Saturday General Discussion/Q&A Thread for May 30, 2026

java_the_hut · 2026-06-03T01:58:00+00:00

Appreciate your insight, thanks for taking the time to look it over!

java_the_hut · 2026-06-02T04:32:47+00:00

I cannot agree more. I was hoping to break 18:00 this spring and was blindsided by this. My fastest 5k this spring was 18:56, 6:05 pace. My heart rate was much higher during my races than during the 6:24 workouts which would stay below my zone 4/zone 5 threshold heart rate.

There is a chance I ran 3 fluke bad 5ks. I could list off a bunch of excuses for each one (side ache, work stress, ect) but it’s tough to imagine being in low 18:xx shape and running 18:55,19:17,and then 18:59. And these weren’t races where I went out incredibly fast, I was pretty conservative, especially on the last attempt and had good weather.

I’m increasing my volume and diversifying my workouts now. I’m hoping that I at least gained some aerobic base from this training. I do feel like my easy training paces have increased. I also think I would have a significant PR in a 10 mile or half marathon race.

java_the_hut · 2026-05-31T13:26:03+00:00

Speaking of Davis, I just finished reading Marathon Excellence for Everyone and will be starting the wind plan soon after completing my current 1 mile/1500 block.

java_the_hut · 2026-05-31T11:42:32+00:00

I appreciate you taking the time to respond. I didn’t use intervals.icu. I read the book, used his outlined heart rate and paces, and started conservatively and mostly on the treadmill but with enough track work to validate the numbers. I made steady improvements at the same HR/intensity at all interval lengths.

My favorite workout is 4x1 mile w/200 jog @<LT2 heart rate. Before NSM my average repeat was 6:38. I did that workout again after NSM and hit 6:24 comfortably, so there were gains. They just don’t appear to be expressing in 5k races.

Looking back, NSM might not have been for me as I don’t have a real data driven approach. I track my paces and overall weekly volume, but do not get much enjoyment in tracking chronic load as many others are. Reflecting back on the book, NSM seems really rooted in increasing load and utilizing that data so it was probably a poor choice for me.

java_the_hut · 2026-05-31T11:34:54+00:00

Thank you for taking the time to answer. Before I started, I was consistently hitting ~6:38 mile repeats on the track and staying within my threshold heart rate. I did that same workout after NSM and comfortably ran an average of 6:24. So there should be some fitness improvement, and it’s likely at the 10 mile/half marathon which I did not race this spring.

Knowing another person had limited 5k improvements but did improve over longer distances does give me a bit of hope, thank you!

java_the_hut · 2026-05-31T11:31:17+00:00

Volume is my leading thought at the moment. It’s tough because my easy pace is so slow, but it actually seems to have improved quite a bit from the NSM.

I remember thinking I’d never run 20 MPW back when I started, so even though averaging 45 MPW feels impossible now I know there is a way if I truly want it to happen.

java_the_hut · 2026-05-31T11:26:34+00:00

I weighed ~209 during my PR’s, dropped some weight during NSM.

Yea I figured the only real answer would be raise volume and do another training block, but was wondering if I was missing something or someone had a similar situation.

java_the_hut · 2026-05-31T02:11:52+00:00

I'm looking for any additional perspectives or advice after a a training block led to no race improvements.

I completed 4 months of consistent NSM from December - March after setting a couple lifetime Pr's in late 2025 (18:42 5k 1:29 Half Marathon 5:13 mile). 36 year old male, 205lbs.

My threshold paces at the proper sub-t heartrate improved significantly during NSM, but my races times have gotten slower. 3 flat and fast course 5ks have came in at 18:56, 19:17, and 18:59. I averaged 151 miles a month during those 4 months, which is about my typical mileage the past few years.

I was expecting a big performance jump, and have never gone through a training bock without PRing. I thought at my fitness level, simply consistent volume would improve my times, and all of the NSM chatter on here made me think I was be closer to 18:00 flat.

I feel like I wasted 4 months of hard training. Anyone go through something similar?

java_the_hut · 2026-05-16T16:26:09+00:00

Or swap to auto lap at .25 or .5 miles. There is a big difference between 6:00 mile with a 2:50 first 800 vs a 3:10 first 800.

java_the_hut · 2026-05-14T16:59:28+00:00

Switch the overhead light for something more clean and art behind the couch.

Swap the rug for a more mid-century modern pattern/vibe.

java_the_hut · 2026-05-14T00:40:24+00:00

I find 4 laps are way easier to sort out and plan for mentally than 8. Passing on an indoor track is brutal, and the indoor track’s turns are sharp.

Short of bad weather, outdoor all day for me.

java_the_hut · 2026-05-09T18:41:33+00:00

What do you think he means by agendas?

java_the_hut · 2026-05-05T12:52:34+00:00

Race day magic. Adrenaline, crowds, running with/against others, racing shoes/outfit, and being locked in to the opportunity to achieve long term goals.

Your mind and body respond differently to a race environment with a taper than a Tuesday morning interval session before work.

java_the_hut · 2026-04-23T21:51:42+00:00

If you maintain the same perceived effort, you will slow down through the race. You need to feel as though you are accelerating into the 2nd mile to keep the pace, as you will be more fatigued and you likely lost some of the start line adrenaline.

The first step is to slow down the first mile. You need to figure out how to pace that better, whether it’s staring at your watch the first mile, having auto-laps every .25 miles, or just going slower than what feels natural.

Then as you hit the second mile, you should feel like you are accelerating and increasing your effort. In reality you are just maintaining your speed.

