Did another MffR on back to back days, just to see how the body responded. Maffetone emphasizes proper rest as being equally important to anything else one does in training.
Yesterday, I asked, rhetorically, since I am running in the aerobic window and therefore no breakdown of the muscles occur, can I run every day? For me, right now, the answer appears to be "no".
I ran today, only a 2.2 miles/3.5 km run, to see how the body responded after yesterday's 10Krun. Monitoring the heart rate, and running at a very similar pace (within a few seconds of one another) as yesterday, the heart rate was much harder to "manage". It got higher quicker, and while yesterday I could stay in the zone on my long hill, today I could not -- not even close. I interpret this to mean that as the muscles are "learning" to process oxygen more efficiently, and there is no breakdown (since I am not going anaerobic), the muscles still require recovery time. To his credit, Maffetone does say that more miles are not necessarily better when building the aerobic base.
With this in mind, I will run on Tuesday, taking a full day off on Monday, and it will be a long run (at least 10K). I will continue the evaluation process.
I must say, running as slow as I do -- indicative of my muscles' aerobic capacity, I know -- is a bit maddening and not as much fun. I think holding form when go slow is more difficult, too. I will persevere these things to be a better runner in the long haul.
I am living under the assumption that this method works for recreational runners like me, and not just elite athletes...
Thanks for dropping by, your comments and observations are welcomed...
Yesterday, I asked, rhetorically, since I am running in the aerobic window and therefore no breakdown of the muscles occur, can I run every day? For me, right now, the answer appears to be "no".
I ran today, only a 2.2 miles/3.5 km run, to see how the body responded after yesterday's 10Krun. Monitoring the heart rate, and running at a very similar pace (within a few seconds of one another) as yesterday, the heart rate was much harder to "manage". It got higher quicker, and while yesterday I could stay in the zone on my long hill, today I could not -- not even close. I interpret this to mean that as the muscles are "learning" to process oxygen more efficiently, and there is no breakdown (since I am not going anaerobic), the muscles still require recovery time. To his credit, Maffetone does say that more miles are not necessarily better when building the aerobic base.
With this in mind, I will run on Tuesday, taking a full day off on Monday, and it will be a long run (at least 10K). I will continue the evaluation process.
I must say, running as slow as I do -- indicative of my muscles' aerobic capacity, I know -- is a bit maddening and not as much fun. I think holding form when go slow is more difficult, too. I will persevere these things to be a better runner in the long haul.
I am living under the assumption that this method works for recreational runners like me, and not just elite athletes...
Thanks for dropping by, your comments and observations are welcomed...
