jeudi 23 avril 2015
How to Discover Your Best Distance
How to Discover Your Best Distance
Ask two runners if they think a 5K or a half marathon is harder and you'll get two different answers.
Some
runners can cruise at a moderate pace for miles, while others are
better putting the pedal to the metal for a short period of time. When
it comes to selecting your most successful race distance, you must
consider physiological, psychological and environmental factors.
Genetics
endow some runners with a host of fast-twitch muscle fibers and others
with a greater percentage of slow-twitch fibers.
"From a genetic standpoint, we are stuck with what we got—that's
why we have elites and the rest of us," says Philadelphia-based coach Cory Smith.
"With that being said, it is possible to alter how our genes are
expressed through training to maximize our own unique athletic ability."
While most runners know from experience which distances they have a knack for, physiological testing is also available. Many NCAA programs work with GO! Athletics and System Based Training in Philadelphia, where they analyze everything from blood lactate to heart rate to determine a runner's natural strengths and weaknesses. The main reason a high-level athlete will do this kind of testing is to help guide training and capitalize on their natural gifts.
While most runners know from experience which distances they have a knack for, physiological testing is also available. Many NCAA programs work with GO! Athletics and System Based Training in Philadelphia, where they analyze everything from blood lactate to heart rate to determine a runner's natural strengths and weaknesses. The main reason a high-level athlete will do this kind of testing is to help guide training and capitalize on their natural gifts.
Your
brain also plays a big role in determining which distances might be most
fitting. Mindset, attitude and focus should all be considered when
choosing what races to concentrate your efforts on. "Mentally, I think
that people who are able to focus longer would be more suited for the
longest distances," Smith says. "Personally, I find the shorter
distances to be more stimulating."
Carl Leivers,
a USA Track and Field certified coach in Atlanta, says that mental
engagement is paramount. Before steering his athletes toward certain
distances, he always asks, "What do you have fun doing?" What is a joy
for a gifted long-distance runner can be a slogfest for a sprinter.
"I
think most runners intuitively know what their strengths and weaknesses
are," Leiver says. "Do you love going out and ripping into a set of
repeat 400s, but you're bored to tears by a tempo run? Then I would say
you're going to be better suited for shorter races like 5Ks and 10Ks. Or
do you love to rack up the miles on your long run, but doing speed work
is like pulling teeth? Then I say, don't fight yourself and stick to
the longer distances."
http://www.active.com/running/articles/how-to-discover-your-best-distance
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