Use a screwdriver not a hammer!

Sunday, August 26, 2012 · Mike Davis

We just finished up our second of half marathon training and the early feedback on the change from a mileage based to a time based training is decidedly on the side of time based.

Yesterday one runner told me that there’s a lot less stress with knowing that you don’t have get to a certain mileage point while others are already done. Having coached this group for three years, I understand quite well that many of the slower runners always felt a certain amount of anxiety over being out there longer than those that were anywhere from a bit to a great deal faster. Exactly what I didn’t want running to be; running anxiety or us and them type training group. There were plenty of runners that didn’t fall into either of those categories, who were just comfortable coming out and doing their thing, but the goal of group coaching is to maximize group or “team” dynamics. This is goal is not always simple as with any large group of runners you have many different levels of runners and finding a way to meet everyone’s needs can be challenging.

With the time based method you certainly control some of the differences like everyone pretty much finishing at the same time. Yesterday for example we were scheduled to run for 50 minutes and in the past it would have been a scheduled 4 mile run. When the 50 minute mark came, the 3 people I happened to be running with were a few minutes from the store, so I told them to enjoy the remainder walking while I scouted to see if others were further out? Much to my delight all the other runners were ahead and nearly all were at the store. They were all socializing outside as they waited on me as I had the key to the store. Exactly what we strive for with group training; everyone together yet each person was able run to their own level.

This experience so far is certainly helping me personally as I continue to evolve with my development of personal training plans. I won’t for a second take credit for coming up with the concept of time based training plans, but my intention is to take the concept and improve its application to both groups and individuals. Finding a running plan on the web is as simple as a Google search, but a running plan versus a personal training plan is much like using a hammer to put a screw in the wall. You may get the job done, but chances are you will destroy a portion of your wall by forcing the screw in with the wrong tool. A thought out running plan (screwdriver), is intended to meet the need or needs of an individual or as in this case a group. A typical running plan found in a magazine or on the web (hammer), is absent of any considerations or dynamics that ultimately decide success or failure. As I continue to evolve, which is something I will never stop doing, I want to provide personal training plans that utilizes the right tools to get that screw into the wall without forcing it.