Possibly switching from Throwing to Distance Running?

    Posted In: Endurance

        • Participant
          littlelefty on June 27, 2005 at 12:10 pm #11035

          I was mainly a thrower in High School. Small for a thrower but fairly successful 130'+ with the 1.6kg. disc. Anyway in High School I also did my share of Middle Distance running as well, ex. 800m and 1,600m. Never really trained seriously of these events just basically went out and ran them. I am as of now 5'6 1/2'' tall and 128 pounds, honestly I know I can not be a College thrower at those measurements but in Running I think if I train seriously I might have a chance. My training program now looks more like a decathlon than anything but yet I am still unsure of what I want to do. My Pr's in Running are 200m 26sec. 400m 59.60sec. 800m 2:18sec. and mile in 6:24sec. >(Last time I ran this event was in comp in 10 grade.) I choose distance running because I love the Philosophy involved with the numerous tactics, as well! And I will always remember the Rabbit will start the race but never be the first one to the finish. With that said. 

          Now going to be a Freshman in College I still have time to make up my mind until my Junior year of College then I'll transfer to the University level where I hope to do some event I enjoy and am also Successful in. I was also toying with the idea of running the 5,000m or 10,000m you only have to consistently run 1 min every lap (sounds easier said than done) but I think if I train correctly I might give that a try. No sure thought yet? LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU ALL THINK…

        • Participant
          littlelefty on June 27, 2005 at 12:22 pm #46805

          Also another question may sound stupid but here it goes..

          Hypothetically: If I run this EVENT than how much should I run in a week. (In miles) Could someone give me a beginner, intermediate and an advanced listing if possible.

          400m or less
          800m
          1500m & mile
          3,200m
          5,000m
          10,000m or greater

          Thank you.

        • Participant
          tkelly5 on June 29, 2005 at 12:15 am #46806

          You're going to have different amounts during fall and spring training.  You tend to run a lot more miles in fall training then your spring training (some coaches run programs where this isn't true, but most of them will do it with more miles in the fall).  That being said…here are fall mile approximations in my experience.  Oh, and I'm not talking about track workouts.  I'm just thinking about days where your objective is to go out and run some miles.

          400m or less- 400m will be maybe as many as 10 miles a week.  anything less, you shouldn't be running miles.
          800m- at least 25 miles a week during the fall.
          1500m & mile- probably around 30-35 miles at least.
          3,200m- I'd guess around 45 miles
          5,000m- many many miles
          10,000m or greater- many many more miles.

          Once you get up to the 5k range, theres a lot of variability in programs.  Some coaches only have you run around 50 miles a week, some log 70 or more.  Its hard to call.

        • Keymaster
          Mike Young on June 29, 2005 at 8:27 am #46807

          Very nice post Tkelly5. I think those estimations are dead on.

          ELITETRACK Founder

        • Participant
          tkelly5 on July 1, 2005 at 3:07 am #46808

          I do what I can 🙂

        • Participant
          littlelefty on July 1, 2005 at 1:07 pm #46809

          Thank you tkelly5 for your help. I will see what works best for me, and go from there. I'll train in moderation until the fall where my workouts will truely start to kick in.
          Until-then
          Thanks for your help.

        • Participant
          tkelly5 on July 2, 2005 at 9:20 am #46810

          If you're just getting into distance running, then gradually work yourself into 25 miles a week for a little bit, see how that goes for you.  If you start running too far too soon you can get shin splints pretty easily, and you're gonna want to avoid those for as long as possible.  Start off runnin 2-3 miles a day, 3-4 times a week, then increase that to 6 days a week, then start extending your runs to 4-5 miles.  give yourself at least 2-3 weeks in each part of that.  Once you get up to 25 miles a week, you won't have to worry too much about physiological difficulties (IE breaking yourself) if you start upping the mileage quickly after that.  Will just have to think about not ramping up miles too fast for yor fitness level.

        • Participant
          littlelefty on July 2, 2005 at 9:59 am #46811

          In the short time that I did do distance running workouts in High School I would regularly get shin splints. I was following my old coaches workout program, he said "It happens (shin splints) and don't worry about it will go away." But I believe a smart coach or athlete would try to do everything to avoid shin splints. Thats just me. Your advice seems more practical and easy to follow, as opposed to my old coaches running program which was like a few pages long!?! Anyway I'll stick with your advice and expect to see better results in my running in general. Let you know how it goes!

        • Participant
          littlelefty on July 4, 2005 at 1:14 pm #46812

          I ran my first 5k on July 3rd. Will post results as soon as they some in. I think my time was around 29min. I forgot to see my time after I ran it. (I worked earlier that day from 1-9:30pm. Stock pushing carts in the Florida heat.) When the race started at 11 P.M. I was tired but excited at the same time. I found 100s of things I might of done differently: From breathing, to pacing, to even relaxing, and more. Oh well I had a really fun time and hope to do it again. Until then I will shoot for a 21:30 by the end of 2005, think I can do it if I train smart and don't run the day I work. Lol.

          P.S. Also I recently ran a practice 5:56 1,500m I got a New PR, and still unsure of what I want to run in College still might think about the decathlon? Who Knows!?!

        • Participant
          tkelly5 on July 6, 2005 at 12:07 am #46813

          its good you went and ran a 5k.  Mentally, it will be good for you because you can chart your imporvement.  Not to mention that you noticed things you can work on.  Obviously, start working those things into your training, especially breathing.  Don't worry about pacing so much yet.  You can start doing that once you're doing tempo runs in your program (anywhere from 4-8 weeks after you start your program, depending on how you're training is going).
          Keep thinking about the decathalon.  I think you show some promise in that.

        • Participant
          littlelefty on July 7, 2005 at 12:49 am #46814

          Everyone told me that was a slow 5K I ran. But its my first time running it.
          Until then I will try to use the 5K as a running tool for the 1,500m run.
          Decathlon training is my main priority now with the spare time I have from work, my actual training cant really start till this Aug. Now I am trying to work on getting some miles under my belt a week and work on a few other events as well if I can. I last trained for the 100m, Long Jump, and Javelin about a month ago will work on those some time before the end of July.

          Thanks tkelly5 for your encouragement.

        • Participant
          tkelly5 on July 7, 2005 at 7:15 am #46815

          Hah, it was your first 5k.  Who cares if it was slow?

        • Participant
          littlelefty on July 7, 2005 at 11:30 pm #46816

          I placed 144th and ran the 5K in 28:12
          https://www.coolrunning.com/results/05/fl/Jul4_26thAn_set8.shtml

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