"What you do in any one workout doesn't matter. The most important point of any training program is the totality of that program, and the results it brings. A flash speed workout with quick splits may look good in your training diary, but it could bring you to the edge of overtraining. The same with running the long runs too hard. Your time in the final 20-miler won't count three weeks later. Your success will be measured by, 1) finishing the marathon, if you're a beginner, or 2) finishing it in a time that reflects your current capabilities, if you're an experienced runner. What you did while getting there doesn't count."
From Hal Higdon's Marathon Training Guide, Intermediate 2 Program, Week 15.
http://www.halhigdon.com/marathon/Oint2-15.htm
A Visit to Mount Felix
15 years ago
2 comments:
This is a good quote, and although it doesn't outright say it, I think it shows the value of rest. You can run and run and run, but if you don't take a day or two in between to allow your body to rest and rejuvenate, your training is practically worthless. Optimal running is all about finding a balance.
Absolutely! All good training programs cite the cycles of work and rest as essential for gaining conditioning! The work creates stresses, but the strengthening occurs during the healing process in the rest cycle!
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