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From: Paul Shields
Category: Coach
Date: 8/17/00
Time: 7:40:20 PM
Remote Name: 203.38.32.116
Kai,
You have made some useful comments. I will add some point form responses that hopefully will help in this area.
- Both aerobic and anaerobic threshold are controversial concepts with sports scientists not even agreeing on consistent definitions. See some of my previous posts for a discussion on anaerobic threshold. The aerobic threshold is usually defined as your ventilatory threshold, where your breathing starts becoming difficult. It happens quite quickly and is about 20 bpm below your anaeobic threshold.
- Your long runs should be well below your anaerobic threshold but there is some debate about how close to the aerobic threshold they should be. In previous post I indicated why I like it to be near or on this value rather than below it. There are many others who have the long runs below it. Easy runs should always be below this level of intensity.
- The breakup of the intensity of your training depends both on your goals, phase of training, and race distance. In general for the base component of phased training plans there is more emphasis on aerobic training. Also, the longer the race distance the greater the component of aerobic training. The figures you indicate are probably suitable for the longer distance training including marathons. many coaches have differing. There was a phase in the 60s and 70s where LSD (long slow distance) was popular (highly aerobic). The 80's and 90's saw quality training in the form of intervals make a resurgence, with the pendulam swinging back towards the aerobic trianing in the late 90's.
Hope the above helps a little.
Regards
Paul