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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Jack Daniels' Running Formula}}
[[File:JackDaniels3rdEdition.JPG|right|thumb|500px|[http://www.amazon.com/dp/1450431836 Jack Daniel's Running Formula 3<sup>rd</sup> Edition].]]
Jack Daniels introduced his training plans in 1998, and he has been called "the world's greatest coach" by runner's world. Jack Daniels introduced the concept of specifying training paces based on fitness, and measuring fitness based on race performance, something other plans, including [[FIRST]] have built on. The book provides a series of plans for various distances, various abilities and ways of calculating the correct pace for each workout. The book is well written, and Jack Daniels is one of the most respected coaches; Runner's World famously called him "The world's best running coach". However, the plans require some hard work to interpret and analyze, as they can involve multiple segments at different paces. This article should be read in conjunction with my [[A Comparison of Marathon Training Plans| Comparison of Marathon Training Plans]].
{{BuyAmazonSpecificProduct|AZID=1450431836|AZN=Jack Daniels' Running Formula}}
=VDOT and the Formula =
The 'formula' in the title of the book refers to the calculation of the various training paces that he used. The book includes tables to calculate "[[VDOT]]", which is a measure of fitness and running ability. The term comes from [[VO2max|V̇O<sub>2</sub>max]] which is a measure of aerobic capacity, and if you look closely you'll notice that the 'V̇' actually has a small dot above it, hence 'V dot' or 'VDOT'. Typically the value for VDOT is a looked up from a race performance, and the resulting value is usually fairly close to the runners actual [[VO2max|V̇O<sub>2</sub>max]].
=The Training Paces=
The running formula has tables of training paces for each [[VDOT]]. These paces are:
* '''E'''asy. The E pace is for easy running. It is typically used for recovery between intervals, the bulk of many long runs, and "non-quality workouts". In the third edition, this is a range of paces rather than a single specific pace.
* '''M'''arathon. This is a runners predicted or actual marathon pace, and is used as a component of a number of marathon training runs.
* '''T'''hreshold. Sometimes referred to as [[Tempo Runs]], this is intended to be around the [[Lactate Threshold]]. In the second edition, there is a table (7.1) that provides modifications to the T pace for longer tempo runs, but this has been dropped in the 3<sup>rd</sup> edition. (Science indicates [[Tempo Runs]] should be avoided in favor of other training paces.)
* '''H'''ard. The third edition introduced the idea of hard running that is based on subjective effort rather than a specified pace.
* '''I'''nterval. This is the primary pace used for intervals, and is intended to maximize [[VO2max|V̇O<sub>2</sub>max]] by running at the pace that corresponds with [[VO2max|V̇O<sub>2</sub>max]]. (This is known as 'velocity at [[VO2max|V̇O<sub>2</sub>max]]', or simply '[[vVO2max|vV̇O<sub>2</sub>max]]'.) You can read more about this at [[Aerobic Interval Training 101]].
* '''R'''epetition. This pace is a higher intensity than the I pace and is anaerobic, but is generally longer and slower than true [[High Intensity Interval Training]].
=Downsides of Jack Daniels=
While I'm a fan of Jack Daniels there are some caveats to his approach.
* The book requires some effort on the part of the runner. You need to look up your VDOT, look up your training paces, and then work out the specifics of the sometimes complex training runs. For instance, a workout such as "2E + 3T + 40 min E + 2T + 1E" requires you to work out how far you'd run at your Easy pace in 40 minutes, and add that to the 3 easy miles and 5 tempo miles.
* For many of the plans, the book does not give a simple, fixed weekly plan, but instead specifies the quality workouts you should do, and you decide what days you run them on.
* You need to have run a race so that you can use the result to determine your training paces. Jack Daniels does have other approaches, but this is the most reliable. I believe this is better than programs that give no guidance on training pace, or use the target pace for training paces, but it is a limitation.
* The training paces that Jack Daniels provides assumes you are training on reasonably level ground. If you are training in a very hilly environment, Jack Daniel's approach is harder to implement. You can use a [[Heart Rate Monitor]], but that is tricky as you need to have tested your [[Maximum Heart Rate]].
* There is no half marathon training program, with the intention to use the 10K or the marathon programs depending on your pace.
* For many programs, only the quality days are provided for most of the training programs, with the intention that the runner works out how to make up the rest of the mileage. I like this as it allows for running fewer days per week, with more recovery.
* I do not believe that [[Tempo Runs]] are the most effective use of training time, and prefer interval training. I would prefer a training plan that avoids tempo runs, and the science backs this up.
=Marathon Training Plans=
''Main article: [[A Comparison of Marathon Training Plans]]''