Month: March 2020

Training sessions are cancelled. Please follow government and NHS advice about going outside and take care if you decide to – now is not the time to vistit A&E because you’ve tripped over. Below is what we would’ve been doing in other circumstances:

SUNDAY 29th Long run
MONDAY 30th 5 mile steady
TUESDAY 31th 10 X 400m (200m jog recovery) 3 x 150m fast walk back recovery.
WEDNESDAY 1st 3 mile steady
THURSDAY 2nd 5mile Tempo (pace increase after 2 miles)
FRIDAY 3rd rest day
SATURDAY 4th Sustained run

Tuesday’s session could be done on time. e.g. if you run 400m in 90s, find a quiet spot where you don’t need to pass people and do 10x90s fast, with 90s rest in between.

Plan to April

Malcolm writes:

The February and March planning develops a little to add variety into some of the sessions and suggests ways in which steady and tempo runs (of any distance) can be slightly modified to add benefit. These techniques might be applied during a standard run but can also be applied (with self-control during a Park run or race) 

Even when not specified it is assumed a normal warm up program is completed.

 The content of the sessions follows good practice and I do not feel it is necessary at this stage to adopt a two-tier approach. If the sessions are two much then the number of repetitions can be reduced (lower the number or leave out the longest rep in a pyramid), if the content is too low then a repetition can be added, or the speed of the effort increased.

Alternatively, other runs can be added, or the length of runs increased in the week to add mileage.

My observation at the present time is that the effort expended in the group sessions is about right and the “challenge” is about right. A long run, two group sessions and a race or tempo run is plenty ( without the support of lottery funding) and if this is done in a week you should need recovery days.

The mileage (if fully followed) is the same at 35+ miles / week. It is appreciated that this is not possible for all athletes and will vary from runner to runner, This is not a problem as recovery from the sessions completed is very important. 

I will clarify the new points as we meet

WEEK APRIL 5TH -11TH
SUNDAY 5th Long run
MONDAY 6th 5 mile steady
TUESDAY 7th 4 X 800m (400m jog recovery) 3 x 200m fast walk back recovery
WEDNESDAY 8th 3 mile steady
THURSDAY 9th 5 mile Fartlek (short 100m – 300m efforts) 1mile w/u 1mile w/d
FRIDAY 10th rest day
SATURDAY 11th Race or sustained run

Reminder: Training sessions are cancelled.

We’re all going to have to get more creative about keeping fit and training. Things are changing daily so please check government and NHS advice. Below is what we would’ve been doing in other circumstances:

SUNDAY 22nd Long run
MONDAY 23rd 5 mile steady
TUESDAY 24th 2 x (1000m,800m, 400m)(200m jog recovery) 3 x 150m fast walk back rec.
WEDNESDAY 25th 3 mile steady
THURSDAY 26th MHAC Club Parrlauf CANCELLED (20 x 200)
FRIDAY 27th rest day
SATURDAY 28th Sustained run

The distance track sessions could be adapted for time. Find a place you can safely run hard:

• Tuesday: 2 sets of 4min, 3min, 90seconds with 90 second jog recovery. Then 3x 45 seconds, walk back to where you started.
• Thursday: Parrlauf. Hmmm. Well, you could try pacing out a 200m stretch in a park and running it 20 times with a 45 second rest between. Or you could pair up with a friend, put your phones on speaker and take it in turns to run 200m then shout “Go!”. Or maybe just do a Fartlek session?

If you’re not going outdoors for whatever reason, you’ll have to get more creative. This French guy did a marathon on his seven meter balcony!

Plan to April

Malcolm writes:

The February and March planning develops a little to add variety into some of the sessions and suggests ways in which steady and tempo runs (of any distance) can be slightly modified to add benefit. These techniques might be applied during a standard run but can also be applied (with self-control during a Park run or race) 

Even when not specified it is assumed a normal warm up program is completed.

 The content of the sessions follows good practice and I do not feel it is necessary at this stage to adopt a two-tier approach. If the sessions are two much then the number of repetitions can be reduced (lower the number or leave out the longest rep in a pyramid), if the content is too low then a repetition can be added, or the speed of the effort increased.

Alternatively, other runs can be added, or the length of runs increased in the week to add mileage.

