Run University

Running Doubles

I have been blaming my homework load for the reasons as to why I haven’t been consistently running for that past few weeks. Three days on, ten days on, five days on, four days off…you get the picture. I’m going to own up to it, I haven’t been managing my time very well, and its time to get back on track. Yesterday I decided to go for a nice four mile run: it felt great, but it was a little much for the foot I had surgery on. To help my foot build its endurance and strength up, I ‘ve decided to go down to 2-3 miles and try to stay away from pounding the pavement. Later that evening I biked to a local park and ran half an hour in the grass. Oh my God, I miss doubles!

Doubles are running twice a day: in the morning and the evening. The key to doubles is making sure that one of these runs is always easier than the other and that you do not do two workout runs. Have a workout paired with a nice aerobic run, or two aerobic runs. Secondly, make sure to space out a recovery. Generally speaking, I suggest a five hour rest in between the two runs; the higher the mileage per week, the more the rest in between.

The idea of running twice a day is that a runner can fit in two good workouts- rest is essential for this- as well as getting into shape twice as fast. Avoid three runs a day.

Looking for more help? Check out this article from runners world:

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-267—13199-0,00.html

Comments?