6 week event tune up

Efficient Running Training Program – Pre Event Schedule 6 Weeks out

• Designed for the runner who has a goal of maximizing performance on PT test or an event.
• Primary goal of Efficient Running is aerobic development to support optimal health and wellness. You can take on harder and faster running only if you build this base, which takes several months
• 4-6 weeks of faster running can bring “peaks” on top of your base, but at risk of fatigue and injury. So focus on “fast” and not “hard”.
• Schedule is designed with flexibility. Use it as a guideline.

Unlike many programs, we place the major emphasis on aerobic development, running skill, specific strength, health, progression over years, and not on high intensity workouts. Any intense program can give you short immediate gains, but this comes at a cost.

The philosophy behind our schedules and program is eloquently described by the world’s leading Sports Scientist Dr. Tim Noakes of South Africa.

“…. you are not training to run 1.5 miles. What you are training for is to live a long and productive life and maintaining health optimally. For that there is no question that whatever is sustainable is the best type of training. My view is that it is much more sustainable to run longer distances at one’s own comfortable pace on a daily basis than to have to force runners to do anaerobic work, which really is not sustainable in the long term for most .”

We also apply the time tested wisdom of former USAF Flight Surgeon and Father of Aerobics Dr. Ken Cooper. The Cooper Institute has tested and trained 1000’s of runners over the last 30 years.

“Our general philosophy here at Cooper is that the most effective exercise training programs combine the principles of overload, progression, and specificity. By overload, we mean training longer/more frequently and/or harder this week than last week and longer/more frequently and/or harder next week than this week. By progression we mean increasing the overload very gradually, i.e. just a little longer/more frequently and/or little harder each week. Too much overload too soon leads to musculoskeletal injury. By specificity, we mean training according to the goal, i.e. running is a lot more effective for improving 1.5 mile run score than swimming. That doesn’t mean that the member needs to run at the exclusion of all other aerobic activities, but certainly running needs to be a part of their exercise training program.”

Believe the immortal words of Dr. George Sheehan who said “Everyone is an athlete”. Apply the advice of Arthur Lydiard, Coach of Champions and the Cardiac Patients, who said “Train don’t strain.” Make activity a daily habit and you too will succeed in both fitness and in health.

Efficient Running Training Program – Pre Event Schedule 6 Weeks out

Event Day Tips:

• Show up confident in your preparation and rehearsals with your tempo runs and time trails. Use affirmations
• Warm up with light easy running for 10-15 minutes. This loosens the muscles and tendons and gets your elasticity working. It also gently elevates your heart rate, gets the circulation going, and the mind ready to start the faster run. Do NOT line up cold thinking you are “saving energy”. The running motion is elastic and it takes some loosening to get these tissues functioning efficiently. Think of the first few steps out the door of a morning run. If feels uncoordinated and takes more effort than when you are a mile down the road. There is a scientific reason for this.
• Do NOT stretch. This disrupts muscle function. You can do some light loosening with skips, donkey kicks/swings to loosen the hips, and some very short “strides” when you pick up the pace for 40-50 meters. All of this is really relaxed and gets the range of motion set for faster running.
• Start relaxed and focus to stay smooth and relaxed.
• Focus on using your primary movers, the Gluteus Maximus, for hip extension and power. Think and feel “springy and elastic”. (see form section).
• When you can “smell the barn”, maybe ¼ to ½ mile to go, then pick it up if you feel strong. At a minimum relax, focus, and maintain your pace. Do not be tempted to start picking it up before the half way point. Eat a light breakfast for a morning test if you are used to this and if you are a coffee drinker have your coffee.

