plateaus

[spen]

What do people tend to do when hitting a plateau
I mix my training up with easy, steady runs, tempo and intervals. My fast pace seems to be improving but the easy pace does not
Do I have to do more easy miles?

[Andypye]

Get some strength work in, gym once a week and turbo bike session. Mix it up to save boredom but also have a rest

[IainR]

What do people tend to do when hitting a plateau
I mix my training up with easy, steady runs, tempo and intervals. My fast pace seems to be improving but the easy pace does not
Do I have to do more easy miles?

I dont think there is ever a one size fits all answer..

But i went through mine by more miles.. I'm hoping a better diet and better training will take me on again but we'll see..

I think most people improve rapidly at first but then hit this plateau. Early on whilst improving you can just do the same training and improve but after a while most stop. I went up from 45-50 miles to 65ish and didn't see much, it was when I pushed to 75-85 I saw improvements but that was also miles of running and less hill walking/fell running.. you know 3-4 hours out at paddy buckley pace, nice days out but they won't help general fitness that much.

Be patient though it takes time for the training to work and you also need to be resilient to set backs. I think many give up when not only do they stop improving but they get disheartened over how fast you lose fitness when injured or not training.. rather than take encouragement from the fact training was clearly working..

But everyone seems to have different success stories; more miles, more quality, more bike work, better diets.. it also depends what you enjoy and can fit in your life.. I was working away lots and had time to run and no access to bikes or gyms so that option was sort of forced on me and it worked..

[spen]

Thanks iain. I think I need to increase my mileage. Once I am over this injury.

[Mossdog]

What do people tend to do when hitting a plateau
I mix my training up with easy, steady runs, tempo and intervals. My fast pace seems to be improving but the easy pace does not
Do I have to do more easy miles?

Ok, so this is a bit tongue-in-cheek, but there's a serious question (or two) hidden underneath. What's the best way TO plateau? Understandable there's massive of literature out there advising runners on training schedules, diets, etc., but mainly aimed a whippersnappers and budding racers on 'the up'. However, there's a dearth of literature aimed at us 50+ year old fell runners who, let's face it, apart from a few lucky physical peaks (no pun intended), are looking inevitably to a sloooooooow decline. So, how to plateau for as long as possible and maintain those toned muscles and hearty lungs into the next decade and perhaps beyond?