ATC 282: Tools to Help PTSD & ‘Fight or Flight’ Responses, When MAF Plateaus, and Using Tempo/LT for Ultra Training

March 15, 2019

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Intro Banter

• Lucho geeks out about sunrisesunset.com
• Lucho finds a forum that confirms cycling can help a sprinter (in terms of both running mechanics and speed).
  • His latest workout: 10x 30’’ on the bike with 3’ rest intervals; adjust seat height so you’re at full extension and reaching at the bottom of the pedal stroke.
• The value of NOT always stimulating yourself (with caffeine or other ways of getting amped) before a workout.

Rory

Using Tempo, Threshold and MAF for Ultra Training

Hi guys (from Scotland).

As you can tell from the subject title I have a few things to consider but Ill give you some background first.

I am 47 (48 in 2 weeks!) years old, married with 3 teenage boys and in full-time work. Oh, and I play the bagpipes (I’m sure you’ve discussed piping on the pod before so just thought I would chuck that in there).

I began running when I was about 40 with the whole family joining a local running club.

Since then I have progressed from cross country, dabbled in a few road races (but hate the standard 5k’s and 10k’s), half marathon, marathon, triathlon and now mainly ultras. My marathon PB was 3:06 2 years ago, I managed a top-ten finish in a hilly 38miler last October (5:33) and a 3rd place finish in a night-time lapped course completing 42.7miles (6:29).

I began MAF training 5 months ago mainly using an undulating road from my front door that does involve a couple of hills but I can keep track of my pace running it regularly. I have done 2 MAF tests (HR 133) on track showing improvements and getting to 8:58 pace. Not at an ideal time of day or week, though (Friday evening after a full week’s work so I know I can perform faster at that HR).

I have a “good for age” entry for London marathon this year and was planning to head for sub 3 but have now scratched that in favour of a 53-mile ultra the day before.

The first race this year (I have a few) is a 50km mix between trail and tarmac on March 30th, relatively flat and I would like to be coming in under the 4 hours.

Since the beginning of January I have started to introduce some faster sessions, back with my local club, once/week. They involve a mix of hill reps, fartlek and tempo runs on road. There is a track session, too but I’m not doing those just now.

On my regular MAF 6-10 miler route I did a threshold test a few days ago and came out with a lactate threshold of 175 at a pace of 6:26min/mile.

What I’m wondering is how best to use this info in my training for the flat-ish 50k?

I’m thinking: dump the club sessions just now, train mostly MAF with at least one tempo or even threshold run each week, building up my tempo runs to maybe 15miles. I think I want to look at maintaining a 7:30 pace over the 50k.

I’m managing to get out 5-6 times/week.

I know I should also be doing some strength training, I even have the kettle bells, but don’t get round to it regularly.

I actually entered for this race late in the day after a friend suggested it, now I want to race it! Ultimate goal this year comes in September with the Transalpine Run over 8 days.

The coaches say…

• Lucho approves of you following your personality type and doing tempo over high intensity (in the form of 5Ks and track workouts).
• Edging up into threshold over tempo is great to practice, especially in preparation for your transalpine race.
• 15-mile tempo runs are fine, but don’t limit yourself to that distance. Give yourself a range of 12-20 miles (bail even before 12 if you’re not feeling good).
• Avoid a typical taper with high intensity; you can keep your tempo but don’t worry about doing the highly stimulating things you don’t enjoy (like strides). Slowly reduce the duration of tempo runs during your taper: 15 miles (three weeks out), 10 miles (two weeks out), 5 miles (Tuesday of race week).
• After recovering from your March race, do 6-8 weeks of pure MAF base building and see where that gets you.
• For the transalpine, intensity might be necessary to come up the hard grades, so keep the tempo and threshold in there. If you need motivation to keep the intensity in your routine, go back to your running club for a more competitive vibe.

Kevin 

PTSD & Fight or Flight During MAF

I have service connected PTSD which makes the MAF method difficult as it’s often next to impossible to control my stress levels. It seems to me that running is associated with the “fight or flight” response and that’s one of many reasons why running’s such a taxing activity. Does the MAF method work by de-training the “fight or flight” response associated with running and control stress levels by taking an activity that is stressful, i.e. running, and retraining the person’s response to it so it’s no longer a stressful act? I’m wondering if that is a true hypothesis and if Dr. Phil has ever done any studies on his method and how it affects persons with PTSD?

