RW Forum Six – Sub 2.50 Kier with Parkrunfan

Well, I can't go against the advice of my mentor can I? 

Actually, I do see the point and do agree with the theory. I have run a couple of 20s before unfueled in a previous campaign, but didn't before Abingdon. 

I am not sure that I could run a MLR in the evening after a day witout eating lunch or tea though. So I expect I will eat a normal tea on Saturday night, skip Sunday morning brekkie and go out for a steady 20. I certainly don't want to try any sort of progressive, paced or fast finish LSR unfueled. 

I did have a nice school dinner today (fisherman's pie) and also went for apple crumble and custard. Fully fueled and digested I went out at half 5 for 10m @ 7.43m/m 134 bpm (71%) 1hr 18, followed by 4m progressive round the track. There came out at: 6.41m/m 147bpm, 6.19m/m 157bpm, 6.02m/m 165bpm, 5.45m/m 172bpm. Had to man up a bit over the final mile (the power of knowing I would have to post this kept me going). Quick drink then joined the tri clubs core session - 20sec on, 10sec off x 8 for press-ups, followed by 2mins rest then the same for burpees, sit-ups and other exercises. Quick stretch and home to refuel with shreddies. Now just setting up my running kit for the morning before hitting bed. 

Excellent effort, Keir.

So that gets the mechanics of the progressive 4 miler mentally embedded at an early stage. By the time it gets to the 22 miler you'll just be putting another easy 8 miles in before tonights session...and the progressive bit will start to feel a bit easier as well.

Looking forward to the 8 weeks now?

Definately. 

I'm suitably impressed with all that Keir, helluva effort!

Interesting stuff regarding the fuelling. I always eat something before the long run (dont like calling them LSR, because half the time they are not slow), and up until the last couple of campaignes I always drank and sometimes popped a gel. But more recently now I take a drink and a gel but only for emergencies. I think it's more important to fuel the run the day/evening before.

The Tyler Hamilton way seems absolute lunacy. Can anybody see the sense in doing that?

The Tyler Hamilton way - I think it is fine for us to look at it all as crazy from the outside. But none of us know what it would have been like in that closed enviroment, where it is the 'normal' thing to do, where you either conform or have to leave and re-evaluate your whole career and life aspirations and you see others become rich, wealthy heroes. Surely anyone in that situation must question whether their ethics are outdated or do not apply in this situation?

edit: Forgot to say, that is an impressive Weds evening 20 miler PRF. Do you usually do your long run mid week?

Badum tish Slokey Joe. I think we need to rein in on the horse jokes now

Nice work on 20 miler prf

Excellent session Keir, some very nice pace and HR number recorded there, has your 71% pace improved recently?

Hard to understand the thinking of Hamilton, but as Keir say’s we will never know what kind of internal pressures were applied on riders in that environment.

Just ticking over here with some mileage, 10.17m on Tuesday, 5 + 7 yesterday, nothing fast due to the ice, -7 outside my house this morning.

I am wondering if the Brass Monkey will be cancelled or postponed on Sunday? Forecast is for the temps to remain below freezing all week with snow forecast on Friday and Saturday. If its cancelled, I hope they make the call early so I can get on with some decent mileage over the weekend.

Keir - If you're looking forward to the 8 weeks then all is good, Just another week and a half mucking about then time to get training

In terms of long runs I do them whenever but will often set off with only a half idea of getting a long one in rather than a definite plan. The decision will usually only be made as I come towards the end of the first 10 mile loop, if the legs feel up to it I'll carry on, if not the default 10 will be done.

YD - BM may be on but it is highly unlikely to be PB chasing conditions, mainly because of sub zero temps  and the effect that has on the lungs.

Btw will you be seeing SM at all to pick up my number?

I've heard that Knavesmire Harriers are running the course today and tomorrow to assess the situation re BM.  If we get the snow predicted I may have trouble travelling over the Northumberland moors early on Sunday morning.

prf - I have put PB chasing out of my mind now, luckily I have plenty of targets to chase down on Sunday, so racing people not the clock will be the order of the day, should it go ahead, I still have doubts.

I was supposed to be seeing SM on Tuesday for a run but his Missus has taken ill so he cancelled. I’ll drop him an email to see what he is going on Sat so I can pick up the number for you.

Minni – it will be fine today, I would have thought. Some ice, but nothing that would cause it to be cancelled assuming the roads are gritted. However, it’s the forecast snow fall that might put a stop to proceedings, IMO.

5m skipping round the ice this morning. Had to walk some parts. Legs more tired then they've been for a while. 

I realised I might need to sacrifice my 5m easy on Saturday after a conversation with my wife last night. After the usual routine of looking after the kids first thing to give my wife a lie-in, then taking my son swimming, my wife if having lunch with a friend and hitting the shops. Lots of brownie points gained by happily saying I will be ok not to run, only to realise that with the treadmill set up I might be able to sneak in a cheeky 5m whilst also fulfilling my parental duties.

Keir, keep a phone by the treadmill.  You don't want to get caught out because you didn't hear your wife call to check something while she's at the shops.  Trust me on this.

Good tip CD, although I can always use the 'I was changing a nappy' excuse. But I must find a way of bribing the boys to not sneak on me. 

Interesting article in favour of carb depletion - although it does say this:

Some experimental studies have seen improvement in athletes' fat-burning abilities in as little as three weeks, but Baar says six to eight weeks is more realistic, since such workouts are too stressful to do all the time. Plus, the approach is best avoided when runners fear a cold, because exercising in a carb-depleted state suppresses the immune system.

That's why Austin advises against glycogen-depleted workouts, preferring athletes simply pass on carbs during their daily training runs.

And this article is also in favour but warns caution. 

And here is an interesting article on 'spit or swallow' 

Keir - how many free lessons do you get that enables you to find and read all these articles?!!

YD - I meant tomorrow and Saturday.  I'm a day ahead of myself!

parkrunfan wrote (see)

Whenever there is digestion going on at least some bloodflow is diverted for that purpose, leaving less oxygenated bloodflow for supply to the working muscles.

So you’re a spitter then are you prf?

Minni - when I replied I was replying thinking it was Friday today, so I am no better…..


The carb rinsing article was interesting, though, the author still suggests digesting carbs is necessary for exercise lasting longer than an hour. Not sure it has changed my thinking on mid race Marathon nutrition. I will have a read of the other two articles this afty, if I get chance.

Just back from a lunchtime run of 5.67miles, got a bit carried away and ran the first mile in 6:57, average pace was 7:18/m on a hilly route with some off road. I was supposed to be taking it easy for Sunday!

Tyler Hamilton was (IIRC) doped up to the eyeballs on PEDs and blood transfusions when he was pulling that particular training trick...

Yes of course Jools but this was before he really got drawn into the postal service ways and was just trying to lose weight to increase power and thats how they used to do it. His power ratios where increasing all the time but he couldn't sit down as his bum had no fat at all on it!!!

6 miles very easy this morning, felt so tired tbh, def was 9mm plus. Then a drive 75 mins drive to marlow and back has finished me. Hoping coffee and lots of food will revive me before run tonight!

Coaching course on Sat cancelled so that gives me more time for running and getting kids homework done! Good brownie points there Keir. Hubbie and I have to take shifts for our training but luckily he commutes to work on his bike 20 miles so gets a good hour done each day and we own a treadmill so one runs outside and the other inside. DVDs, chocolate, pocket money for the kids??? Trouble is they are all useless at keeping secrets, maybe better to fess up!

Off to do some reading..... Housework can wait!

LOL Minni!