Forums >General Running>running by feel...what did I do wrong?
Feeling the growl again
I've never had a problem until I tweaked my left hamstring when I tripped over something during a warmup before a softball game. The run felt easy. I'm chalking it up to I either had a good day or my base speed has increased (which wouldn't be hard). The hamstring could be explained by the fact that even though my base speed has increased, the faster pace still stressed it earlier (and the hilly course didn't help).
"If you want to be a bad a$s, then do what a bad a$s does. There's your pep talk for today. Go Run." -- Slo_Hand
I am spaniel - Crusher of Treadmills
1983
Spaniel, how long did it take you to shave 8 to 9 mins from your 5K time? If you're willing to sell that particular kind of kool-aid then I'll buy it.
A better question might be how many pairs of shoes did he wear out to shave 8-9mins off his 5k time.
Since you seem inclined to take a personal shot at me, allow me to clarify. The "hippy" reference is an inside gag in the 2000 Mile group, of which many of the "running by feel" posters are members. If you haven't spent time reading that group's forum, the reference might be lost on you. In any event, its not a terribly inapposite label, considering that we're talking about science-based rigid training schedules, on the one hand, and experience-based run-by-feel training philosophies, on the other hand. (If for some reason you consider "hippy" to be a personal insult, that's your own personal politics at play, and I can't really be held accountable for your sensitivities.) As for the "kool aid" comment, well, I consider that pretty appropriate as well. The whole "running by feel" thing on this message board shares a lot of elements with classic cult culture: the group displays zealous and unquestioning commitment to its belief system; questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished; the group is elitist; the group's beliefs are supported by experiential or anecdotal evidence, and scientific review of the group's beliefs are discouraged; the group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality. Admittedly an overly dramatic comparison, but enough to make me chuckle. For the record, I don't actually think you folks are "hippies" or cultists. I just have a different opinion on how a newer runner can optimally train than you do.
If he comes back and says he did it all barefoot then I think I'm just going to give up and channel my energy into another activity. My guess is somewhere between 8,000 and 10,000 miles to shave 8 to 9 minutes from a 5K.
#artbydmcbride
Runners run
One day at a time
Berner, while speed and good running advice do not always go hand in hand I'm curious what exactly you think is bad about my advice except that my koolaid is cherry and you only drink grape.
How To Run a Marathon: Step 1 - start running. There is no Step 2.
Dave
I'm exhausted.
I ran a mile and I liked it, liked it, liked it. dgb2n@yahoo.com
Pace yourself. Read by feel.
Assume for purposes of argument
About 4.5 miles in my hamstring (separate issue) started to twinge and I slowed way down and wrapped it up at 5 miles. ... It wasn't until my hammy started hurting at 4.5 miles that I realized I was running too fast (I can usually get at least 8 miles before it starts to tweak).
If you set out for an easy run, and ended up injuring yourself or pushing yourself to the edge of injury, then you had a bad run. "Running by feel" did not work out well for you on that day. Period. All apologies to the hippy crowd, but seriously...if a runner has to cut a run short because he ran too fast and injured his hamstring, lets call it what is was: a failed experiment. ... Since you didn't elaborate on how severe or chronic this hamstring injury is, and since I haven't seen you comment as to whether it affected your subsequent workouts, hopefully it was a one-time thing. I do hope that you take it easy and don't risk aggravating the hammy issue. Whatever type of training philosophy you follow, injuries suck. Whatever and whomever's advice you decide to follow, train well and stay healthy.
Prince of Fatness
Not at it at all.
E-mail: eric.fuller.mail@gmail.com -----------------------------