The coaches say…

• There’s no specific research on MAF and PTSD, unfortunately.
  • But PTSD affects 14-20 million Americans, so you’re not alone! There are surely other runners afflicted with this condition.
• Running itself won’t retrain your brain after experiencing the traumatic event. You need to do the mental work, ideally with a therapist who specializes in the kind of PTSD you’re dealing with.
• Consider looking into EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) treatment. There’s a lot of solid research behind it.
• Mindfulness and meditation around your run sessions can be really helpful to keep you present in your body, rather than living in your past trauma.
  • Consider using a calming essential oil, such as lavender or orange, before your run.
  • Do a breath focused meditation to unwind after your run.
  • Be mindful during your runs by focusing on your breath, or do a mental checklist focusing on all the ways in which you are safe while running.
• Tawnee firmly believes that if you face your triggers and learn how to deal with them then you’ll slowly get better over time. You can run happily again!
• Lucho wonders: Why are you using the MAF method? Is it for training purposes or to cope with your PTSD? Maybe consider running into your trauma, in a sense, by running hard and using that intensity to release your suffering.
• Consider running on a treadmill or track, somewhere very controlled with limited visual stimuli. Make it super boring!

Guy R.

What the MAF?!

My question, shockingly, is about MAF (not math, but also kind of math). Back in November, I decided to give exclusive MAF training a shot in preparation for a May marathon. For context, I had just come off a cycling heavy training season following TrainerRoad training plans, which are very heavy on the intensity.

My first MAF test had me at a 9 minute mile. For the next three months I ran 6-7 hours per week, all at MAF, with one day of cycling, also at MAF, and “microdosing” with strength training and yoga. I felt great. I really enjoyed running at the relaxed pace. But here’s the thing: my paces gradually got slower and slower. By the beginning of February, I had gone from 9min/mile to 10:45. No other symptoms. Eating well, feeling great, just getting slower!

So finally I abandoned exclusive MAF and started an 80/20 approach, following a Matt Fitzgerald marathon plan. My zone 2 happens to coincide with my MAF pace, so all it meant was sprinkling in some intensity. Almost immediately, my paces plummeted back down. I have only been doing the 80/20 training for three weeks, and my MAF pace is already down to about 8:45, two minutes faster than it was three weeks ago. WTMAF??

I am wondering if I am an unusual case, or if a lot of people do need intensity to keep the aerobic system thriving.  Am I missing something? I seem to be getting great results with this 80/20 thing, so I will be sticking with it for now.

I hope that this question can bring some insights to other listeners. Thanks again!

P.s. I know that MAF stands for  maximum aerobic function. Are we supposed to believe it’s just a happy accident that it is the first three letters of a certain someone’s last name? In the countless interviews I have heard with him, I have never heard that acknowledged!

The coaches say…

• Your volume possibly wasn’t enough to make progress with MAF (even though the time you were putting in wasn’t nothing!)
• You plateaued because you didn’t increase stress as you improved (your aerobic system got bored)
  • If you can’t increase volume for time reasons then intensity is the way to go
• 80/20 approach works well when you have a deep base like you do. 20% intensity isn’t enough to break you down.
• If your MAF test is improving then you know what you’re doing is working.
• If you do feel like you’re breaking down, then go back to MAF for a week before returning to intensity. It doesn’t have to be one or the other entirely.

Frank 

Where to Race Track & Field?

I found the Endurance Planet podcast just about a year ago and fell in love with it, especially the Ask The Coaches episodes.  I had a quick question that isn’t really for one of the episodes but more for my own curiosity. Lucho has been talking about the track sprints he has been concentrating on and I would like to transition for a year from endurance events to the shorter (100m and 200m) track events.  Where do you find these events? I know of 10 different sites to find endurance events but the only one I’ve found so far for adult track is the USATF.org calendar which doesn’t have much on it. If you have some links to shoot out I would greatly appreciate it. I’m in the Cleveland, OH area and would travel around the great lakes region to find events.

The coaches say…

• These things are regional, so events are contingent on where you live (move to Boulder!)
• Go to your local master’s track clubs and network with folks to see where they are racing.
• Don’t look for “events” look for “track results.”
• Look for “open” in the meet title… you can go to ANY collegiate track meet marked as “open.” But these aren’t generally advertised to the public, so you’ll have to go to the college’s website and ask the coach. If it’s a regular low-key meet the college will probably just let you jump right in!

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