Just to add to this most awesome informational thread:

My Take On The THE MAFFETONE METHOD

 --It's all about developing aerobic speed, balancing the aerobic and anaerobic energy systems, and remaining healthy while doing so.

Resources:

Maffetone Method by Dr. Phil Maffetone--this book is a comprehensive look at his program, includes most of the info from Training For Endurance.

www.philmaffetone.com has lots of info as well. Sign-up is free. He's also a musician!

Dr. Phil Maffetone's Sports Page has some good articles on training, diet, overtraining, 180-formula and MAF Tests etc.

Training For Endurance by Dr. Phil Maffetone

In Fitness and In Health by Dr. Phil Maffetone

Mark Allen's Take On The Maffetone Method

Articles by Mark Allen

Working out at your calculated MAF thread

- About running at your MAF for a good portion of your workout for best aerobic development.

High Performance Heart by Dr. Phil Maffetone

Reaching your potential in endurance events is all about developing your aerobic system and aerobic speed. I'm going to warn you up front that there is a chance you are going to hate this method at first. The reason being that you will suddenly be running (and probably walking a little) paces that are not only slower than you ever imagined, but also uncomfortable and ego-shattering. The good news is that if you do the training properly, the slowness is temporary. The method is about creating a healthy, fit athlete. Being healthy means not running yourself into over-training, injury, and a weakened immune system (colds, flu, etc.). Dr. Phil wants to see you achieve your potential, but in a way that doesn't over-stress your body. He made a name for himself taking broken down athletes and getting them back to not only health, but also their best performances. Mark Allen (6-time Iron Man Champ) and Mike Pigg being two of the most successful on the elite level.

The following page is perfect description of what happens (how the slowness is temporary) if the program is done correctly:

Mark Allen on Maffetone Training

Here's a case study of someone who had to walk in the beginning in order to stay under MAF. It illustrates how it works and what can happen when you overstress the body: Case Study

THE MAF TEST The heart of this method is managing stress through monitoring of the Maximal Aerobic Function Test, or MAF Test. Whether you are in either the aerobic or anaerobic phase (see below) or a racing season, this test is good way to monitor whether or not your aerobic system is progressing or regressing. First, you have to figure out your MAF. To learn how go to Dr. Phil's sports page.

It also discusses the MAF test. To do an MAF test, first take 15-20 minutes to warm-up to MAF-10. Then run a speed that gets your HR up to your MAF. For example, If your MAF is 130, then keep your HR there, allowing only brief blips of 131. If you see 132, slow down. If you see anything below 129, speed up. Do that for 3-5 miles. Even a one mile test can provide information. During the test you should see a progressive overall slowing from the first to the last mile. If you are speeding up, you need to warm up more. Do these tests every 3-4 weeks. If the overall pace and times are progressing, then that shows your current training load (along with the load of stress from your life) is not too much. Your aerobic system is still improving. If the overall pace and time is regressing, then something needs to change. It might be time to go back to the aerobic base phase. If you are already in that phase, then reduced time on your feet might help. Other things come into play including lack of sleep, job stress, family stress, and diet.

You can also make your MAF tests time based. For example, after your warm-up, you can run a 45 minute test. You can still take mile or kilometer splits. In the beginning, you might cover 3.5 miles. A year later, you might be covering 5 miles in the same time.

3 Phases of MAF Training

My take on MAF training is that there are three phases, which can be entered anytime when needed, or when prepared to do so:

1. Aerobic

2. Anaerobic/racing

3. Rest, Recovery, Vacation

*********Aerobic Phase********************

6-time Ironman Tri Champ, Mark Allen, calls this the PATIENCE phase. This is an aerobic base-training phase run at or under a heart rate of 180-age (MAF) with adjustments for current health and fitness. Why patience? Because 99% of the runners who first do this will be training slower than they ever have in their life, and it defies the current logic and beliefs of "no pain, no gain." It can be ego-busting and maddening at first, producing much whining in the threads in which I've been involved. Just run all your miles at a pace that keeps your heart rate at or below your MAF (180-age). Spending at least some portion of your longer duration runs (hard day) at your MAF. This will work your slow-twitch, aerobic endurance fibers almost exclusively, and keep your body in a fat-as-fuel mode. It'll be slow in the beginning because your body has not learned to process oxygen well using fat. As your slow twitch fibers develop, your body will get better at processing oxygen using fat, and you will eventually have to speed up in order to maintain the same heart rate. This is your AEROBIC SPEED developing.

