What is Light and Easy Running?

If you don't know what light and easy running is, then I can point you in the direction of the answer. You can read 8 running books per year like I have done and see that many of the books have the same answer to what light and easy running is or you can ask some of the best runners in the world what light and easy running.

The best distance runners in the world are the kenyans and ethiopians. In general, all of their warmups are considered "slow" by american runners. The day before a race, you will see far amateur runners running faster than these elite runners. It is not uncommon for them to run a 10-minute mile for their first mile of a warmup. Then a 9-minute mile and then an 8-minute mile. Not exactly those times but pretty darn close to that 10-minute mile pace for the first mile.

People that have had difficulties with their hamstring need to warmup slowly. I have seen far too many runners run too fast for a light and easy run. They are done with a light and easy 3-mile run at the same time I am 2 miles in during that light and easy run.

In Marty Liquori's Book, he wrote that many elites run the first two miles slowly~slower than 8-minute pace for the first two miles before picking it up.

So don't worry if a 60-year old woman is running past you during a light and easy run. Swallow your pride and run at the correct intensity. You will have plenty of hard workouts where you can run as hard as you want.