Speed training plans (Read 557 times)

I'm going to start doing speed training! There, I said it, I'm going to do it. For those that aren't aware of my feelings on speed training...I'd rather cut off my toes & eat them than speed train!! However, I am extremely competitive and while I don't enter races to win (due to the fact that I'm painfully slow!), I do compete with myself to beat my own times, etc. And my goal is to someday make the 2 Hour Club in the Fifth Third Riverbank Run 25K! My point is, I need to quit being pathetic & lazy & do some speed training. Any recommendations on how to start, how long to run, etc? I can comfortably run 8-10miles at a sub-11 min pace now. If I sprint 50 yards, I think I'm going to die. That is an idea of my fitness level for you to work from. Any advice would be appreciated!! Thanks, Eryn

Maybe I should go back to running the virtual 5K instead of the 5mi & just push myself hard during that one. And I could throw in a 5k once a week. I rarely do less than 5mi, cause it takes me 2.5-3.5 to feel warmed up & get my flow going. Don't use my log as a gauge of what I've been doing. I sit down & add my runs as I have time, which is about every 2-3wks. I spend too much time in the forum's....

My point is, I need to quit being pathetic & lazy & do some speed training. Any recommendations on how to start, how long to run, etc? I can comfortably run 8-10miles at a sub-11 min pace now. If I sprint 50 yards, I think I'm going to die. That is an idea of my fitness level for you to work from. Any advice would be appreciated!! Thanks, Eryn

The very best advice for now is simply .... whatever you do, make it FUN! Speed play should be just that ... play! At least at first. And NO SPRINTING. If you're training for half marathon distance, speed work should never be sprints (unless, of course, you're just having fun doing them.) For example - if you're training for something even as short as a 5k, a lot of people say to go do 400s (single laps) at a pace that's around 5-7 seconds faster than your goal pace. Personally, I push that to 15 seconds faster, but it's still nowhere near a sprint. Do you wanna run on a track? On the road? Some people do intervals from mailbox to mailbox; personally, I've started to love going to the track. I'll do sets of 400s, or 800s, or miles. Sometimes, just to keep it fun, I'll mix it up. Most people will tell you that if you're training for long distance, you shouldn't do anything shorter than 800s - and usually mile intervals. As in - do 5 miles, one at a time, with each at say 20-30 seconds faster than your goal time for your race. Walk/jog a lap or two in between. Rinse, wash, and repeat. But I still do 400s; my last speed workout was 10x400, jogging a full lap in between. The point is that, where you are now, just go do it. (That slogan sounds familiar). Play with it. Don't push it too hard, and have fun. Did I mention no sprinting? And do it no more than once a week for now. Some people will say once every two weeks - alternating with a long run. Whatever. Just make it fun, or you'll never do it. Good luck! (One last thing - do 6-8 weeks of HILL training before you start the speed training. Your legs will thank you.)

My speed work (I mean play!) this morning: 5 x 800 at the track (with a lap walking/joggin in between each, and 1.5 miles easy running to and from the track). It was a blast! Why is it so fun? 3 reasons: 1) I try not to forget that I'm *supposed* to be having fun. If I hate it - I won't do it. 2) It's something different; really breaks up the routine. 3) The best reason - it's REALLY fun to run *fast* once in a while! 4) (A bonus reason) ... it's the only time I can really feel myself getting faster and stronger. Most of my training runs end up being in the 8:30-9:30 pace range, a little slower over 10 miles, maybe 7:30-8:00 for 3-4 mile runs. My most frequent 7 mile run is usually right at 9:00 pace. But I ran my last 800 at 6:00 pace today - and it's such a refreshing change to go fast. Okay, faster. Fast for me. And for me, 6:00 pace is moving like the wind blows. Sure, I can't maintain it for 5k. Or a mile. But damn, it's fun for a little bit. Now go hit the track. Enjoy yourself. (And I'm officially done trying to hypnotize you into thinking it'll be just so darn much fun ...)