tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13273897.post7211184182510362767..comments2024-02-06T10:16:40.971+00:00Comments on Diary of a Rubbish Marathon Runner: MaffetoneThomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07802380462713592586noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13273897.post-87335090547781371482015-01-03T16:06:25.380+00:002015-01-03T16:06:25.380+00:00Thanks for this blog, Thomas! After reading it, I ...Thanks for this blog, Thomas! After reading it, I borrowed Maffetone's book from the library and realized what a mess I had been for quite some time. I started adopting his advice and it's working for me too. Although I will not be ready to compete or train for a long time, I enjoy running again and dietary changes give me more energy in all aspects of my life. Even my chronic insomnia is gone! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13273897.post-41141453981608130232014-12-16T12:01:08.124+00:002014-12-16T12:01:08.124+00:00Yes Thomas happy to hear you're feeling better...Yes Thomas happy to hear you're feeling better and if nothing else a period of maffetone pace running should give your body a chance to get stronger and hopefully next year, propel you to the next level! Hang in there, I know it's hard to run slow when you're not injured.Samurai Runninghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12295160713705142193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13273897.post-8827223491536473182014-12-15T23:44:23.972+00:002014-12-15T23:44:23.972+00:00Great that your back running long runs again. I...Great that your back running long runs again. I'm very jealous of your maffetone pace. Mine varied as I live in a valley & all roads point upwards. So I feel your frustration on the hills. My 15 mile run took me 2:35...that's fairly hard to swallow considering I used to race that distance about an hour quicker. I'm sure you'll benifit from including this type of training into your weekly milage. Best of luck with the return to form in the coming weeks.The underdoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12798689508518527465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13273897.post-33420270280003203402014-12-15T12:00:33.134+00:002014-12-15T12:00:33.134+00:00Good to hear you are back running and feeling bett...Good to hear you are back running and feeling better.<br /><br />I know you hate running "slow" but I believe it will really help your final 24hr performance. Running economy at low effort takes a while to develop - the fact that you disklike it so much is indicator that you can't yet fully relax at that pace/intensity. <br /><br />A few years back I started running regular recovery runs at 9 to 10min/mile pace and initially found them unbearable, constantly fighting to stay slow enough, especially when heading uphill - my running economy used to be really poor at this pace as well.<br /><br />Then after a few months my gait became more and more relaxed at that intensity, and the pace much more naturally ebbed and flowed as I went up and downhill. My running economy also improved until now running at 8:30 to 9min/mile pace is the speed at which I'm most efficient. As my ultras are run at around this pace this is great news, making it much easier to dial into race pace come the big days.<br /><br />With your target race being a 24hr one, if you managed 9min/mile pace for the whole way you'd be up at 160 miles and up there with a chance to medal. While I'd love to hear that you achieve this next year it's a big ask. I can therefore say that any pace you run faster than 9min/mile pace is faster than race pace. All you runs this week were faster. So they felt unpleasantly slow but they were still too fast, but encouragingly much closer to race pace than you normally train.<br /><br />I don't think you'll maximize you potential by running all your runs close to 9min/mile pace I believe they should be part of the weekly mix, specifically to develop running economy and relaxation at that effort. Faster runs and hills can develop your aerobic fitness and resilience that you'll need as well. Previous years you have concentrated on the later benefits but missed out on the race pace running economy development. <br /><br />This enforced MAF period might just what you need to fully balance your training and bring out your best performance.<br /><br /><br />Robert Osfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16960356368117573952noreply@blogger.com