Tempo Runs (from letsrun) (Page 2)

bradleyd3 - 2008-09-10 5:26 PM

Real Race Results: 5K - 26:30 10K - 58:19

In this and the other thread you state something about beginners and intermediate runners NEEDING this feedback more than advanced runners.

In my opinion it is, if anything, the opposite. Beginning runners have so many areas at which they are capable of improvement (endurance, pacing, speed, etc.) that just plain running without too much stress will give them large gains. HRM, Pace, beyond learning to run easy most of the time (which you can learn without any tools) are fancier than needed to make good gains. I would guess simply running consistantly (run lots, mostly easy sometimes hard) will get you 80+% of your potential to improve. More if you are really out of shape to start.

Now you COULD make the argument that an intermediate runner who discovers they are a very imbalanced runner may need to focus on a type of running to help balance themselves out (i.e. a runner who has good leg strength but poor wind, or good endurance but trouble finding another gear). But again, simply running and being aware of what you need to change is often enough to move in the right direction. In this stage I think occasional monitoring of pace/HR might be of use, if only to verify "oh so THATS what it feels like". But you can make good gains simply by stating your weakness (i.e. "I run too fast on long runs and feel burned out for the next three days" ) and focusing on it the next run ("slow, slow slow slow" ) .

I would think that the best runners who are striving for marginal improvements would have the most need to be specific in training zones. And yet you will find that with the exception of maybe a couple workouts a week, most do not watch pace or HR like a hawk. So by the time you get good enough to make use of precision, you probably dont need the tool anymore.