G'Day Frank!
Frank left me this comment which I shall reply to below.
3000m or 5000m?
Answer: According to the McMillan Running Calculator: 3000m
3000m in 8.57 should result in 5000m in 15.36 so your recent 3000m best time is better than your 5000m
Of your runs when you were younger, your 5000m is the best performance.
I am impressed with your masters results!
You might be able to help me.
I am a runner with somewhat similar performances ( 7 seconds slower over 5000m) from my younger days.
Also returning after 17 years rest.
Born: 1961.
PB: 1500m 4:00.98 Age 29
PB: 3000m 8:39.96 Age 29
PB: 5000m 14:38.20 Age 29
PB: 10000m Track 31:07 Age 28
PB: 20km Road 64:30 Age 25
PB: 21.1km Road 68:31 Age 28
PB: 42.2km Road 2:36:44 Age 24
Retired at 30 due to pronation causing pain on outside lower legs.
Returned to exercise: swimming 2 years ago.
Returned to running 1 year ago.
Height: 185cm
Original running weight: 60-65kg
Current weight: 70kg (Down from 85kg 2 years ago)
Current performances:
Asgrove Flying 4km: 14:31
BRRC 5km road: 17:58
BRRC 7km road: 25:23
Current training: Swim 2km each morning - various sessions. Includes 1 hour Tri session each Thursday.
Evening: Cycle or run.
In younger days:
Run 120 km per week.
Currently per week:
Swim 14km
Cycle 100km
Run 30km
Mon night: 7.5km jog
Wed night: 4 x 800m track
Thur morning: 4 or 5km Tri run
Frid night: 4km medium or hard
Sat: 4km jog
Sun: Race: 5km or 3-5km run as part of Tri race.
Slowly trying to increase km, need to add a 15km run in there each week.
The question:
Can you share with us what trainng you have been doing to get the results you have achieved, including managing an aging body?
What would you see as an ideal weekly training schedule to achieve the results, assumming of course that someone has roughly similar ability?
I do note that your 5000m PB of 14:31.4 was at age 17, compared to mine at age 29. I suspect you might have a lot more natural talent than me, which is a compliment and an explanation of why you have been able to get down under 9min for 3000m.
Regards Frank Mahony
When I restarted serious running in 2004 I weighed 82kg! I ran a few 10K road races then decided it would be fun to to run the Glasshouse Mountains 50K's. The 50'Ks were not fun at all, I felt like death, my thighs cramped up and at one point I was on hands and knees literally crawling! Roger Gard who is about 60/65 came shuffling past (No offence meant) but I realised that my very limited training had been no where near what is required for Ultras. I raced two 50'ks and then stepped down to a 30k but I never really had the time to put in the hours of training that would be required so I returned to the track and went along to Queensland Masters. As I was 44 y.o. I thought I'd have one non serious season before giving it a real crack when I turned 45 - youngest in age group. So during that first season I improved from my debut 10m01 to 9m35 purely on the training benefit from competition together with daily steady runs 6k to 8k.
In 2006 I gave myself the goal of running Sub 9m (to break the Masters Record), I made a determined effort to increase my mileage and importantly started to run intervals twice a week. Typically I might run 5/6 X 1000m on a measured road course with up to 3mins recovery running close to 3min ave. When I was really picking things up I cut the recovery down to a minute and still managed close to 3mins ave. On the track I would try to do speed endurance sessions , 20 X 300m 100m jog recovery (Min) Ave 51s, or 20 X 200m 30secs recovery, but my staple diet was 400's and I built up to doing 20 X 400m 1min recovery Ave 72s. I got down to 62kg and last year ran a few months of twice a day sessions in order to have a real crack at 70mins for a Half. Alas the regime was too much for me and I have suffered over a year of injury! Knees, Achilles,Pelvic stress fracture, knee again! I'm perhaps not the best person to advise on managing the masters body! But I would say the key ingredients are to increase your mileage to a balanced maximum, do a long run, and do interval sessions, now I would add core exercise (Weights) and combine it with a daily stretching regime.
I am interested in what results you get from your cross training? .
I tried a (static) rowing machine and cycling during my current rehabilitation but it is just not the same!
Rowing is a great exercise but so boring on a machine.
On the bike I could never really raise my heart rate sufficiently to feel training benefit . Long distance on a road bike might be a future for me!
This is my weeks training leading up to 8m56.
19th Jan 2008 Raced an Open QA St.Lucia 3000m 2nd in 9m09.13
20th Jan 2008 20 X 400m 60sec rest Ave 72s (finished with a 66s)
21st Jan 2008 5.00am 11km Roo+Lake (local course) 44m30
22nd Jan 2008 5.00am 11km Roo+Lake 43m59
23rd Jan 2008 5.00am 11km Roo+Lake 44m24
24th Jan 2008 5.00pm 11kn Roo+Lake 40m23 (!)
25th Jan 2008 8.15pm 3000m Raced Open QA St.Lucia 3rd in 8m56.46
13th Feb 2007 6pm 3KM time trial on switchback road KM 9m21
14th Feb 2007 5.00am 11km Roo+Lake 45m17
15th Feb 2007 5.00am 11km Roo+Lake 45m30
16th Feb 2007 3KM Pat Carroll Challenge 4th didn't record time! Undulating course!
17th Feb 2007 20 X 200m 30sec rest
18th Feb 2007 5.00am 11KM Roo+Lake 41m31 ! (63kg after run)
19th Feb 2007 5.00am 11KM Roo+Lake 44m59
20th Feb 2007 Rest!!
21st Feb 2007 Race Qld Open State 5000m Champs St.Lucia 8th 15m29.6
I would often double up on the days I did my KM intervals or my track sessions. I rarely rested or eased down. If I felt good in training I'd go with it, it meant I was in good form and good results in training drove home the confidence in races.
Good Luck in your return to racing, I'd love to know your goals and I shall keep an eye out for your progress.
