0 Members and 3 Guests are viewing this topic.
Never more than twice a week, either for distance running speed work, or sprinting workouts. I try to space them out, but as long as they are not a back to back days, I don’t have a particular rule.I’m about as old as you guys, and sprinting workouts are done at nearly full speed and it takes a lot out me. For sprint workouts it’s about quality over quantity – I can’t run more than five or six 200m at 95% top speed. For a distance running speed workout, though, I do at least 12 x 200 because they are not even close to full speed.
An opposing view, of which I disagreed with completely, was my ex-college teammate who tried to take over my own running program last year. His view is that you should be doing speedwork (near sprint) 5-6 days a week. Sets of 100s to 400s nearly all out, or maybe a set of hill reps. If did such a program--And tried to keep any sort of mileage base--I'd be injured in a matter of weeks and would simply hate running.
That’s fine for high school or college kid, but for masters athletes no f’ing way. Does he himself do that many speed workouts per week? Has he coached other masters athletes that way? You’re right, it’s just begging for an injury. Older runners like us need to be handled with care.
So I'm happy with the aerobic approach! Lydiard and such.