Scheduling the long run

[rocknrollgirl]

Hi Guys,
I am currently having an issue scheduling my "long" run on the weekends. I primarily train and race off road, and we doing our long endurance mt bike rides on either Saturday or Sunday weather permitting.

That would mean doing my longer run either the day before or the day after. Before and my legs are tired for the ride and after and my legs are tired from the ride.

Is there any reason I can't do a longer run during the week when my legs are fresher? Is it normally scheduled on a weekend because that is when most people have time to schedule it, or is there some training benefit from doing it that way.

I am currently doing run and bike intervals on Tuesday and swim intervals on Wed with a recovery run on Thursday. Any reason that Thursday could not be a longer run???

Thanks in advance,

Ruth

[alpinerabbit]

That would mean doing my longer run either the day before or the day after. Before and my legs are tired for the ride and after and my legs are tired from the ride.

A former pro whose seminar I attended recommended doing the long run on Saturday. He said as amateurs, we are simply not strong enough (and risk hurting ourselves running on weak, tired legs) to take the run on top of the bike if you do the bike on Sat. You decide if that is true for you.

I don't have a definite answer to the alternative - long run during the week.

[eclectic]

I am only a beginning runner but Sat and Sunday didn't workout for me either w/ working in longer recovery days.

I scheduled my long run for Tuesdays.

I don't see why you can't do them any day you choose - I think they are scheduled weekends because that is when most people have the block of time to do them.

[HillSlugger]

I am only a beginning runner but Sat and Sunday didn't workout for me either w/ working in longer recovery days.

I scheduled my long run for Tuesdays.

I don't see why you can't do them any day you choose - I think they are scheduled weekends because that is when most people have the block of time to do them.

What she says! I'm gonna be in the same boat soon.

[Wahine]

It is best for training effect to cluster the long workouts together so I would suggest either Sat or Mon. It's part of periodizing the week and having better recovery overall.

If it's important to you to be fresh on the bike I would go for Monday. If timing is an issue and or fatigue you can do a split workout and get very good results. For eg, your long run is 8 miles, you could do 4 in the AM and 4 in the PM. I actually prefer a 5 and 3 split AM to PM.

If you are OK with a drop in performance on the bike. I would chose Saturday over Monday.

Hope that helps.

[rocknrollgirl]

Thanks guys. I knew there had to be some reason that all of the training programs have the long workouts together other than it is just easier to schedule.

I guess I am going to have to suck it up and do it the day before our w/e ride. I was just starting to feel really good on my bike too.

Oh well, if this is my big problem of the day, I will count myself lucky and shut up!

[eclectic]

It is best for training effect to cluster the long workouts together so I would suggest either Sat or Mon. It's part of periodizing the week and having better recovery overall.

If it's important to you to be fresh on the bike I would go for Monday. If timing is an issue and or fatigue you can do a split workout and get very good results. For eg, your long run is 8 miles, you could do 4 in the AM and 4 in the PM. I actually prefer a 5 and 3 split AM to PM.

If you are OK with a drop in performance on the bike. I would chose Saturday over Monday.

Hope that helps.

DUH ! I was only taking run training into consideration, not training for a triathlon! Hello (bonk on head)

Wahine that is interesting about splitting the runs up. does a person get the same benefit doing it that way vs doing all 8 miles at the same time?

[HillSlugger]

It is best for training effect to cluster the long workouts together so I would suggest either Sat or Mon. It's part of periodizing the week and having better recovery overall.

If it's important to you to be fresh on the bike I would go for Monday. If timing is an issue and or fatigue you can do a split workout and get very good results. For eg, your long run is 8 miles, you could do 4 in the AM and 4 in the PM. I actually prefer a 5 and 3 split AM to PM.

If you are OK with a drop in performance on the bike. I would chose Saturday over Monday.

Hope that helps.

I appreciate the concept of clustering the long ride with the long run for long-term training. However, would it make sense to first get yourself up to the distance the those workouts further part?