I read older posts on the subject of the itrain workouts and many of you had said that these workouts made your endurance better as well as made you a faster runner. I was wondering how long did it take you to get faster using these and how many times per week did you do them? I would really like to get my 5k times down this summer and havent done these type of workouts yet ont he treadmill. I run 2-3 days a week and run different paces with each run but havent seen much drop in my race times so I was hoping these would help me.Thanks!
for those of you that have used Itrain workouts for awhile
- Thread starter laura35
- Start date
Vee
Cathlete
Laura,
I used both CC and iTread to improve my speed.
I can keep up with runner settings at Grace's iTread workouts now. (Recovery/Steady State at about 6.5 miles/hour with intense bursts going up to 8 and on occasion even 8.5 higher.)
I run just twice a week, but I was already running for about two years when I started with iTread. At first I could only manage Jogger settings on iTread, and push a bit higher than those speeds for brief bursts. I would alternate between her Jogger and Runner settings, and gradually found I could increase the time I was spending at Runner levels. In about 3 months, if I remember correctly, I found to my surprise that I could keep up at the Runner level through the workout. For the first couple of months or so, I preceived very little progess - my ability to manitain higher speeds increased only the itsiest bit from workout to workout. Then .... whoosh, I saw dramatic progress.
I was 38 years old when I started iTread/CC, so if you are younger, or have not been running for as long as I was, your results could be different.
~* Vrinda *~
I used both CC and iTread to improve my speed.
I can keep up with runner settings at Grace's iTread workouts now. (Recovery/Steady State at about 6.5 miles/hour with intense bursts going up to 8 and on occasion even 8.5 higher.)
I run just twice a week, but I was already running for about two years when I started with iTread. At first I could only manage Jogger settings on iTread, and push a bit higher than those speeds for brief bursts. I would alternate between her Jogger and Runner settings, and gradually found I could increase the time I was spending at Runner levels. In about 3 months, if I remember correctly, I found to my surprise that I could keep up at the Runner level through the workout. For the first couple of months or so, I preceived very little progess - my ability to manitain higher speeds increased only the itsiest bit from workout to workout. Then .... whoosh, I saw dramatic progress.
I was 38 years old when I started iTread/CC, so if you are younger, or have not been running for as long as I was, your results could be different.
~* Vrinda *~
I agree with Vee, it took a bit, but not long after I started using itreads I was able to keep up with the runner's pace. I have been running off-and-on for quite some time, but I'm not one of those hardcore people that hit the road at 5 AM every morning. I just use these workouts to supplement my other cardio stuff and have really enjoyed them. (except the fact that they're raised their prices, sheesh!)
Have fun with them, I know we have lots of people on these boards that love them!
Calee
Have fun with them, I know we have lots of people on these boards that love them!
Calee
i have run all my life but never really concrned myself with speed after college. i started with iTread last june doing a bit above joggers' speeds. after about a month (maybe doing them 3x a week), i was up to runners' speeds. now, even after taking a significant amount of time off running because of an injury, i do about .2-.5 ABOVE the runners' speeds that grace suggests. IMO, they can help you get faster by doing more interval and sprint w/o's along with the endurance runs. i think they're great!
thanks everyone. I am almost 39 been running for almost 4yrs. i havent done a race in almost a yr but plan on doing more this year. I really want to crack my best 5k time and was hoping these would help me do it. sounds like they might. I have a 4miler in june , does that give me enough time to make some progress with speed? I also have a 5k next month which I know isnt enough time to see a difference. I might only be able to do these 1x week because I run outdoors 2x with friends, will only doing these 1x week be enough to help with my speed? I only have 3itrains and 1 iclimb right now but they are either drills,intervals or sprints. I plan on getting more depending on what I see with my training with them and how I like them overall. thanks again!
Fit_mommy
Cathlete
RE: for those of you that have used Itrain workouts for...
Hi Laura.
