Skipping tempo sessions?

[DMA]

I have found coming from a throwing background and trying to sprint that I felt better after a doing a tempo session in the pool than after track. This was even after dropping intensity by 10-15% on the track.

I came back better for track session after the pool than track tempo from the day before.

Charlies Chicken soup quote is good. To know a tempo session does any good.

[xlr8]

@Johnny

I ask because even with low total metres of speed work [200-300m twice per week] I get sore achilles, hams, and you name it when I don’t COMPLETELY rest on my off days. I am fit and eat well, incidentally, but it just seems like tempo days even in there mildest form are enough to put me over the edge recovery-wise. Any suggestions?

I would think that perhaps a bit more GPP would be in order before you start your next training cycle. Look to build up a solid base of tempo work before you go into specific training, then it won’t cause so much soreness. Also, like Pioneer said, make sure that you are keeping it to Extensive tempo, not Intensive. That is, feel free to go slow during your tempo sessions!

[Charlie_Francis]

@Krasnayafleur

it’s one of life’s great mysteries… please tell me that your av. is YOU!
as far as tempo goes- something as simple as intervals or even just form runs (SLOW) with no jogging has been enough for me in the past. incorporating easy, quick drills and stretching well works well too- pretty obvious, i guess. not something i would skip over in favor of a rest day, it keeps me from feeling flat.

Krasnayafleur: Please tell me that YOUR avatar is YOU!

[DMA]

You guys need to settle down, but if it is I’m on my way over!

Hasn’t that question, about K avatar, been asked before

[Johnny]

@Pioneer

I certainly can’t make the statement that all tempo workouts are “universally positive” but I can say that I have never personally seen them be anything but positive. I agree that there are days where a day off is more in order than a specific workout aimed at recovery/regeneration though I would leave it up to Charlie or the individual case to define itself when this is more appropriate. I think where tempo can be more of a negative is when the extensive tempo crosses the line and becomes intensive tempo and then I don’t believe it to be very positive. As long as the speeds are kept in the extensive tempo range of 65-75% or in my opinion slightly lower it is positive. Johnny, are you doing the tempo extensive or intensive? You might be doing this work too fast which changes the nature of the training and it’s results to a large degree. I often have to slow my athletes down during this type of work.

Yes, the tempo workouts that I have done are definitely easy-going, and less than 70%. And I don’t do much volume. My specific problem is that I have always been prone to tendonitis despite being as nutritionally aware as I can be. So even though the flushing effect of the light tempo seems to positively aid muscular recovery in normal situations, the tendon attachments of relevance in the sprints [hamstrings, glutes, adductors, achillles] seem to get irritated rather than relieved. It’s the attachments, not the muscles, which seem to favor total rest. Anyone with a similiar experience?

[sowjet]

@Johnny

seem to get irritated rather than relieved. It’s the attachments, not the muscles, which seem to favor total rest. Anyone with a similiar experience?

Yep, my main trouble is the patella tendon. Maybe due to some lack of flexibility. Growing older I can still strech when warmed-up, but after workout (especially speed) - when cooling down I often feel stiff and a pullling sensation in some tendons. If I add tempo runs the next day I sometimes end up in pain.
Then I usually recover by isometric exercises (and things like 5x1min/1min break holding a sqatting position, quads parallel to floor) as warmup followed by light streching only (expericed showed me that helps me the most) - but sometimes it takes even 3 days to feel ready for track work again…

[system]

Stay away…she is a HS senior… :mad:

[prophet]

@Clemson

Stay away…she is a HS senior… :mad:

perfect…

[DMA]

I have no idea of her age, but Prophet seems happy

Clemson has said previously that tempo isn’t just about running. It seems that you need to find a medium that works for you. As I said previously I have trouble recovering from running sessions-no matter the intensity. I think it has more to do with size, flexibility and not doing alot of running when I was throwing.

So a tempo sesssion could be

Circuits
Rope jumping
Boxing training - thinking more like using bags in rounds of time
running
swimming
rowing
bike riding - although I would limit this

just some ideas.

Personally I feel ok after doing a rowing tempo of 10 x 30 seconds on, off or straight leg running in pool 2 x 6 x 45 seconds on, 15 seconds rec/reps and 1.15 minutes/sets

[Pioneer]

Recently due to the continuing bad weather and lack of gym space to run tempo, we did very light but fairly continuous med ball circuits featuring some total body exercises like a front squat with a med ball, etc. and it seemed to be a decent sub. for tempo without any pounding.

[Johnny]

Yeah, I like the idea of non-running tempo as an option. I appreciate the suggestions, and will try them out.

[DMA]

@Johnny

Yeah, I like the idea of non-running tempo as an option. I appreciate the suggestions, and will try them out.

Let us know how you get on. Also give it time say 2-3 weeks

[400Stud]

@Clemson

Stay away…she is a HS senior… :mad:

So am I