Pete plan - when does it get easier?

[pharmerjoe]

Hello,
I'm 26 years old, 72kg, concurrently doing strength training, and am on week 4 of the Pete plan. My question is do these workouts become less taxing with time? My last workout was 6500m in 26m 59.7s, 2:04.5/500m, 20 s/m and it left me dripping and gasping. Is this how the work should be done? Am I setting the pace too high? If so, is that bad for training?

[jrkob]

Whatchyou complaining about, I'm one week behind you in the BPP and did Week 3 Session 1 a few days ago, this is the 6k, which I did in 30:00 . Pace 2:30/500m, 21spm.
It did leave me dripping and gasping too lol.

Was preceeded by 10 minutes warm up.

[winniewinser]

Hello,
I'm 26 years old, 72kg, concurrently doing strength training, and am on week 4 of the Pete plan. My question is do these workouts become less taxing with time? My last workout was 6500m in 26m 59.7s, 2:04.5/500m, 20 s/m and it left me dripping and gasping. Is this how the work should be done? Am I setting the pace too high? If so, is that bad for training?

BPP keeps increasing in volume so it won't get easy as such but your ability to cope with it will improve.

The longer pieces shouldn't leave you gasping IMO.....the intervals are where the speed is gained. Do the longer pieces at a pace that get's you sweating but always being in control and breathing smoothly. If you have a HR belt you can see how close to max you are at current pace and then adjust accordingly. Try the next one at 2:08 and see how that feels......you should still work up a sweat but it shouldn't be leaving you on the floor.

jkrob.....pace is all relative so one persons 2:10 is another persons 2:30 and anothers 2:50......so try to avoid comparisons with others. Your pace should improve naturally over time as fitness grows.

[jrkob]

jkrob.....pace is all relative so one persons 2:10 is another persons 2:30 and anothers 2:50......so try to avoid comparisons with others.

I understand, I was trying to cheer up the fella

[winniewinser]

jkrob.....pace is all relative so one persons 2:10 is another persons 2:30 and anothers 2:50......so try to avoid comparisons with others.

I understand, I was trying to cheer up the fella

....It wasn't a dig....just that I have been in that position and it doesn't help you in your own training.....sure some friendly rivalry between people who are closely matches in ability but I'm not going to start chasing Keith or Stu or Sakly

[Dangerscouse]

Hello,
I'm 26 years old, 72kg, concurrently doing strength training, and am on week 4 of the Pete plan. My question is do these workouts become less taxing with time? My last workout was 6500m in 26m 59.7s, 2:04.5/500m, 20 s/m and it left me dripping and gasping. Is this how the work should be done? Am I setting the pace too high? If so, is that bad for training?

As Alex says above, It doesn't get easier, you just get better. You're definitely going too fast if that 6500m is supposed to be a steady paced session. I'd even suggest dialing it back to 2:10/12.

There are no prizes for these sessions as they're what give you the ability to go harder in the intervals, but they have to be manageable, regardless of what your ego is telling you.

Manageable is a subjective word, but you ideally need to feel like you've worked, but not worked hard. Aim for about 75% effort, and use the conversation test ie try to speak a few sentences or sing a verse or two of a song. Then monitor how you're feeling in terms of recovery, and ability to really attack the other sessions.

If in doubt, go slower on the steady sessions. You will probably* make far better progress if you do.

* I caveat it with probably, as it's not certain, but it's most likely, as we all respond and recover at different rates

[Dangerscouse]

sure some friendly rivalry between people who are closely matches in ability but I'm not going to start chasing Keith or Stu or Sakly

....and there are many people I'm not going to start trying to chase. I'll just happily be amazed at what they're capable of.

[pharmerjoe]

Thanks for the responses, I'll try going slower next time!

[Sakly]

I'm not going to start chasing Keith or Stu or Sakly

Currently this would be an easy job for you