My observation at the present time is that the effort expended in the group sessions is about right and the “challenge” is about right. A long run, two group sessions and a race or tempo run is plenty ( without the support of lottery funding) and if this is done in a week you should need recovery days.

The mileage (if fully followed) is the same at 35+ miles / week. It is appreciated that this is not possible for all athletes and will vary from runner to runner, This is not a problem as recovery from the sessions completed is very important. 

I will clarify the new points as we meet

WEEK MARCH 29TH -APRIL 4TH
SUNDAY 29th Long run
MONDAY 30th 5 mile steady
TUESDAY 31th 10 X 400m (200m jog recovery) 3 x 150m fast walk back recovery
WEDNESDAY 1st 3 mile steady
THURSDAY 2nd 5mile Tempo (pace increase from 2 ml)
FRIDAY 3rd rest day
SATURDAY 4th Race or sustained run

WEEK APRIL 5TH -11TH
SUNDAY 5th Long run
MONDAY 6th 5 mile steady
TUESDAY 7th 4 X 800m (400m jog recovery) 3 x 200m fast walk back recovery
WEDNESDAY 8th 3 mile steady
THURSDAY 9th 5 mile Fartlek (short 100m – 300m efforts) 1mile w/u 1mile w/d
FRIDAY 10th rest day
SATURDAY 11th Race or sustained run

Yes, it’s another week, so time for some more training.

Reminder: MHAC Club Paarlauf on Thur 26th March – a continuous relay where teams of two take it in turns to run 200m to complete a fixed distance. It’s a classic, fun form of competition that supports a Spring training program. Contact Malcolm, Debbie or myself if you fancy it.

SUNDAY 15th Long run / Wilsmlow Half
MONDAY 16th 5 mile steady
TUESDAY 17th 200,400,600,800,1000,800,600,400,200 (200m jog rec)
WEDNESDAY 18th 3 mile steady
THURSDAY 19th 4 mile Fartlek (variable efforts) 1mile w/u 1mile w/d
FRIDAY 20th rest day
SATURDAY 21st Race or sustained run

Plan to April

Malcolm writes:

The February and March planning develops a little to add variety into some of the sessions and suggests ways in which steady and tempo runs (of any distance) can be slightly modified to add benefit. These techniques might be applied during a standard run but can also be applied (with self-control during a Park run or race) 

Even when not specified it is assumed a normal warm up program is completed.

 The content of the sessions follows good practice and I do not feel it is necessary at this stage to adopt a two-tier approach. If the sessions are two much then the number of repetitions can be reduced (lower the number or leave out the longest rep in a pyramid), if the content is too low then a repetition can be added, or the speed of the effort increased.

Alternatively, other runs can be added, or the length of runs increased in the week to add mileage.

My observation at the present time is that the effort expended in the group sessions is about right and the “challenge” is about right. A long run, two group sessions and a race or tempo run is plenty ( without the support of lottery funding) and if this is done in a week you should need recovery days.

The mileage (if fully followed) is the same at 35+ miles / week. It is appreciated that this is not possible for all athletes and will vary from runner to runner, This is not a problem as recovery from the sessions completed is very important. 

I will clarify the new points as we meet

WEEK MARCH 22ND-28TH
SUNDAY 22nd Long run
MONDAY 23rd 5 mile steady
TUESDAY 24th 2 x (1000m,800m, 400m)(200m jog recovery) 3 x 150m fast walk back rec.
WEDNESDAY 25th 3 mile steady
THURSDAY 26th MHAC Club Parrlauf (20 x 200)
FRIDAY 27th rest day
SATURDAY 28th Race or sustained run

WEEK MARCH 29TH -APRIL 4TH
SUNDAY 29th Long run
MONDAY 30th 5 mile steady
TUESDAY 31th 10 X 400m (200m jog recovery) 3 x 150m fast walk back recovery
WEDNESDAY 1st 3 mile steady
THURSDAY 2nd 5mile Tempo (pace increase from 2 ml)
FRIDAY 3rd rest day
SATURDAY 4th Race or sustained run

WEEK APRIL 5TH -11TH
SUNDAY 5th Long run
MONDAY 6th 5 mile steady
TUESDAY 7th 4 X 800m (400m jog recovery) 3 x 200m fast walk back recovery
WEDNESDAY 8th 3 mile steady
THURSDAY 9th 5 mile Fartlek (short 100m – 300m efforts) 1mile w/u 1mile w/d
FRIDAY 10th rest day
SATURDAY 11th Race or sustained run

This week’s training below.

