Explain this run to me like I'm stupid...

[clseale]

I'm looking up potential training plans. Hills, tempos, Yassos, MP...I get all of that. However "8 miles easy w/8 strides." WTF does that mean? When do I do 8 strides? How much faster than the "easy pace" should these strides be? Is it just 8 quick strides at the end of the workout? At the end of each mile? Help, please.

[al320]

that's so funny, it doesnt specify when or for how long? yeah, i dont know. it would make sense to do them fairly close together, right? like at the end? huh. yeah, i dont know. im not much help, im equally confused.

[clseale]

Yeah, I'm thinking maybe it's just a few quick strides/sprint at the end, but I have no clue. What's funny is that it goes into very detailed explanations of hills, tempos, yassos, mile time trials etc, but the one workout that baffles me, there is no description for. lol

[gt7301b]

Striders? DH does them before his track workouts.

Maybe they mean something like this:

www.netplaces.com/running/advanced-running-workouts/striders-tempo-runs-and-races.htm

Do they want you to just do 8 "sets" before the workout?

[osulori]

When the program my running group coaches put together calls for "strides" they mean 20-30 second repeats of harder running near the end of a workout.

[clseale]

Jun 5, 2012 14:32:25 GMT -5 osulori said:

When the program my running group coaches put together calls for "strides" they mean 20-30 second repeats of harder running near the end of a workout.

Hmmm...maybe that's it. Maybe they're telling me to have an easy run and then step it up at the end for a strong finish. Literally all it says is "6 miles easy w/6 strides," "8 miles easy w/8 strides" etc. It would make sense that those are intervals rather than actual strides. Thanks, everyone!

[shelbyann]

I would interpret that to mean, after your run, find a fairly short (maybe 50-100 meters) stretch of flat terrain (preferably grass or something soft) and run it quick eight times. Just to work on your turnover, etc.

[breezy8407]

Jun 5, 2012 15:05:21 GMT -5 shelbyann said:

I would interpret that to mean, after your run, find a fairly short (maybe 50-100 meters) stretch of flat terrain (preferably grass or something soft) and run it quick eight times. Just to work on your turnover, etc.

This is what I would do, too. In high school track and CC at least, striders were supposed to be fast while working on form, so not an all out sprint.

[clseale]

Jun 5, 2012 15:21:11 GMT -5 breezy8407 said:

Jun 5, 2012 15:05:21 GMT -5 shelbyann said:

I would interpret that to mean, after your run, find a fairly short (maybe 50-100 meters) stretch of flat terrain (preferably grass or something soft) and run it quick eight times. Just to work on your turnover, etc.

This is what I would do, too. In high school track and CC at least, striders were supposed to be fast while working on form, so not an all out sprint.

This is helpful. I was trying to understand the workout, as well as the purpose of it. This all makes sense. Thanks!