I LOVE Itread and use it often but to be perfectly honest I do not believe that those work outs are what improved my speed. I did not start seeing any real noticable gains in speed until after I started training for my first HM. I believe it's the endurance training of the longer run(s) that have in turn helped me pick up my pace. Yes, the ITreads are great for getting practice running at all different speeds and such but I don't think they are actually responsible for the speed increase I've seen.
JMHO!
Hi Laura.
I LOVE Itread and use it often but to be perfectly honest I do not believe that those work outs are what improved my speed. I did not start seeing any real noticable gains in speed until after I started training for my first HM. I believe it's the endurance training of the longer run(s) that have in turn helped me pick up my pace. Yes, the ITreads are great for getting practice running at all different speeds and such but I don't think they are actually responsible for the speed increase I've seen.
JMHO!
RunnerGirl
Cathlete
RE: for those of you that have used Itrain workouts for...
I'm the opposite as you Wendy. I have never had a problem with distance. I could run forever. It's the speed that had eluded me. I think I just didn't push my self enough. Grace's telling me speeds has definitely made me faster. I would never just said hey why don't I pick up the speed to 8.5! But Grace made me do it!
LD
I'm the opposite as you Wendy. I have never had a problem with distance. I could run forever. It's the speed that had eluded me. I think I just didn't push my self enough. Grace's telling me speeds has definitely made me faster. I would never just said hey why don't I pick up the speed to 8.5! But Grace made me do it!
LD
banslug
Cathlete
RE: for those of you that have used Itrain workouts for...
Like LD.....I'm built for endurance, not speed. So my goal was to increase my sepeed on my shorter races. I am an AVID iTread user and just love them all! While doing a 12 week rotation at the end of 2007, I iTread for my runs, 3 times per week. Specifically, I used the Sprint workouts....set 13 and set 19 and I posted my all-time personal BEST on my Thanksgiving Day 5K race in my hometown (yeah....LOVED getting that prize in front of a large crowd I KNEW! LOL).
In fact this morning, I just did set 13 sprints, and PASSED Grace's speeds (I hit 9.3 mph on the 5th interval/sprint).
It goes to note, also, that I was NEVER a runner. I started running about 3 years ago, and it was just sporadic. I'd say in the last 18 months, I've started calling myself a 'RUNNER'! lol
GOOD LUCK! Just do it! Push yourself and let Grace push you too!
Gayle
Like LD.....I'm built for endurance, not speed. So my goal was to increase my sepeed on my shorter races. I am an AVID iTread user and just love them all! While doing a 12 week rotation at the end of 2007, I iTread for my runs, 3 times per week. Specifically, I used the Sprint workouts....set 13 and set 19 and I posted my all-time personal BEST on my Thanksgiving Day 5K race in my hometown (yeah....LOVED getting that prize in front of a large crowd I KNEW! LOL).
In fact this morning, I just did set 13 sprints, and PASSED Grace's speeds (I hit 9.3 mph on the 5th interval/sprint).
It goes to note, also, that I was NEVER a runner. I started running about 3 years ago, and it was just sporadic. I'd say in the last 18 months, I've started calling myself a 'RUNNER'! lol
GOOD LUCK! Just do it! Push yourself and let Grace push you too!
Gayle
RE: for those of you that have used Itrain workouts for...
thanks LD and gayle! I tried my first workout tonight and whew, who knew I could sweat so much in 30minutes. I was confused at first though because on this workout she was intrusting runners 2x and I thought, did she goof up but I guess there are two levels for runners. so I stayed with the first runners paces for the most part ,which I was proud that I did. I did on the recovery however slow down at first more than she said too. but she also said she would rather you go slower on the recovery than the interval sprints. I did workout 21 intervals. It only had 3 intervals but and they where only on a 1 percent incline. I cant believe how it kicked my butt though. I told myself its just 30 minutes, you can do this and I did. Of course it wasnt as fast as some of you girls can go but I am looking forward to getting faster. I am with you two, I can go forever at a decent pace but I have trouble getting faster and maintaining that. I also have asthma though but I have by far exceeded my expectations with running so far and want to go even farther. I am really excited about these workouts now that LD and gayle have seen there speed increase using them. gayle did you get the 30minute one for #13, I see that there is a 45min one also. I am going to purchase it though, I think I will be like you guys addicted to these workouts. thanks guys!!