It's not a bad idea to do your recovery runs at MAF -10 or lower. It's not required, but it can make the recovery day a little less stressful.

This phase is not about running slow, but about running faster and faster at MAF--becoming a fat-fueled runner. The slowness is temporary. Just keep raising your base mileage a little each week. Don't overdo it. Keep track of your MAF tests, and listen to how your body feels. The tests will let you know if you are over-training, and your body will let you know as well. If you are a walking, breathing sore spot, tired all the time, cranky, and your MAF tests and MAF training times are slowing, you need to make adjustments in your volume, and perhaps a long rest may be in order.

Dr. Maffetone, as well as Jack Daniels, suggests that you run by time not distance. For example, do 2 hour long runs, and let the mileage be whatever it ends up being. The body doesn't know miles, it knows duration. A professional runner might be able to run 20 miles in two hours at MAF, and an age-grouper might only be able to run 13 miles in the same time at MAF. The training load is the same for each runner. Studies show there are no real aerobic benefits after 2-2.5 hours on your feet. Anything over that, might toughen you mentally, but might just be beating yourself up--depending on who you are and what you can handle.  An aerobic phase of 12-16 weeks at the beginning of the year is suggested. If you are a beginner, or are trying to rebuild a shot aerobic system and body, then a longer period might be needed. According to a blurb in the Lore Of Running, Mark Allen would do this phase the first 12 weeks of every new year as a base-training phase, and did it each year of each Ironman win, taking time off at the end of each year to rest. He would return to the patience phase when his MAF tests showed regression in pace. ( "Lore of Running, Fourth Edition" by Timothy D. Noakes, MD, DSc (p.454-460))

Mark Allen on Maffetone Training

Mark Allen On Base Training

*********************Anaerobic, Tempo, Speedwork Phase************

Yes. The Maffetone Method includes anaerobic training. You have to race some time! In this phase, the idea is to sharpen up the fast-twitch fibers and balance your energy systems. It is important to do regular MAF tests throughout all phases of training and racing. The tests will help to let you know if the anaerobic training is creating a balance, or an imbalance. If your body needs anaerobic work to balance out the aerobic work you've done, your MAF tests should improve. If they get worse as a result of this work, or during racing season, this can be a sign that you need to return to base training, as your aerobic system is beginning to deteriorate.

Here are a few quotes from Training For Endurance by Dr. Philip Maffetone Chapter 12 (2nd revised Edition, David Barmore Productions, ©2000):

(please note that the above book is currently out of print, but the same info can be found in  The Maffetone Method by Dr. Phil Maffetone and in his upcoming combination book, Training And Eating For Endurance)

--"once you've built sufficient aerobic function, your body may be ready to add anaerobic work. I say 'may' because many endurance athletes can often bypass this part of training, and rely instead on racing to get all the anaerobic stimulation necessary... ....The main purpose of anaerobic training is to build the fast-twitch muscle fibers. For endurance athletes, maximum benefits can be achieved easily in as short a time as 3-4 weeks...

...anaerobic workouts can be treacherous domain. This risky training is frequently the cause of injuries, fatigue and poor performance.

...including races, do not exceed 2-3 anaerobic workouts per week. For many athletes, one is sufficient.."

****Rest, Recovery, Vacation*****

In the different phases of this training, remember to always follow the rules of recovery as close as possible.

Suggestions:

--always follow a hard day (long distance or time, speed, race) with an easy day (short distance or time, sub-MAF, total rest). After a hard race take it easy the following week. Depending on the distance, you might take anywhere from 1 day to 2 weeks total rest from running, or keeping whatever running you do to a brief amount of time and under MAF.

--increase weekly amount of time on your feet by no more than 5-10% per week on average. Cut back your time on feet every 3rd or 4th week, resuming where you left off, or at a higher level after the recovery week. Be careful. The natural tendency is to think running more and getting to higher volumes as quickly as possible is better. Keep track of your MAF tests.

--1 day complete rest per week isn't a bad idea.

--it doesn't hurt to take a few weeks or months off from running every year.