Efficient Running Training Program – Pre Event Schedule 6 Weeks out 

Intervals		Recovery		Hills**if no hills subst fartlek run		Recovery		Tempo Run /1.5 mile time trial		Long Run
6 wks. out from PFT	4-6 x 2min. intervals with 2 min. jog (or walk) breaks betweenBegin slower and finish faster in each intervalDrills or strides/pickups		Jog 30OrX-T 30		30 min. hilly runquicker on the uphillsPractice opening your stride, increasing turnover, and relaxing legs on the downhillsStrides/pickups	Jog 30OrX-T 30	1.5 Mile Time TrialDrills or strides/pickups		60-90 min. long run** these will be longer or shorter depending on the duration of your long runs in the beginner or maintenance schedule		RESTOr Fun Active Play
5 wks. out from PFT	4-6 x 2 min. intervals with 2 min. jog/walk breaks.Begin slower and finish faster in each interval and within the set of intervalsDrills or strides/ pickups		Jog 30 minOrX-T 30 min		30 min. hilly runquicker on the uphillsPractice opening your stride, increasing turnover, and relaxing legs on the downhillsstrides/ pickups	Jog 30 minOrX-T 30 min	15 min. tempo runGo out easier and finish fast and strong.Drills or strides/pickups		60-90 min. long run		RESTOr Fun Active Play

Efficient Running Training Program – Pre Event Schedule 6 Weeks out

wks out from PFT	Ladder intervals:2 run/1 walk2 run/1walk3 run/1 walk4 run/1 walk3 run/1 walk 2 run/1 walk 1 min. run Drills or strides/ pickups d	Jog 30 minOrX-T 30	30 min. hilly runquicker on the uphillsPractice opening your stride, increasing turnover, and relaxing legs on the downhillsstrides/ pickups
3 wks. out from PFT	4 x 4 min. intervals1 -2 min. walk or jog breakDrills or strides/ pickups	Jog 30OrX-T 30	30 min. hilly runquicker on the uphillsPractice opening your stride, increasing turnover, and relaxing legs on the downhillsstrides/pickups
2 wks. out from PFT	5 x 4 min. interval1 -2 min. walk or jog breakDrills or strides/ pickups	Jog 30OrX-T 30	30 min. hilly runquicker on the uphillsPractice opening your stride, increasing turnover, and relaxing legs on the downhillsStrides/ pickups

Efficient Running Training Program – Pre Event Schedule 6 Weeks out

1 wk. out from PFT

4 x 4 min. interval1 min. walk or jog breakDrills or strides/ pickups

Jog 30OrX-T 30

4 x 2 min . interval1 min. walk or jog break.Very relaxed.strides/ pickups

Jog 20-30OrX-T 30

RESTOr15-20 min light, loosening jog

PFT

RESTOr Fun Active Play

Pre Event or Fitness Test Schedule

***See key below schedule for descriptions of types of runs

• You are sharpening on a large aerobic base
• Goal is developing relaxed speed
• Consider a 1.5 Mile time trial every 2 weeks for rehearsal and event day focuses
• Be cautious not to overdo it with fast running if your muscles and tendons not fully ready
• Take your recovery days very easy. Gains are made with good recovery
• Do strides/pickups several times a week if you are healthy and enjoy it.

Training Zones Key (Cross Train is not on the above pyramid):
Aerobic Development Speed/Endurance Strength/Quickness Cross Train X-T

Types of Runs:
1. Building Endurance and Aerobic Recovery
a. Aerobic Runs
b. Long Runs
c. Jogs

2. Relaxed Speed/Endurance
a. Tempo Runs
b. Fartlek
c. Intervals
d. Hills

3. Strength/Quickness
a. Strides
b. Drills

Efficient Running Training Program – Pre Event Schedule 6 Weeks out

4. Assessing Progress
a. Maximum Aerobic Function Test
b. 1.5 mile PT Test simulator

5. Cross Training

Aerobic Runs

Purpose: These runs are the foundation of fitness and health. Run at or slightly below your Aerobic Heart Rate (AHR) for the duration of the run. You should be able to happily converse. At least 80 % of your running should be at or below the AHR except for 4-6 weeks prior to an event or PT test.

See Maffetone Method and 180 formula

Instruction /Tips: First 10 minutes are really relaxed to warm up and gradually raise HR toward AHR. When you are finished these runs you should feel as if you could run more.

Adaptation: Aerobic development. Builds capillaries, mitochondria, fat burning capacity, and relaxed running form.

Common Mistakes:

• Ignoring AHR and effort since you may be going slow. When you run above AHR you are all glucose/glycogen and often tapping into anaerobic metabolism, which inhibits aerobic development.
• Trying to run a specific pace
• Going too fast up hills

Long Run

Purpose: This is a large aerobic stimulus. Time on your feet is the goal and stimulating aerobic development, fat burning, and recruitment of muscle fibers in a sugar depleted state. Duration is the goal not speed.

