthusiasm for the experiment--and your willingness to stick to a program. Go for it!

The Logic of Long Distance

2000 miles of spasmotic signing

Running With the Buffaloes (Read 578 times)