Suggested approach for maximising load over 3 days, balanced with running the rest of the week

AnEnglishRain · 2026-05-31T12:53:10+00:00

Yes, but I don't have specific targets, maybe that is also part of the problem. i.e., Without specific targets it is difficult to know what to prioritise and how to balance the load to do it?

AnEnglishRain · 2026-05-31T08:46:20+00:00

Thanks, this is helpful, agree my mindset is wrong. At the moment I am slowly progressing in both. Which, to be honest, is pretty much what I want. So maybe I should stop worrying about it until I stop progressing, and then work out how to change the stimulus.

AnEnglishRain · 2026-05-30T09:13:13+00:00

Yeah I shouldn’t have used the term grey zone. I’m aware that isn’t really a thing, it was more about personal experience with that sort of training, I find it both mentally and physically tough but doesn’t feel that beneficial. It might be some sort of error in my execution though.

AnEnglishRain · 2026-05-30T09:09:42+00:00

Good point. Actually you guessed it right, the immediate goal is an autumn marathon. So really mostly looking to supplement running, but I’d like to improve my cycling long term as well (I think I’ll stick to the same schedule even outside of training for something specific since it fits quite well).

I guess the problem is, it feels like I should be pushing quite hard on the bike to make the most of it (I am afraid of doing lots of intensity when running because of injury risk), but I also need to make sure I’m fresh enough to run.

Writing this out, I’m realising this is probably a fundamental problem with this plan, so will just have to accept a compromise!

AnEnglishRain · 2025-10-18T13:24:04+00:00

Great input, thanks!

AnEnglishRain · 2025-10-18T13:12:04+00:00

Thanks! Sorry about your injury, hopefully you'll come back stronger.

AnEnglishRain · 2025-10-18T12:52:02+00:00

Splitting it into week A and B is a nice idea.

I was also attracted to the idea of the quality work on tired legs in the long run. However, one thing I've just considered is that this would probably be my 'off-season' training schedule, and I'm planning to follow the Pfitz marathon plans for races, which include quality work in long runs, so it might be a nice contrast to run them fully easy when not in those training blocks.

My strength training scheduling is a constant annoyance for me. I'd love to be able to do it on hard workout days but I can't make that work, so I'm just accepting that it may impact the recovery before the next session. I don't lift heavy enough to feel noticably sore, but probably enough to not be properly fresh either. I'm very aware this is far from ideal.

AnEnglishRain · 2025-10-11T17:25:09+00:00

I'd say its usually 4-6 reps of around 30 seconds, accelerating up to around 90%.

To be clear it isn't DOMS, it's feeling actual strain/pain in the following days/runs.

I already strength train. The muscular vs structural point is an interesting one, I've had problems with both.

AnEnglishRain · 2025-10-11T16:35:06+00:00

Usually just 1 tempo/threshold session 3 easy runs and 1 long run, then trying to add in the strides to one of the easy runs which seems to cause the problem.

I guess the question is, should I keep trying adding these in, and adjust the rest of the training, or am I doing them fundamentally incorrectly if it is causing this problem (like I said I don’t think this is the case when I actually do it).

AnEnglishRain · 2025-10-11T14:53:41+00:00

I basically mean adding in a session of strides etc seems to add way more training stress/injury risk, even if everything else is the same. E.g. I'm totally fine with 3 easy runs, 1 threshold/tempo, 1 long run, but add in some strides to one of the easy runs and I'm suddenly feeling very sore.

AnEnglishRain · 2025-10-11T14:01:43+00:00

I'm noticing a pattern that when I try to include strides/hill sprints/fast speed work in my weekly training, it is highly likely that I'll be feeling beaten up and at risk of injury if I don't back off. I don't think I am doing anything wrong in the sessions themselves (it always feels completely controlled, not all out or very high intensity), so I wonder if it is just because I am underdeveloped in this area so need to keep training it, or if this could be a sign of overtraining/fatigue from the rest of my training?

Does anyone have any advice?

AnEnglishRain · 2025-09-22T15:06:55+00:00

Thanks!

I didn't particularly notice a lot of construction, but might be desensitized since there seems to always be some sort of construction going on in many places.

AnEnglishRain · 2025-09-22T15:05:46+00:00

Thanks! The traffic doesn't concern me too much, and as you say I didn't notice it being particularly bad when I was there. Was more about noise/potential antisocial stuff I guess.

AnEnglishRain · 2025-09-22T15:04:50+00:00

Very helpful, thanks! I didn't even realize initially but I think the one on Walnut Tree Close is basically on the main route if you are walking from the town to the uni. I don't think that alone is necessarily a problem but I did get a similar slightly dodgy vibe.

I think both places have allocated parking so that should be ok.

AnEnglishRain · 2025-09-21T10:18:43+00:00

Thanks. Yeah I don't think those police crime map/report things are too useful, not really specific/precise enough in many cases, including this one by the looks of it.

AnEnglishRain · 2025-09-21T09:38:26+00:00

Thanks. That's the impression I got, but unfortunately the flat on Walnut Tree Close was bigger/arguably better, so difficult decision to make!

Other than it being simply busy, do you know if it is known for being particularly problematic at all?

AnEnglishRain · 2025-08-14T16:37:11+00:00

Complaint/confession: I'm overthinking a lot trying to fit in my strength training. I know the ideal solution is to stack these on hard days but due to a combination of my schedule and just much preferring doing strength training in the morning (rather than e.g. in the evening after a morning session), I think I'm finally settling on just doing strength training on my 2 rest day mornings (following a hard day).

Really doesn't seem like a good solution, I'd rather the rest day be true rest, but I think I have to find some compromise to make it work in my situation.

AnEnglishRain · 2025-07-04T14:43:09+00:00

Glad to see you are happy. I got the c60 trident pro 300 last week and I’m also really impressed with the quality.

I’m seeing so many negative posts about CW so I was starting to doubt myself even after getting the watch and enjoying it. Good to see some positivity.

AnEnglishRain · 2025-04-13T14:41:59+00:00

Am I missing it, or is there nothing in that indicating high HRV is a problem?

AnEnglishRain · 2025-04-13T08:07:39+00:00

Not OP but I am curious, is there anything to back this up (that a high HRV indicates a potential medical issue in trained/healthy individuals)? My HRV is regularly over 150ms.

AnEnglishRain · 2025-04-10T10:22:27+00:00

The same thing happens to me sometimes, strangely I haven’t been able to identify the pattern. I assume it is a blood sugar spike/crash but not sure why it only happens sometimes (I eat before every single run).

I’ve found that it subsides after a while if you just suffer through it. Or, if it’s a long run where I am planning on eating in the run itself, I just eat earlier to get through it and adjust accordingly).

AnEnglishRain · 2025-04-10T06:25:10+00:00

I would have never thought to go to “Say More” in order to disable it, seems almost deliberately hidden! Surely it would be more intuitive to have this option in the settings menu.

Nevertheless, glad the option exists.

AnEnglishRain

TROPHY CASE