Response to Nick

As stated before, great initiative on the part of Jragz for starting this thing.

Before I talk about my training so far this summer, I want to talk a bit more about Nick's take on doubles. I just started doubling this summer, largely due to this www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=2372073&page=8 thread on Letsrun.com (it's a great read). What the main poster on the thread (Malmo, a former pro runner) said, is that if you haven't started doubling now, start immediately. You will feel tired, but you will gradually adjust and reap great benefits. I feel that many people have the wrong take on doubling, as if it is "cheating". In reality, doubling should supplement your mileage. For example, take runner A, who either physically or mentally (or both) cannot run 70 miles a week in singles. Instead, he runs 55 miles a week in singles, which is the most he can handle in singles. He can supplement the mileage he is already doing in singles, with some morning slow runs of 3 or 4 miles. Though aerobically it may be better to do the 70 in singles, his body may not be ready for that much in singles. With doubles, he can run more mileage and stay healthy. He also is allowing himself to adjust to running 70 miles a week, which will enable him to run more in the future. Running is not all about getting more fit aerobically. A 10 mile run is not always better than a 7 mile run. The benefit of doubling is felt in many ways. First of all, your body learns to recover more quickly, because it works on a 12 hour schedule instead of a 24 hour schedule. Furthermore, the morning run gets fresh blood flowing to the legs which allows you to feel ready to go in the afternoon run. By splitting say a 10 mile run into two runs, you can run them at a much higher quality, for it is easier to run faster for 7 miles than it is for 10. It also allows you to avoid the form breakdown which inevitably occurs at the end of a longer run. By no means am I advocating doubling everyday, and there is definitely a place every week for a long run and a few medium length long runs, but doubling can supplement your recovery days and allow you to feel better on your medium days.
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