An Experiment of One
last updated - 8/3/2007

Most runners find that they are best able to meet their goals if they have help from a coach or advisor. Training with a group can also be important in the success of an individual’s running progress. Runners are best able to plan their training, though, if they have a solid knowledge base of some basic exercise physiology and training strategy. It’s great to have a coach, and following a training plan from a book or magazine can work okay, but to really maximize your training, you need to understand how the body responds to exercise. More importantly, you need to understand how your particular body responds, because each of us have our own, unique physiology.

It’s great to have a group to train with, and if the group has similar goals, your might all be able to follow a similar workout plan. Then again, not always. Too many runners blindly follow along with a group, doing whatever the group does day to day, without thinking about it. It’s easy to do, because it’s more fun to run with others than by yourself most of the time. You might have great trust in the person or people who are planning the workouts, thinking that they have more knowledge or experience than you. Even the best coach, though, cannot plan a training plan that is “one size fits all.” Remember that you may need to “tweek” the plan now and then, and this might mean doing your own thing at times, rather than following the group.

You may be thinking that this doesn’t apply to your situation because your group divides up into small groups and follows more individualized training sessions. Your groups may be split by ability levels and race goals, and that is a great step forward. It is still very important to look at the training program from your own, individual perspective. Again, that requires knowledge about training physiology and about your own unique self.

If you have a coach or mentor, try to spend time understanding the program they are providing you with. Ask questions if you don’t understand the workouts you are doing, or the plan for the coming months. A good coach will not only be able to answer your questions, they will likely enjoy answering. A good coach also wants feedback, let them know how the program is working for you.

Most people aren’t going to rush to the nearest university and pick up a degree in exercise physiology in order to plan their training program. (I did that, but it also happened to fit my career path.) There are plenty of ways to learn about running and exercise science without too much pain.

First, read. I’m not really big on Runner’s World or other popular mass-market magazines. It’s not that there isn’t some good information in these magazines, but it has to be filtered out from the “10 days to Great Abs” and “5 Weeks to a 5K PR” nonsense. One good running magazine is Peak Running Performance. You can get info at their web site: http://www.peakrunningperformance.com. The most recent issue has a couple of great training articles. One by Alberto Salazar, a top marathon runner from the past who is now coaching some of the better American athletes such as former CU runners Adam and Kara Goucher. Another article is by Jack Daniels, a well known coach and exercise physiologist who is recognized as one of the very top authorities on applying science to training.

There are some really good books on training, and there are some stinkers. My two favorites are: Daniels’ Running Formula by Jack Daniels and Road Racing for Serious Runners by Pete Pfitzinger and Scott Douglas. The Lore of Running by Timothy D. Noakes is a tome-sized reference that is also a handy book to have on hand.

There are plenty of running clinics and talks given every year in the area, and it’s great to take advantage of these sessions. It’s important to remember that you can’t just listen to one famous runner and try to adopt their training program, of course. Instead, take something from each person you talk to or hear speak, file it away, compare it to what you’ve read and to what others have said, and then you can make an informed opinion. Finally, make sure to include all of your own experiences. Remember, you are an experiment of one. Nobody else is just like you.

Woody Green is a rare bird, being one of the original Boulder Road Runner members and a lifetime Boulder County resident.

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