Two cycles

Big volume and high intensity

This is a tale of two training blocks, one in June and the other in July. Back in June, our focus was on big mileage and high efficiency. In July, we got after it with harder efforts covering shorter distances.

Both approaches have their place in any training program. The key is blending various aerobic and muscular stimuli into a complete package that makes you feel like you can take on the world when race day arrives.

We’re going to get granular and nerdy in this post, but remember, none of this is all that complicated. There’s a time to run a lot of miles at a relaxed pace and a time to run fewer miles with more intensity. In order to improve as a runner, you need to do both. 

You also need to challenge yourself, both mentally and physically. Not too much, and definitely not all the time. In the right doses, adding a little adversity to the training mix can make a big difference.