Question (5/10/03):
My goal is to build my endurance and aerobic base for a 16 week marathon training plan. Is there a benefit to training more than once a day?
Answer:
I see limited benefit from running twice a day during a marathon training
program. The most important element in marathon training is the long run.
As you build it to 26 miles or farther, you decrease your chance of hitting
the wall. But the long ones need to be run continuously. Breaking the
distance up into two runs decreases the training effect.
Running twice a day can increase fat burning, while reducing the pounding of
running on short runs during the week.
- Jeff Galloway
Olympian and RUNNER'S WORLD columnist Jeff Galloway has helped over 100,000 runners in his clinics and training programs. For more running information you may see his books Galloway's Book on Running (2nd ed.) and Marathon: You Can Do It. Jeff conducts one day running schools (Chicago Aug 16, NYC Sep 6), Florida Beach Retreats (Aug 1-3 & Sep 12-14), and offers more info on his website: www.RunInjuryFree.com |
