2 runs this week. Experiment with cadence

[BaddieThePirate]

I’ve had a couple of weeks off running. Then I made myself run on Fri morning. I had time and it wasn’t raining. I did an experiment with speed, warmed up for 2 km then tried a fast km, and found I can only do fast for 0.33 of a km. I had a glass of water at a friend’s house, then ran back using shorter faster strides and managed to go faster for longer. This seemed to use different muscles at the very top of my legs. I could feel it starting to pull and tighten on the right, so while I had enough puff to continue at what for me was a fast pace, I slowed, tried to shake the muscles out, and mosied home a bit more slowly.

Today’s run proved I’d done the right thing. No sore muscles, but it was a slow run. Not deliberately but because that’s all I had in me. I guess that proves the need for recovery runs.

[damienair Administrator]

I have not a clue what cadence is. I see it on my watch but I don’t pay any attention to it.

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to damienair]

I think it’s steps per min or km depending on settings damien. When I’m sprinting the strides are usually longer so less steps. I’m sure someone will say if I’m wrong 😉

Edit. It is steps per min but my spm increases as well as my steps getting longer. Double whammy.

[damienair Administrator in reply to Dexy5]

I just try to run faster if I need to run faster. All I’m ever interested in is pace and distance. VO2 Max and cadence are lost on me. I don’t even bother with Heart rate or Heart rate zones. At the moment I’m just running. In January I’m going to start doing interval training again. I’d love to get a sub 25 minute 5k parkrun PB in 2020. It will take months of training to get there. I was fastest this year in August and September.

[Buddy34 Graduate10]

It's great to try different things with running. I did the same at parkrun yesterday with speeding up but you're right it's a bit hard to sustain. Slowing back down feels so comfortable. 🤗

[Katnap Graduate10]

Oddly enough, I recently did a high cadence run as a warm up and felt it used some muscles different to normal go faster muscles.

I went faster than I expected so there maybe something in increasing cadence that helps.

🎅🐱 Xmas Katnap 🐱🎅

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Katnap]

Now Katnap, it’s not December yet!

[Katnap Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

But I'm excited now! I mean meow! 🐱

[Runningroni Graduate10]

I have a work friend who books to run marathons all over the world as her holiday. I try not to talk to her about my bit of trotting but did ask her how I might run faster with my short legs. Answer increase cadence.

You baddie have long legs so increase your cadence and you will be like a whippet.

[RunaroundSue Graduate10]

Well done BTP.

Everyone I know seems to have had time off from running recently for a variety of reasons. All seem to be back and on good form.

[JonathanP Graduate10]

Glad your recovery run went well Baddie - what's next?😀

[BaddieThePirate Graduate10 in reply to JonathanP]

Hibernation!