thanks LD and gayle! I tried my first workout tonight and whew, who knew I could sweat so much in 30minutes. I was confused at first though because on this workout she was intrusting runners 2x and I thought, did she goof up but I guess there are two levels for runners. so I stayed with the first runners paces for the most part ,which I was proud that I did. I did on the recovery however slow down at first more than she said too. but she also said she would rather you go slower on the recovery than the interval sprints. I did workout 21 intervals. It only had 3 intervals but and they where only on a 1 percent incline. I cant believe how it kicked my butt though. I told myself its just 30 minutes, you can do this and I did. Of course it wasnt as fast as some of you girls can go but I am looking forward to getting faster. I am with you two, I can go forever at a decent pace but I have trouble getting faster and maintaining that. I also have asthma though but I have by far exceeded my expectations with running so far and want to go even farther. I am really excited about these workouts now that LD and gayle have seen there speed increase using them. gayle did you get the 30minute one for #13, I see that there is a 45min one also. I am going to purchase it though, I think I will be like you guys addicted to these workouts. thanks guys!!
Vee
Cathlete
RE: for those of you that have used Itrain workouts for...
>what I climbs do you guys have,they can be used for the
>treadmill as well cant they?
Laura,
I am aware that some people modify iClimb for the treadmill and enjoy it. I have a large number and I like everyone of them. I never do them except of the elliptical. I just did iClimb Set 18 30 minute today and it was superb. The last 15 minutes are fantastic. There is a 5 minute segment that alternates hills with double tempo sprinting with no recovery in between, then a challenging 5 minute hill where you progressively increase resistance, followed by a 5 minute fast sprint to the finish. Now that I type this, I can see you well it could translate to the treadmill, using incline for high resistance segments and going flat with speed for the fast segments!
My favorite is the iBiClimb workout. It has treadmill intervals, elliptical intervals and intervals off the treadmill doing resistance training/ plyo that maintains an elevated heart rate. Many do it just on the treadmill for both climb and treadmill sections.
~* Vrinda *~
>what I climbs do you guys have,they can be used for the
>treadmill as well cant they?
Laura,
I am aware that some people modify iClimb for the treadmill and enjoy it. I have a large number and I like everyone of them. I never do them except of the elliptical. I just did iClimb Set 18 30 minute today and it was superb. The last 15 minutes are fantastic. There is a 5 minute segment that alternates hills with double tempo sprinting with no recovery in between, then a challenging 5 minute hill where you progressively increase resistance, followed by a 5 minute fast sprint to the finish. Now that I type this, I can see you well it could translate to the treadmill, using incline for high resistance segments and going flat with speed for the fast segments!
My favorite is the iBiClimb workout. It has treadmill intervals, elliptical intervals and intervals off the treadmill doing resistance training/ plyo that maintains an elevated heart rate. Many do it just on the treadmill for both climb and treadmill sections.
~* Vrinda *~
banslug
Cathlete
RE: for those of you that have used Itrain workouts for...
Hey guys! Sorry, I didn't see the more recent posts on this thread the last few days!
Laura-#13 has 6 sprints. And yes, THIS 30 min one is the one I use along with #19 sprints, the MOST! ENJOY! {insert evil laugh here}}( Glad you liked 21.
tneah-HA! TOLD YA that one would getcha! lol I actually am doing that one next week as an add-on on my upper body day!
ENJOY THEM! I love them so much!
Gayle
Hey guys! Sorry, I didn't see the more recent posts on this thread the last few days!
Laura-#13 has 6 sprints. And yes, THIS 30 min one is the one I use along with #19 sprints, the MOST! ENJOY! {insert evil laugh here}}( Glad you liked 21.
tneah-HA! TOLD YA that one would getcha! lol I actually am doing that one next week as an add-on on my upper body day!
ENJOY THEM! I love them so much!
Gayle