Mark Allen would take two months off in November and December after the Ironman and not begin training until the aerobic base phase in January. ( "Lore of Running, Fourth Edition" by Timothy D. Noakes, MD, DSc (p.454-460))

*************Monitoring Resting Heart Rate**********************

Keeping track of resting heart rate (RHR) can be very helpful with training. It's an added tool in managing stress and monitoring fitness. Take your resting RHR when you wake up in the morning while still in bed. After a week, you'll get a good idea of what the average is. If you wake up one morning and it is 5 beats or more over your normal RHR, it's an indicator that your body is stressed. It could be stressed because it is fighting a bug, tired from too much running, dehydrated, etc. It's a good idea to do a very easy run that day or rest. Don't do any hard or long runs, or rest, until it returns to normal. As you get fitter, there is a high probability your RHR will get lower. So, if the overall average keeps dropping, then that's a good sign.

A lower than normal heart rate can also be a sign of over-training. If your RHR is normally 55 bpm, and suddenly it is 48 bpm, this might indicate your body needs recovery. I've seen this phenomenon the day after very long (duration) runs. I've also read posts of runners having lower than normal heart rates the day after their long run, and they end up running faster at the same HR, thinking it is in increase in fitness, when it is really the heart being in a state of recovery. Rest or a brief recovery run is the best thing the day after a long run.

******************Life Stress and Overtraining**************

 The heart of Dr. Phil's books is "be healthy." The number one element to staying healthy is to avoid over-training. He has some excellent information on over-training in his books. He writes about three different levels, each progressively worse than the other.The MAF test is the best training tool in avoiding this condition. If you are not seeing any progress in your pace time, or if is regressing, then you might be on the borderline. There are many physical symptoms that will clue you in as well. Exhaustion, raised resting heart rate, and pain are just a few. Increased life stress outside of running can adversely affect the aerobic system.

*************************************Runner's Obsession*************************

"Runner's Obsession" is one of the biggest obstacles from getting to a healthy state, and also your goals. I really should call this section MY runner's obsession. It rears its ugly head with thinking like this:

--my body is aching, I'm tired, but if I miss a day, I'll only have 49 miles for the week, and I was supposed to run 60.

--my resting heart rate is 8 beats above normal, but if I take time off, I'll lose fitness.

--I have to spend the day digging a ditch and dealing with stressful business, but I can't miss that run.

--I was supposed to run 5 hours three weeks in a row, but my legs are sore and I'm tired, but still, I have to keep on track, keep on schedule. I'll tag today's time on to the rest day at the end of the week, and just run 13 days in a row.

--it's the taper for the marathon, and I'm feeling beat up. My resting heart rate is high. I feel off, I might be coming down with something. I feel like I need a week off.  But I might lose fitness. Be tough. Get out there. Run through it!

--MUST NOT GO OFF SCHEDULE!

--I'll never be great if I don't run the same amount as THAT great runner. I'm going to do what he does, and exceed it, no matter how hard it is.

--I ran the Boston Marathon yesterday as a training run. I'm feeling so good, I'm going to run 80 miles this week. Even though I feel like I just ran a marathon. I can barely walk down the stairs, but it was only a training run. Get out there!

 This sort of thinking has not served me well. I imagine other runners deal with this. This idea that I can't miss a day or a week is obsession, and perhaps addiction. Many times, I haven't listened to my body because the goal, the schedule, and my fitness was all-important. The few injuries that I have had, and the state of over-training and aerobic deficiency in which I found myself at the end of 2008,  were a direct result of this thinking. I still battle with it, but more and more I find it easier to take days off. This past year has proved to me that sometimes less is more in training; it is sometimes necessary to rest or cut-back in order NOT to lose fitness and health. Rest and recovery are not the enemy of performance.

***************************FInally**************************

That's it. Take it or leave it, of course. It's a radical change in thinking, but it works, and it increases the probability that you will stay healthy. When beginning the base phase, I always think of Mark Allen saying how he was always training hard at 5:00 miles, and how when he put the HRM on, he suddenly was running 8 minute miles (like walking to an elite), after awhile he was back to 5:00 miles but at a very low level of exertion and heart rate, burning mostly fat as fuel, feeling healthy, and winning! That helps me keep going. Take care. Feel free to ask any questions. And if you happen to commit to a base phase using this method, you get three whiny posts about how slow you're going, and after that you'll be bombarded with suck-it-up posts. Keep going!

--Jimmy