Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Pseudo Taper & Training Schedule

I've been without a training plan for awhile because I haven't been running. When I was able to start running again, Coach & I agreed that I'd just stick to running 4 easy 3x per week. Didn't really need a plan for that. But now that I have some races on my schedule, and after hearing that I was planning to run 7 miles on Friday, he mailed me a scheduled that gets me through October and up to the Bosque Boogie 10K.

He wants me to stick with a 4 mile easy run on Friday as sort of a mini-taper for the 5K. Even though it's a fun run, he didn't think my plan of running 7 on Friday was such a good idea. Something about having fresh legs on Sunday. Okay. Makes sense. Guess I'm in a pseudo taper!

I notice that the plan doesn't have any target paces for tempo runs for about another month. I like this for two reasons. No pressure in the short term; I'll just stick with easy runs which are my favorite. Yet there are some confidence building tempo runs closer to the 10K race. Perfect.

One thing that I do need to talk to him about are all these REST days on the calendar. In the past, he has annotated certain days are REST and other days as Rest/Cross Training. This time I don't see the "Rest/Cross-training days. I assume this is an oversight, and I will typically will cross-train unless I know it's really supposed to be a true REST day.

Do you prefer running with a schedule or winging it? I happen to do much better with a well thought out schedule. And his schedules always make more sense than the ones I try to put together for myself. Guess that's why he's the coach instead of me!

21 comments:

  1. I love having a schedule - just as a guideline. I find that I am constantly changing it and tweaking based on my work and personal schedule, but it's nice to have one and know about how many miles I should be covering each week. :)

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  2. I usually make a schedule for myself and then end up continously "modifying" it throughout a training cycle. So, I begin in an organized way, but typically end up "winging it." What can I say? I'm certainly no type-A personality! Maybe a type-B? :)

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  3. Schedule all the way - I'm going to try the next 8 weeks or so after my first race on Saturday with a coach.

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  4. I have my basic week that I have been sticking with. Since I have been basically pushing distance, its been easy for me to wing it by saying "go farther". Now that I am in my final weeks, and I've maxed out the training distances, I need to be smarter and plan some intensity into my weeks. Couple that with 9 short weeks till the big day, and I have started to lay out my plans on paper. It's getting important :-)

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  5. I am allllll about the schedule. I hate being between run clinics and we just run 'easy' a few times a week. Makes me crazy.

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  6. I definitely prefer a schedule! Glad you've got something in writing again and it sounds like a good plan!

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  7. I follow a schedule but I plan it myself. I am my own coach. My schedule is very detailed and always worked out to the day at least 6 to 12 months in advance. I also have a long term plan for at least the next 3 years.

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  8. I like to draw up a rough draft of a schedule and just try to make all the workouts, I label the A,B,C of imprtance, A being the most important, C being it will be nice to fit in but wont be disappointed if I can not.

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  9. I need a schedule.
    I won't do it otherwise.

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  10. i've been semi-winging it for this marathon. i just go with a certain mileage for the week and make it work. however, usually i'm a total plan junkie! good luck with your upcoming 5 and 10k, glad you seem to be feeling good!

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  11. got to have a schedule or I the slacking will begin

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  12. In the past, I've used a schedule but always seemed to change it here and there (probably too much change).

    My most recent race I followed a RW Smartcoach plan. I stuck to it religiously. I felt that if I stuck to this plan, I wouldn't have any regrets come race day. It worked for me.

    I finally learned to trust my training plan.

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  13. I generally follow a schedule during tri season or leading up to a big marathon. But for the general off season, like now, I just wing it and do whatever sounds fun.

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  14. I didn't read all of the above comments yet but I'd venture a guess that most of us love a schedule. I know I do!

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  15. I find that when I've been on a schedule for a LONG time (like right now) I crave the freeing feeling of no schedule. But I also know that when I'm NOT on a schedule I miss the schedule. So I'm a little of both I guess :-)

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  16. I HAVE to have a schedule. Otherwise every day would be a rest day. ;)

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  17. i am so desperately trying to follow a schedule but I suck at it, I just end up running everyday cause I want to :)

    the benefit of the schedule though is it makes me run harder and then do cross training

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  18. Hi Lisa,
    I am all about schedules and having something to modivate me. You are so lucky to have a coach to give you advice on how to train:) Good luck with your races!

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  19. Training plan for sure - if you are training for a specific event! Because you know the saying: If you fail to plan, you plan to ... you know how it goes.

    It also helps staying focused.

    *Sigh* ... I miss training. :-(

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  20. It varies. If there is an A race and my life priorities are set up such that I can run more, I will always follow a schedule. Granted, the reason I decide to do an A race is realizing that I have the time, effort to commit to training as best as I can to prepare for a race. In this scenario, I will stick to as close as to my schedule as possible.

    By schedule, I mean mostly time spent on running and what type of run. Earlier season I won't worry as much the pace. As the race is closing and as I do more miles repeats, fast runs, I will slowly narrow my pace i need ot train on (say run a mile in 7:15 etc.).

    ...

    If I run for fun (like with a friend for their race), then I don't worry as much. Granted this is more of helping my friend runs better aka I am fitter than him/her.

    I notice when I start to wing it, my running is not consistent. Consistency is a huge factor in running well (and fast).

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  21. Schedule, for sure! I tend to do better when I have structure. If I just winged it then I'd never do anything. ;)

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