Paying Homage to Dead Dogs

Like many runners, I have a mentor. Ultra runner Ray Krolewicz (a. k. a. “Ray K”) has helped me lot in recent years. Ray K is also an author, with monthly columns in some running publications. In a recent article he told about how he has run the same 12 mile and 20-22 mile training routes from his back door for years. These routes are on rural roads outside of Columbia, SC. On many occasions throughout the years, he has had encounters with dogs. A pair of growling pit bulls on one road, a chasing German Shepard on another, etc. He recalled how he had modified his route (changing sides of the road, etc.) to avoid needless encounters with these dogs. Then, one day recently, he realized that the last time he had a problem with the pit bulls was around 1991. He had not been chased by the one German Shepard since maybe 1994. Yet, in 2007, he was still making the same alterations to his running route to avoid these same dogs. It dawned on him, the bright fellow that he is, that it was highly unlikely that any of these dogs were still alive. He had almost certainly outlived each of them. Yet, there he was, still doing it the same old way ….

Now, some things are eternally true and shouldn’t be changed. You’re not going to race well if you don’t put in the training miles. And at least some of those training miles are going to have to be fast if you want to race fast. Folks who never allow for recovery often become injured. All true. However, how many of us are still trying to train the same way that we have for years? We seem to have a blind hope that maybe is we just do it “harder” or “better”, we’ll some how get faster. Sort of reminds one of the ol’ definition of insanity (doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result …).

Yes, there are some values and principles that should not change and must be held on to. But, we shouldn’t be afraid to try new approaches to training and races as time goes on. Things (including us) change. Low mileage all at fast paces might work for awhile for the younger runner. At some point, changing to an approach with higher mileage of slow running while still doing some speed work might make more sense. There was a time not that long ago when I would’ve been embarrassed to be seen running anything as slow as an 8 minute pace, and my mileage rarely got much over 50 a week. I soon became injured (about every 8 months -- for four cycles of this …. I can be a slow learner ….). The concept of recovery runs was added in, and the injury problem was alleviated. Now, I’ve changed yet again to doing high volume slow miles (80% of the miles slower than 9:15, and 60-90 miles a week), but with the other miles being speed work and/or races. I’m a good bit older now, and my marathon times are still about the same as before – plus, ultra marathons have now become not only possible, but practical and enjoyable. This has opened up a whole new world of racing for me.

This isn’t a one size fits all thing – my particular evolution in running may not be right for you. But, how many of us are still paying homage to dead dogs?!?

Steve Richey