No distance

[lonestar]

From Russian Training Methods: Developing Speed and Flexibility
by Arkady Vorobiev (1968)

http://ditillo2.blogspot.com/2010/07/de ... rkady.html


"The long distance runner has more endurance than the weightlifter if there are long distances to be run. But he has poorer conditioning than the weightlifter if there are weights to be lifted. The muscle-work of the long distance runner is successful only with a very large oxygen supply. The effort the lifter spends is on the contrary so great that he is never able to maintain a complete oxygen supply. His muscles can work with an insufficient oxygen supply. In the first category the heart and vascular system are influenced as well as the breathing organs. In the other groups the emphasis is on the motion apparatus. As the research of M. I. Majsuradse shows, the marked conditioning training of the long distance runners has a NEGATIVE EFFECT on the development of strength. Conversely, the strength training of weightlifters is not good for long distance runners. Weightlifters should be careful in each training session which signifies long-enduring work with low intensity."

Assuming pole vaulters are ANAEROBIC athletes, much like weightlifters.

[vault3rb0y]

Correct, but i feel that you are jumping to a conclusion in assuming NO distance running should be had.

In terms of training cycles, it could be argued that by the SAID principle that the best way to get better at the pole is to POLE VAULT. However, we obviously recognize that there are many aspects to pole vaulting that require individual training, ie gymnastics, sprints, weightlifting.

In order to maximize the effectiveness of these gymnastics, sprinting, and weightlifting workouts, it is necessary to develop athletes with the highest levels of fitness and the lowest required recovery times for these exercises. aerobic activity has many benefits for a pole vaulter in this sense, as it increases vascularization, metabolism, and decreases recovery time for anaerobic activities to a certain extent.

Now obviously, in order to get better at sprinting you should sprint. In order to get better at lifting you should lift. This does not mean that aerobic activities cannot have benefits in these areas as well. Our bodies will adapt to whatever stresses we put on it, and IN MODERATION, the fact that aerobic running increases our cardiovascular health and our metabolism can actually INCREASE the effectiveness of our sprinting/lifting/vaulting workouts. However if you do too much aerobic workouts, our bodies over-adapt to the long distance running, and begin weakening our effectiveness at lifting/sprinting in order to increase the effectiveness of our long distance running (ie loss of muscle mass).

Purely long distance running in order to train for the pole vault is dumb, everyone knows that. In fact, a gifted athlete does not NEED to long distance run in order to get better throughout a season. However, if our fitness level is increased through long distance runs ALONG WITH lifting, sprinting, vaulting.... our recovery time for these other workouts is reduced and the workouts we do are much more quality (in theory) later in the year. This comes in handy later in the season when the training volume decreases because we are able to recover much more fully after a workout, and in theory we should be able to handle more volume later in the season (more vaults in a practice/meet) than someone with less conditioning.

I don't know the guideline for how MUCH distance running is acceptable in pre-season training, however we do not go beyond 4 miles at 8min/mile pace 3 times a week throughout summer/preseason. We also do 80% sprints and hill workouts along with our distance running to prevent substantial explosive muscle fiber loss. I definitely agree that running 20-30miles a week holds counter-productive results for a pole vaulter, but I also feel that distance running is essential in order to maximize the effectiveness of other workouts throughout the season.

[baggettpv]

I agree with this.

Rick Baggett
WSTC

[vault3rb0y]

You agree with no distance or distance in conjunction with other training?

I admit I'm still a youngster learning only by the science and by how my own personal coaches teach me. So far it seems obvious that i learn twice as much by observing as I do by reading the literature, and that the further i get into the literature, the most it confirms what most coaches already know by experience. So I would love to hear what anyone else who has experience in training periodization and cycles has to say.

[xjoeyx]

honestly, i didn't run any distance last year. i think the most i did was maybe a mile run maybe once a week. and my legs had no strength to them. so when i started working out on the track and doing sprint workouts, i ended up getting shin splints. Honestly i can run on that same track now with no problem. and that's after running distances and doing workouts now. I think some distance running is a good base, but i wouldn't suggest running 5+ miles a day or running xc if you're serious about it. Honestly last year if I would've known what i know now, I would have maybe done a 2-3 runs a week of maybe 2-3 miles before i started my running workouts on the track. But that's just my .02

[EIUvltr]

distance is "okay" in the off-season, but don't push it. You can almost consider it active recovery from the competitive season. It definitely should not be used in conjunction with any other phases of training.

[lonestar]

"It's not daily increase but daily decrease...hack away the unessential!"

Bruce Lee

[coachjvinson]

CNS/ATP...

[EIUvltr]

Distance running is detrimental, but looking at it from a purely substrate perspective leads to a lot of problems. Just don't run distance. Your cardiovascular system will get sufficiently worked via vaulting, sprints and intervals.

[altius]

Absolutely concur -distance running is irrelevant to pole vaulting.