1.5 mile run again

Question
Dear Sir;  I too am training for the 1.5 for the Sheriff's Dept. on Sept 13th 2008.  I have six weeks to do this.  I have been doing the following for the last 2 weeks (6 days ea.) Morning I run/walk 2 mil. I get winded at 1 1/2 laps still.  Afternoon I get on the elliptical for 30 min. to try and lose weight.  Is this a correct workout?  Please advice.

Answer
If you want to get better for a 1.5 mile run, you need to run, not be on an elliptical to 'lose weight'.  The elliptical does not train you specifically for the greater demands of the run you are about to test on.  In the same line of logic, why would a cyclist run a marathon to prepare for a big cycling race?  He wouldn't.  Why?  Because running fitness doesn't transfer directly over to improved fitness for cycling specifically.  In this same sense, training on a elliptical will not prepare your body for the effects of gravity that your body experiences while running.  If you wish to run better, you need to practice running, period.  I would just stick with a running workout each day, and no afternoon workouts, because your body will need to rest & recover from the running workout.  By training 2x/day, your body is hardly getting enough rest it needs to recover properly from the exercise demands of the run.  You are just wearing down the muscles on your afternoon elliptical routine and this perhaps is why you are getting winded after 1.5 laps on a track.  Your muscles aren't fully recovered because of too many frequent workouts.

Rick Karboviak