Note: MHAC Club Paarlauf on Thur 26th March – a continuous relay where teams of two take it in turns to run 200m to complete a fixed distance. It’s a classic, fun form of competition that supports a Spring training program. Contact Malcolm, Debbie or myself if you fancy it.

SUNDAY 8th Long run
MONDAY 9th 5 mile steady
TUESDAY 10th Three sets of 3 x 600m 1 min recovery. 5 min between sets, 3 x 150m fast walk back rec.
WEDNESDAY 11th 3 mile steady
THURSDAY 12th 3 mile Fartlek (short 100m – 300m efforts) 1mile w/u 1mile w/d, 5mile total
FRIDAY 13th rest day
SATURDAY 14th Race or sustained run

Plan to April

Malcolm writes:

The February and March planning develops a little to add variety into some of the sessions and suggests ways in which steady and tempo runs (of any distance) can be slightly modified to add benefit. These techniques might be applied during a standard run but can also be applied (with self-control during a Park run or race) 

Even when not specified it is assumed a normal warm up program is completed.

 The content of the sessions follows good practice and I do not feel it is necessary at this stage to adopt a two-tier approach. If the sessions are two much then the number of repetitions can be reduced (lower the number or leave out the longest rep in a pyramid), if the content is too low then a repetition can be added, or the speed of the effort increased.

Alternatively, other runs can be added, or the length of runs increased in the week to add mileage.

My observation at the present time is that the effort expended in the group sessions is about right and the “challenge” is about right. A long run, two group sessions and a race or tempo run is plenty ( without the support of lottery funding) and if this is done in a week you should need recovery days.

The mileage (if fully followed) is the same at 35+ miles / week. It is appreciated that this is not possible for all athletes and will vary from runner to runner, This is not a problem as recovery from the sessions completed is very important. 

I will clarify the new points as we meet

WEEK MARCH 8TH-14TH
SUNDAY 8th Long run
MONDAY 9th 5 mile steady
TUESDAY 10th 3 x (3 x 600m I min rec) 5 min between sets, 3 x 150m fast walk back rec.
WEDNESDAY 11th 3 mile steady
THURSDAY 12th 3 mile Fartlek (short 100m – 300m efforts) 1mile w/u 1mile w/d, 5 mi total
FRIDAY 13th rest day
SATURDAY 14th Race or sustained run

WEEK MARCH 15TH -21ST
SUNDAY 15th Long run / Wilsmlow Half
MONDAY 16th 5 mile steady
TUESDAY 17th 200,400,600,800,1000,800,600,400,200 (200m jog rec)
WEDNESDAY 18th 3 mile steady
THURSDAY 19th 4 mile Fartlek (variable efforts) 1mile w/u 1mile w/d
FRIDAY 20th rest day
SATURDAY 21st Race or sustained run

WEEK MARCH 22ND-28TH
SUNDAY 22nd Long run
MONDAY 23rd 5 mile steady
TUESDAY 24th 2 x (1000m,800m, 400m)(200m jog recovery) 3 x 150m fast walk back rec.
WEDNESDAY 25th 3 mile steady
THURSDAY 26th MHAC Club Parrlauf (20 x 200)
FRIDAY 27th rest day
SATURDAY 28th Race or sustained run

WEEK MARCH 29TH -APRIL 4TH
SUNDAY 29th Long run
MONDAY 30th 5 mile steady
TUESDAY 31th 10 X 400m (200m jog recovery) 3 x 150m fast walk back recovery
WEDNESDAY 1st 3 mile steady
THURSDAY 2nd 5mile Tempo (pace increase from 2 ml)
FRIDAY 3rd rest day
SATURDAY 4th Race or sustained run

WEEK APRIL 5TH -11TH
SUNDAY 5th Long run or Really Long Run – Manchester Marathon
MONDAY 6th 5 mile steady
TUESDAY 7th 4 X 800m (400m jog recovery) 3 x 200m fast walk back recovery
WEDNESDAY 8th 3 mile steady
THURSDAY 9th 5 mile Fartlek (short 100m – 300m efforts) 1mile w/u 1mile w/d
FRIDAY 10th rest day
SATURDAY 11th Race or sustained run