Instruction/Tips: Start very comfortable and easy below your AHR. On the return you may run at your AHR. Build up your pace slowly. Slowly extend the time on your feet to an hour and a half (2 hours for experienced runners) once every 2 weeks. Maintain adequate hydration by following your thirst cues. Do not over drink water as this can lead to hyponatremia. Replace fluids with a good recovery meal shortly after a long run (preferably within 30 minutes).

Efficient Running Training Program – Pre Event Schedule 6 Weeks out

Adaptation: Aerobic development. Builds capillaries, mitochondria, fat burning capacity, and relaxed running form. Longer runs (>1 hour) stimulate maximum muscle recruitment without the run being “hard”.

Common Mistakes:

• Running too fast so that you finish the run fatigued and slow. Like all training runs, you should feel as if you could do this run again if you had to.
• Starting out above AHR and tapping all the glucose reserves instead of stimulating fat burning
• Relying on replacement carbohydrates for energy versus training your body to mobilize fat as fuel.
• Making this one run more than 50% of your weekly miles

Jog

Purpose: Recovery and focus on relaxed and efficient movement pattern. Mental relaxation and stress reduction. General health.

Instruction/Tips: Run much slower than you are capable of, well below AHR. Use light springy running motion (not overstride jog). Keep cadence close to 180. Goal is easy 30 minutes of activity.

Adaptation: Aerobic development same as “Aerobic Runs” as this is below AHR. You train the movement pattern as you focus on form, breathing, and relaxation.

Common Mistakes:

• Timing your jog
• Frustration at how slow it is
• Deciding to run this above AHR

Threshold or Tempo Run

Purpose: Threshold is the fastest pace you can run without generating more lactic acid than you can recycle back into energy. This is a pace you could sustain for at least 30 minutes once you are fit. This is the top end aerobic pace (above the AHR for mixed fuel use) and right at the line between anaerobic and aerobic. It is called the Anaerobic Threshold (AnT) and is still aerobic. This pace is about 90% of your 1.5 mile test pace, a pace which does make you anaerobic toward the end.

Instruction/Tips: Warm up nice and easy for at least 10 minutes. Choose an out and back or loop course you enjoy running that is uninterrupted with traffic.

Efficient Running Training Program – Pre Event Schedule 6 Weeks out

track works well for shorter distances. Run at comfortable hard effort building from 15 to up to 30 minutes. Your effort and heart rate (if you wear HRM) should be constant from week to week but as you become more efficient your pace will increase naturally.

Adaptation: Develops relaxed speed, running economy, improves aerobic development (remember this is below Anaerobic Threshold) and also raises Anaerobic Threshold by running at a pace at or slightly below this. Helps teach pacing.

Common Mistakes:

•  Many novice and experienced runners do this “all out” or think of these as “races”
• Checking watch and wanting to run specific times
• Thinking you need to improve time with each successive run and trying to force this. Think instead “fast and relaxed”.

Fartlek

Purpose: Running should be fun. A type of fun running first done in Sweden in the 1930’s and practiced by runners and coaches until this day. “Fartlek” literally means as “speed play”. Speed up and slow down according to how you feel, not by any set pace or time interval. This is how a child runs. Make the recovery runs very relaxed. Great way to work on form, relaxation, dynamic stretching, and strength.

Instruction/Tips: Make it up as you go. Run quick and relaxed to telephone poles, up hills, to a certain target. Like play, there is not time or distance outcome. The fast run segments can be 30 seconds to a few minutes. The total run time anywhere between 20-40 minutes, or longer once fit and ready. Pick a fun and scenic route with little traffic. Warm-up 10 minutes. Run the whole mix of paces over an undulating terrain. Mix in some sprints, ups and downs, pick-ups for a minute or two, and recover between the speed segments. Cool-down for 10 minutes.

Adaptation: Aerobic development and coordination with efforts right below the AnT. Develops relaxed leg speed as this is your focus and not a specific pace. Also develops strength if you incorporate sprinting up some hills.

Common Mistakes:

• Making this a structured workout with a time or pace goal
• Making this hard and anaerobic for long segments
• Not recovering between speed segments