winter buildup (Read 1859 times)

I get your point - But a down cycle each year is not a bad thing - To me the most logical time is when the weather is the worst and there are no races to run.

 

I am not logical - So I usually run the least in Summer - Too many other things I like to do.

 

Eddy - I think its a great time for easy miles and 1-2 easy to moderate workouts a week.  1 that touches LAT - Nothing crazy: 20 minutes at LAT or 5x1 mile is plenty.  The other one that touches faster speed - Could be striders or 1-2 minutes on / off.  Or as we in WI often have to do ... the dry pavement fartlek - If you happen to come accross an area of pavement without ice and snow ... Run fast across it until next patch of ice and snow.

 

I also think its a nice time for group running

+1  More easy miles is always better but  think about what you can maintain in your lifestyly. Also, don't completely eliminate all up tempo stuff - just less volume in winter for faster stuff.

Taking up Mikey's and deluj's points, I'm sitting here reading a book, waiting for my daughter to wake up and scream, thinking, didn't Bernie Lagat take 5 weeks off in 2009, no running, no swimming, nada? Nothing but BBQ and playing trains with his kids, as he put it. Seems like a lot, but he's Bernie Lagat.  He must have a clue.  Anyone have some thoughts on when this could be a good idea for a hobby jogger?

Hey, here's more on that from Bob Wiles:

Want proof that taking a little time off to recover is not going to ruin your chances of running well next year? Look at America's finest track runner over the last decade, Bernard Lagat. He takes the month of October off every year to let his body recover from a long racing season. In fact, he gained 12 pounds in the month of October this year while enjoying his rest! If our nation's best runner thinks that taking a month completely off from running and apparently eats everything that crosses his face during that month, surely us mortals can allow ourselves a little recovery time and a couple of slices of thanksgiving pie in the coming weeks.

 That's awesome.  My own personal studies have shown that the reverse is not as successful -- training for 1 month and taking the other 11 off hasn't produced much in the way of good results.

Maybe you just need to adjust your definition of "good results" --- increase weighting factor of "leisure time available" and decrease weighting factor of "race speed results"