{"id":1401,"date":"2024-01-24T16:31:38","date_gmt":"2024-01-24T16:31:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/completeathlete.uk\/?p=1401"},"modified":"2024-01-24T16:31:38","modified_gmt":"2024-01-24T16:31:38","slug":"tune-up-your-running-kenyan-style-%f0%9f%87%b0%f0%9f%87%aa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/completeathlete.uk\/tune-up-your-running-kenyan-style-%f0%9f%87%b0%f0%9f%87%aa\/","title":{"rendered":"Tune UP Your Running: Kenyan Style\u00a0\ud83c\uddf0\ud83c\uddea"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
I used to refuse to talk on runs\u2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lawrence, the anti-social runner (c. 2021)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Back when I started running just over 3 years ago, there was only one thing I hated more than running – that was talking while running\u2026 \ud83d\ude02<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I just saw talking while running as something that made running feel difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But I completely missed the point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Easy running was meant to be so damn easy that you could have a full blown conversation while you run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And that completely shattered my egotistical ways of running an \u2018easy\u2019 pace that was way too fast to make any meaningful aerobic gainz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s safe to say, I\u2019m now more than happy to have a chat on a run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before I get onto how good or bad your conversation ability should be at other paces, let\u2019s take a quick detour to Kenya\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Kenyan Key to Performance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
There are two ways of determining how fast your sessions should be run at:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Using exact paces<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Going off of \u2018feel\u2019<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Want to take a guess at which system elite Kenyan athletes use (including the \ud83d\udc10 Eliud Kipchoge)?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Feel.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is something that most Kenyan runners have mastered \u2013 their ability to \u2018run to feel\u2019 is exceptional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They know the desired outcomes of the workout and what intensity to train at in order to achieve those outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If altitude changes or if running on a particularly hilly route to last time – effort and intensity remain the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The same goes for temperature changes – what matters is the effort levels that go in, resulting pace is just a byproduct of your effort PLUS environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A big caveat first – these athletes know their bodies inside out and are very dialled into what \u2018easy\u2019 and \u2018hard\u2019 should feel like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, there is logic in here to prove how improving running performance actually works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And the best thing is, you can implement it too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to Tune Up Your Running Paces Using FEEL<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019ve ever wondered how fast you should be running or have worked with a coach, you\u2019ve probably stumbled on a \u2018running calculator\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You enter a recent race time and it spits out recommended training paces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It may sound like I\u2019m going away from \u2018feel\u2019 but it will give you a good starting point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Enter your details into a running calculator<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
my fave running calculators:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n