It’s now Spring, so any freezing temperatures, gail force winds and hailstones must clearly be a figment of your imagination and shouldn’t intefere with your training. Here’s this week’s plan:

SUNDAY 1st Long run
MONDAY 2nd 5 mile steady
TUESDAY 3rd 3 x 1600m (5 min rec) possibly on road
WEDNESDAY 4th 5 mile steady
THURSDAY 5th 3 mile variable fartlek (1mile warm up, 1mile warm down, 5 mile total)
FRIDAY 6th Rest day
SATURDAY March 7th Race or Sustained run (3-4mile)

Plan to April

Malcolm writes:

The February and March planning develops a little to add variety into some of the sessions and suggests ways in which steady and tempo runs (of any distance) can be slightly modified to add benefit. These techniques might be applied during a standard run but can also be applied (with self-control during a Park run or race) 

Even when not specified it is assumed a normal warm up program is completed.

 The content of the sessions follows good practice and I do not feel it is necessary at this stage to adopt a two-tier approach. If the sessions are two much then the number of repetitions can be reduced (lower the number or leave out the longest rep in a pyramid), if the content is too low then a repetition can be added, or the speed of the effort increased.

Alternatively, other runs can be added, or the length of runs increased in the week to add mileage.

My observation at the present time is that the effort expended in the group sessions is about right and the “challenge” is about right. A long run, two group sessions and a race or tempo run is plenty ( without the support of lottery funding) and if this is done in a week you should need recovery days.

The mileage (if fully followed) is the same at 35+ miles / week. It is appreciated that this is not possible for all athletes and will vary from runner to runner, This is not a problem as recovery from the sessions completed is very important. 

I will clarify the new points as we meet

WEEK MARCH 8TH-14TH
SUNDAY 8th Long run
MONDAY 9th 5 mile steady
TUESDAY 10th 3 x (3 x 600m I min rec) 5 min between sets, 3 x 150m fast walk back rec.
WEDNESDAY 11th 3 mile steady
THURSDAY 12th 3 mile Fartlek (short 100m – 300m efforts) 1mile w/u 1mile w/d, 5 mi total
FRIDAY 13th rest day
SATURDAY 14th Race or sustained run

WEEK MARCH 15TH -21ST
SUNDAY 15th Long run / Wilsmlow Half
MONDAY 16th 5 mile steady
TUESDAY 17th 200,400,600,800,1000,800,600,400,200 (200m jog rec)
WEDNESDAY 18th 3 mile steady
THURSDAY 19th 4 mile Fartlek (variable efforts) 1mile w/u 1mile w/d
FRIDAY 20th rest day
SATURDAY 21st Race or sustained run

WEEK MARCH 22ND-28TH
SUNDAY 22nd Long run
MONDAY 23rd 5 mile steady
TUESDAY 24th 2 x (1000m,800m, 400m)(200m jog recovery) 3 x 150m fast walk back rec.
WEDNESDAY 25th 3 mile steady
THURSDAY 26th MHAC Club Parrlauf (20 x 200)
FRIDAY 27th rest day
SATURDAY 28th Race or sustained run

WEEK MARCH 29TH -APRIL 4TH
SUNDAY 29th Long run
MONDAY 30th 5 mile steady
TUESDAY 31th 10 X 400m (200m jog recovery) 3 x 150m fast walk back recovery
WEDNESDAY 1st 3 mile steady
THURSDAY 2nd 5mile Tempo (pace increase from 2 ml)
FRIDAY 3rd rest day
SATURDAY 4th Race or sustained run

WEEK APRIL 5TH -11TH
SUNDAY 5th Long run or Really Long Run – Manchester Marathon
MONDAY 6th 5 mile steady
TUESDAY 7th 4 X 800m (400m jog recovery) 3 x 200m fast walk back recovery
WEDNESDAY 8th 3 mile steady
THURSDAY 9th 5 mile Fartlek (short 100m – 300m efforts) 1mile w/u 1mile w/d
FRIDAY 10th rest day
SATURDAY 11th Race or sustained run