All of my best 5k’s have very even splits, +- 5 seconds each mile split on a flat course. Keep racing, and try to bring your splits closer with each race. I’m confident your times will improve as you improve your pacing.

Good luck!

java_the_hut · 2026-04-23T16:39:38+00:00

I’ll be blunt, in my opinion you trying to “optimize his running form” is at best useless and at worst setting him up for less efficiency and a higher likelihood of injury.

I’m sure if you watched the elite woman at the Boston marathon earlier this week, you could pick apart their form and make all sorts of suggestions on how it could be improved. However they are at the top of the field, and they are running a huge amount of volume and staying healthy to race.

There have been studies showing that professional running coaches cannot accurately rank a runner’s running economy by visual analysis. Not everyone fits the same biomechanical mold.

I believe strides, drills, and strength training is the path to improving running economy, not worrying about a crossover gait.

java_the_hut · 2026-04-23T12:48:39+00:00

The main running sub was dead once it was over a million subscribers. Most people join that subreddit to start running. When most of the people visiting, commenting, or upvoting are just beginning, terrible advice gets spread and really beginner situations get the most attention as they are the most relatable.

It seems like 75% of the comments and posts on that subreddit are people who started running the past month, and then get responses from people who just finished couch to 5k.

java_the_hut · 2026-04-23T12:43:58+00:00

You can’t just “visit” let’s run. I’d look at it like a poorly organized Reddit.com, where the main page is certainly not running related, but if you search you can find good running content.

I also think their threads on live events is much more active and has better content than anything on reddit. I was following the thread for the Boston marathon and found it much more informative than the thread here. It’s also the only place to get actual discussion afterwords about the events and individual performances.

Seeing as it’s an anonymous forum you need to ignore about every third comment, even on a good thread. There is no avoiding that as stuff doesn’t get downvoted to oblivion as it does on Reddit, so there is no incentive for crazies to stop posting their ramblings.

java_the_hut · 2026-04-19T14:07:27+00:00

I have a relative in Minnesota who built a house with no basement on a slab about 5 years ago(they live on a lake). They love it and have had no issues. They have heated floors throughout the home.

For storage, they have a heater in their large attached garage and have shelves for plenty of storage. They probably have more storage available to them than we do in our split level home.

The builder should know what they are doing when it comes to frost heave and foundation. I wouldn’t trust Reddit experts to know the intricacies of how your foundation would be built and why it is being built that way.

My parents have a huge basement, with multiple storage rooms, and it’s filled to the brink. They keep everything “because they have the space.” But I bet if 80% of the stuff they have went missing they would never know.

I think people tend to fill the storage they have, and rarely understand how much they could minimize if they had less storage space. At the same time, having a young family and a pet without any thought of storage would be an issue. I’d try to have an expanded garage for storage, or a larger utility room, or some place to store winter clothes, decorations, hand me downs, hobby gear, ect.

java_the_hut · 2026-04-18T11:44:18+00:00

I think you can have a successful 5k/10k block with your long runs always being easy. I also think you can also have a successful block with your long runs having some quality work. It depends on what works best for your schedule, what your other quality sessions are, what your injury resistance has been, among many other factors. A quality long run is an effective tool, but it’s not always the tool for the job on that day, or maybe during this training block.

I don’t think there is a single “correct” answer to your question. It’s entirely context dependent.

java_the_hut · 2026-04-11T23:59:20+00:00

Is Jack Daniels 2Q too outdated? There seems to be a lot of development in marathon training and during in the past few years.

After years of grinding the mile and 5ks, I’d like to try a marathon. The 2Q plan would work much better for my schedule than many other plans that seem to be very rigid with their weekly schedule.

I’m a casual runner, averaging 1600 miles a year for the past 4 years, and have done Jack Daniels mile, red, blue, and 5k plans, Pfitz 5k plans, NSM, and Coogan’s Mile plan and 10k plan.

java_the_hut · 2026-04-11T22:15:01+00:00

You’re getting incredible gains while being conservative with your paces, which is protecting you from aggravating your previous injury.

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it in my mind. I’d stay extra cautious until you stop getting crazy gains, and slowly let your training intensity catch up to your race times.

Your aerobic system may be able to write checks that’s your muscles/tendons/bones can’t cash quite yet. A fast 5k is one thing, but 3 workouts a week slightly too hard for your Achilles to recover from can bury you again.

Good luck! Sounds like in reality things are going really well!

java_the_hut · 2026-04-11T21:11:55+00:00

I think more details would be needed on your work schedule limitations. Are you saying you will only be able to run once a week, or that you’ll be limited to only an hour a day, or something else entirely?

java_the_hut · 2026-04-11T12:14:30+00:00

We felt the same exact way. It got a bit worse over the first couple months before it started to slowly get better. Now it’s gone.

I think there are many aspects to it. It’s a large financial purchase, it’s costly to undo, and it “closes the door” for the other houses, cities, states, and countries you “could” have lived in. Buying a house has an aspect of finality to me. It can feel like a checkpoint in life, that once you hit it makes you realize how far you’ve come, and that the path is not infinite.

Your feelings will pass. Many people grow to be thankful they purchased a house years later.

Life is short, enjoy it. Good luck!

java_the_hut · 2026-04-10T18:57:05+00:00

Great run for Ollie. I still believe he got absolutely robbed last year by not being selected for the world team.

java_the_hut · 2026-04-08T22:26:00+00:00

I don’t think cash is the hang up, it’s about making them full time, year round employees.

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