Don't Call It A Comeback

[TDB]

There's no training section per se on this board so I'm just goIng to post this here. If his should be in a different section, Mods do what you do

I used to be a quarter miler, but I haven't done anything close to exercise in over 2 years. I'm looking to get back into some kind of race shape, but whenever I try to do any kind of sprinting, my body just screams at me "WTF do you think you're doing?". Its almost like forgetting how to walk. My stride just won't open up!

I know what workouts I want to do but my legs don't remember how to do them. Does anybody have any drills/hints/tips that can help reacclimate legs to sprinting, or is it simply doing reps?

Any help is appreciated.

[Marlow]

Start S - L - O - W. Jog, stretch. Lope, stretch. Run, stretch. Get in the weight room - lots of leg and core work. Then . . . sprint. Good luck!

[TDB]

That's great advice, I'm going to try it, thanks!

[no one]

issue 1 : - at what level do you intend o compete
issue/reality #2: give yourself ~6-12 mo.
along w Marlow thing
the other thing - your may not be able to (initially of course) do what you 'used to' in terms of work out
AND your age likely a factor.
coaching ?

[TDB]

I'm only a few years out of college but I've done literally nothing since graduating. Ultimately I hope to be competitive at the masters level so I'm trying to get back into shape now with the goal of staying active until I reach that age.

I've been going on distance runs with no problem but whenever I try to do moderate speed work (200s/300s) its like my legs don't know how to get out of jog mode. My stride wont open up and my turnover is embarrassing. I guess I was more shocked than anything. I expected my lungs would be gone but my stride to still be intact rather than the other way around. It was kind of like going to sleep with a full head of hair and waking up the next morning bald.

I'll give it some time, I'm sure it's just hiding somewhere. Thanks for the suggestions

[26mi235]

Well, I am from the 'other side', that is distances. I was mediocre (which is generous) in high school and did not even think about competing in college. However, in grad school I started running again and found that I could ramp up rather fast (from nothing consistent at all for five+ years to 100 miles/week in 10 weeks and a sub-3 marathon in 17 weeks).

However, this does not address your issues because it is not the running that is a problem, it is running fast that is. Whenever I am coming back, what I find is that my legs 'remember' what is like to run at good speed but my body cannot do it, I cannot make the turnover and have the zip. It is frustrating until I ratchet back the expectations while I slowly ratchet up the capabilities.

Now consider this: At age 15-23 your worked hard and continually and got to a fairly high level. Now, after inactivity and a little age, you are sort of expecting that it will not take you years to build back up. Maybe it will not take you years to build back up but if you work at it at the same rate you did before after a year or so I suspect that you can be at a pretty high level, even if not like your college peak.