time out

[cesar]

hey ,

here is an article related to training watchless,i found it several days ago and i would like to share it with all of you, hope you like it.

here is the link of the page number 2 , to see page number 1 , when you click the link at the end you click the 1.
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-267--9475-2-1-2,00.html

[Ryan]

I have to admit that I'm not always quick to praise an RW article but this one nails the topic on a few points.

First, the point that many runners tend to race their workouts or set goal times for their workouts. The best thing these people can do is to drop that mentality.

Second, the point I make often of learning to listen to your body in workouts. You can fine tune your workout to how you feel on the day. Running by splits, if you're having a bad day, you could bury yourself. If you're having a good day, you might not get the most you can out of your workout.

Third, related to the second point, listening to your body in races. If you know how to listen to your body, doing so can be more effective and offer better real time feedback than taking splits.

[Ed]

I see your point Ryan -

The feedback you get from splits are delayed measures that by the time you react to them - it might be too late. 

The more one runs and races - the more immediate feedback a person can sense from their bodies and make minute adjustments that will pay greater dividends.

[Ryan]

Ed, not only are splits delayed feedback but they are not always accurate feedback. If you're having an unexpected bad or good day or you don't adjust your goal splits for race day conditions, it's very possible that you will either end up chasing an impossible goal or selling yourself short. In fact, I'd argue that, on any given day, chasing splits is more likely to leave one not running to the best of their ability. There are simply too many factors that will affect one's performance on any given day and hitting some predetermined number based on results from a different day with different factors will not be likely to lead to the best result.

[Ed]

My recent Fish Day race was proof of that -  I was planning on a  much slower split for the first mile - but I felt good so I adjusted less than I would have had I wanted to stay exactly "on track."  In the end I was shocked with my results - just about five minutes faster than "planned" for the 8K.

[Ryan]

Your Fish Day run came to mind as I was typing that. You were shot at the end but you far outperformed your own expectations by not worrying about splits and just racing.