Difference

There are many school of thoughts out there on the same topic.

No matter what is the subject, there are many theories that explains it.

Everyone one to run faster, longer and better. At least for those that read this blog are interested to improve. We seek advice from difference source(word of mouth, magazine, books, Internet etc). Alot of things make senses, even theories that are contradict to each other, but which one to listen and follow?

On Saturday evening, i happen to sit next to an elite sports person in local scene. I know he is a SEA GAME gold medalist. A group of us were talking and asking him some question and he share with us his thoughts.

The discussions are what kind of intervals are good in preparation for the coming marathon(SCSM?). Before he answered, he asked us(i didn't participate in the conversation) at what pace we are doing our intervals? The bulk of the people who answer is faster than 10km pace but slower than 5km pace, so in between there. What is our mileage? The bulk of people answer about 20-30km(most of them are cyclist in the group i am with then).

His feedback is to forgo the Intervals. It is not going to benefit you during Marathon.

Most(if not all) trainers speak about training in the kind of heart rate zone. Preparing for Marathon, ask ourself are we going to run at Anaerobic Zone? We are much better off training on our long run. At least the benefits are more rewarding on the longer run.

He clocks about 160km per week(i heard) and read that he is chasing to qualify for 10km SEA Game(which stand at 31min+). He has been doing Intervals for 3 years and performance stagnant. He reads and realise that Intervals are not what is require and stop doing that.

He did mentioned that he improve his 5km timing by 30secs! Wow, that is alot for someone that is not doing intervals! Plus the fact that for elite to chip off those seconds are very tough, let alone 30 secs.

Another food for thought?