My quest for a structured training method led me to do some research on Arthur Lydiard’s methodology. I’m not going to copy and paste any contents from the said training program but rather, I encourage you to print and read it yourself during your rest days. Check it out here. As his method is based on balanced combination of aerobic and anaerobic running, you will most likely find this very useful if you have a heart rate monitor watch.

However be very careful when reading it. His training plans are optimal plans, so if your body can handle it then try to follow his program to achieve your full potential. To give you a sample of his training guide, he suggested running with a total mileage of 165 km weekly ? Obviously, he is a huge advocate of running a lot of base miles/kilometers. This meant lower intensity for long times. He said that this running should be done for as long as time permits before getting into any other stages. While you can use it as your base if you want to be a podium finisher, I suggest that you do your own adjustments based on your level of fitness and age. Sometimes it is more important to listen to your body then a plan written down on paper. After reading his plan, I’ve concluded that Lydiard training was more for pretty highly motivated and competitive athletes who really care about achieving their best.

I will try to come out with my “modified” version of his training method and will post it later with the intention of helping myself and my runner-readers improve their performance.

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I was running with Cris Sabal (one of our Athletics representative for Laos-South East Asia games on December) around DLSU-D campus and asked him his training schedule. I was surprised to learn that he and Tolentino sisters trains twice a day every day (not sure if Saturday and Sunday is included). He also told me that they run with a total mileage of at LEAST 150km a week. I didn’t ask him about AL training method but obviously, 150km base mileage a week will help you land in podium! He’s a good and humble man and even offered me to join him in his training so he could dish more tips to me. After his offer, while looking at my body he blurted out “pero mukhang marami kpang tatakbuhin ah, hahahahaha!” I’ll be lost in translation if I translate this to English but what he was saying was that I’m not yet physically fit or not yet in my optimal running weight.

I can only agree with him. I just started running last February and lose 28lbs (from 181 lbs to 153 lbs) in two months as detailed from my previous post. While that particular blog post encouraged a LOT of coach potatoes to take up running to shed some pounds, I have to admit that my weight loss plateau at 153 lbs for two months. Currently, my weight ranges from 146 lbs. to 149 lbs. depending on several factors. My optimal running weight based from my research should be anywhere between 130lbs to 135lbs.

And so, my newest project would be to get rid of extra 10 lbs in one month. Yep, 10 lbs. in one month. I shall post my current weight for the next blog post and hopefully after a month, I should be at least 135lbs.If this becomes successful, I’ll make another blogpost on how I did it. And yes, I’m not going to starve myself to death, do fasting or take ridiculously expensive diet pills advertised on our TV.

Can the Running Ninja do it? Let’s see.