Running question: Time vs Distance (NOT a physics thread)

[MichaelD]

Hey all,

I've a question for the fitness gurus. I run on a treadmill 4-5 days a week. I set the incline on "1" to work myself a little harder. Most folks leave the incline at "0". <--I rock.

QUESTION:

Is it better for you...does it make you healthier/stronger to run:

1. 4 miles at 8 minutes per mile and push yourself really hard
2. 4 miles at 8:30 minutes per mile and kinda push yourself?

I've been doing #1 for months now...and it has NOT become easy at all. I still break a good sweat.

Last week, i decided to push myself and upped the speed on the treadmill from 7.0 to 7.5mph, resulting in #2, above. It's REALLY hard for me. I barely make it...but I do make it.

Thoughts?

 

[DrNoobie]

The most important thing is to run for atleast twenty minutes. As long as you're doing that, you're in good shape. I would recommend alternating between pushing yourself really hard, and doing a nice run. You will slowly build up endurance, and be able to handle speeds that used to push you. Then you just jack the speed up some more, and start alternating again.

 

[vi edit]

Really depends on what you trying to achieve. If you are running 4-5 days a week I'd do something like this -

Day 1 - easy day relaxed pace, not long on time
Day 2 - speed day, nice long warm up, then half the distance you would normally run at about a 20% higher heart rate than normal
Day 3 - easy day
Day 4 - normal day, normal distance, normal speed
Day 5 - long run, 50% longer than you would normally run at a comfortable speed

Really though, I'd suggest buying a heart rate monitor and let that be the judge. Many people overtrain and end up getting burnt out, injured, and sick. Buy a heart rate monitor and let that tell you how hard you are working out.

 

[So]

Awww...I came in here hoping for a relativity question.

You should put up a disclaimer: NOT A PHYSICS THREAD

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks, DrNoobie and PrimitiveScrewhead (Army of Darkness rules, BTW. )

Excellent suggested schedule, P.S. Appreciate that.

What am I trying to achieve? Well, I'm not competing...except with Father Time and Mister Scale.

Cardiovascular/Pulmonary health and weight loss are why I run. I'm not overweight (6'1", 202 pounds) but I'd like to get back down to 193 which is what I was a few months ago.

I got sick (Pneumonia) so I was out of gym for three weeks. Of course, I slacked off in the diet department too. Which explains the additional 9 pounds of FAT I'm now carrying.

 

[SWScorch]

alternate. you want to push yourself so you get better and get in better shape, but you don't want to overwhelm yourself, and after pushing yourself you need to give your body a rest. I'd say alternate 4 miles at 8:00 pace with 4 miles at a considerably slower pace, maybe 9:30, where your heart rate is still up but it's "comfortably difficult." Also, maybe once a week, try a longer, slow run, maybe 5 miles at a slower pace, which will build your endurance.

In a nutshell, do what PS said