It seems like whenever you run a race (like I did yesterday), the question starts popping into your head, "how can I get faster?" With the information overload of the internet, there are limitless programs to choose from. Of course, all these ways can't be equally effective and some are undoubtedly ineffective.
Back in the mid-90s when I did some running, it was really pre-internet times and there was much less information on running. In looking to improve, I just took the simplest approach: I kept running at moderate paces and slowly got faster over the months. It was very similar to the Lydiard system, but I had no idea who Lydiard was back then.
Unfortunately, this type of system doesn't sell too well in the information marketplace. There's not much to sell really - I mean, how much will people be willing to pay for someone to say, "continue running at a moderate pace."
Fast forward to 2004 when I did some running, and I got sucked into the modern systems. Pose running, intervals, run faster to get faster, etc. The intent was on making the body run faster, rather than letting it happen. I have to say that all this worked... for about six months. By that time I was so burned out that I didn't feel like running anymore.
This time when the "get faster" question pops into my head, my plan is to stay the course. I have already tried the quick-fix method, and it didn't work. Real progress takes time.
