Jan 06

Run Less, Feel Sadder?

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In general, my tendinitis has been pretty good lately, and I’m feeling confident about my ability to run again.

…and yet, I’m scared of re-injuring myself, because I know how carried away I can get with my running.

This fear (and the reality of my injury) has prompted me to re-consider my training.

I’m typically a 5-a-week girl. Prior to moving to the land of the rain and darkness, I ran 5 days a week. I loved it, I was happy, and in 12 years of running, I had NO INJURIES.

And then I got injured. So now as I’m getting back to running, I’m wondering if 5-a-week is too much. So, I’m thinking about following the Run Less, Run Faster method.

With the Run Less, Run Faster method, you only run 3 days a week: 1 long run, 1 tempo run, and 1 day of track workouts.

On the one hand, following this method might reduce my injury.

On the other, I don’t think that I can follow it.

Okay, I said that wrong. I think that I can follow it. I just don’t know if I want to. I like running. To be more specific, I like comfortable long distance running. Running only 3 days a week sounds kind of lame. And then, with the Run Less, Run Faster program, two of those three days are speedwork. I don’t like speedwork at all. The program sounds kinda terrible.

But what sounds terrible might be what’s most healthy for me.

What are your thoughts? Have you ever used the Run Less, Run Faster method?

Tags: Run Less Run Faster, training plans

7 comments

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Christine @ Love, Life, Surf

January 6, 2013 at 9:35 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment

I totally understand where you’re coming from because I feel the same way. I’m really scared of re-injuring myself. I’m planning on running a half this year but I keep flip flopping about how I want to train for it – just run versus doing speed work and tempo runs, etc. I have heard great things about the FIRST method and people who have PRed using it. I like the approach in that it is less running (easier to fit into my schedule) but that each of the workouts has a specific purpose.
Tasha @ Healthy Diva

January 7, 2013 at 6:27 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment

I used RLRF a couple of years ago and really liked it. I actually have my marathon PR from that plan. My highest mileage was only 36 miles a week. It is definitely a good plan to follow.
Ricole Runs

January 7, 2013 at 6:42 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment

I followed RLRF’s 3 day a week plan (but not so much the speedwork and everything else) and it got me to the Seattle RNR marathon completely healthy. So I DO believe in 3 days a week to help reduce injuries. But I didn’t like it either and the whole time I was dying to run more. But then I did run more and hurt my hamstring!!!!
Jac @ Challenged & Running in the Bike Lane

January 7, 2013 at 7:14 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment

I run 3x a week. Wednesday being speed work, Friday being a longer run and the weekend being my long run. It works for me.
kilax

January 7, 2013 at 8:23 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment

I used to run 3x a week when I was more susceptible to injuries… and like you are getting at, I was sad not to run more. But this plan probably works great for people who have specific time goals and have a high risk of injury!
Lauren

January 7, 2013 at 9:50 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment

I have always only run 3, sometimes 4 times a week. The other days I do things like strength train which I’ve found way more beneficial than adding in more running days. You are a good gym girl…try that strategy out .
Julie @ Sweetly Balanced

January 15, 2013 at 6:22 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment

Run less? But then what else would I do?????