General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Need to get faster on the run... Rss Feed  
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2008-02-25 7:08 AM

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Subject: Need to get faster on the run...
I'd like to make some strides with my running times this season.

I'm working on dropping some weight to help as I'm at 218 and hope to be down at 200 by early June which I'm sure will help.
My 5K PR has an average pace of 8:52 per mile. I've always been a slow runner and I've accepted that to a certain extent. I'd like to be able to get down to 8 minutes per mile.
I was a runner before tris so I've read the runners magazine and figure the best way is some speed work(intervals) and tempo runs.
Is it that simply?
Does anyone have any fool proof plans to get faster? What speeds should I shoot for in training? How long should my tempo runs be? Should spped intervals be for one, two, or three minutes?
Appreciate any help or insight?


2008-02-25 7:12 AM
in reply to: #1233268

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Subject: RE: Need to get faster on the run...
BrianO - 2008-02-25 8:08 AM

I'd like to make some strides with my running times this season.

I'm working on dropping some weight to help as I'm at 218 and hope to be down at 200 by early June which I'm sure will help.
My 5K PR has an average pace of 8:52 per mile. I've always been a slow runner and I've accepted that to a certain extent. I'd like to be able to get down to 8 minutes per mile.
I was a runner before tris so I've read the runners magazine and figure the best way is some speed work(intervals) and tempo runs.
Is it that simply?
Does anyone have any fool proof plans to get faster? What speeds should I shoot for in training? How long should my tempo runs be? Should spped intervals be for one, two, or three minutes?
Appreciate any help or insight?


Dropping the weight should help in and of itself with your speed. When I started running beginning of last year was at about 10:00 miles at 202 lbs. Got down to my current 180 fairly quickly and was down to 8:00. Starting doing 1/4 mile intervals (try to do each successive one faster) and by September had run a 6:51/mile pace for a 5K. By the way 8:52 is not slow.
2008-02-25 7:22 AM
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Subject: RE: Need to get faster on the run...

You don't need intervals.  You need miles.  The three key elements of running are (in no particular order): frequency, consistency, listening to your body.

You've run about 21 miles in the whole month of February.  That should be less than a week.  Until you are running 25+ mpw consistently, you're not going to really see any long-term improvements that you want.

Your pace should be easy.  I mean EASY.  Breathing is your key.  If your struggling to breath, you're running too hard.  No one gives a rat's behind what pace you run in training.  The one that matters is race day.  Don't worry about tempo runs until you get your consistency and frequency up.  Run 4 times a week.  Every week.  One of those should be longer, about 1/4-1/3 of your weekly distance.  Run one of the runs (not the long one) a little (but not much) harder than the others.  Build your weekly mileage up, add about 2-3 miles a week or every other week.  Do that for about 3-4 months consistently, and you should start to see some gains in your running. 

2008-02-25 7:48 AM
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Subject: RE: Need to get faster on the run...
What he ^ said .....
2008-02-25 7:50 AM
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Subject: RE: Need to get faster on the run...
Nothin builds speed like the LSR!
2008-02-25 8:44 AM
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Subject: RE: Need to get faster on the run...
I would not call that slow, especially at 218lbs.    I have been running now for about 7mths and have gone from 237lbs to 208lbs and went from 12 min to 10:30 miles.  I wish I were doing 9min miles. 


2008-02-25 12:21 PM
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Subject: RE: Need to get faster on the run...
X3 to what Scout7 said.
2008-02-25 12:42 PM
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Subject: RE: Need to get faster on the run...
BrianO - 2008-02-25 6:08 AM

...
Does anyone have any fool proof plans to get faster? ...

No such thing! There is always a better fool.
2008-02-25 1:31 PM
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Subject: RE: Need to get faster on the run...
Probably nothing new that hasn't been said above but you need to have a bigger base. Someone else pointed out that you're running just over 20 miles a month.

Don't go off and run 20 in 1 week right away but slowly start increasing your mileage. When you're up to that 20 or so a week then start working in harder tempo runs and some speed work.

Currently, I'm really not running a lot of miles and I usually run 3 times a week. But, I have a good base built and can maintain my running fitness right now on a minimum amount of miles(20 - 25). Just to give you an idea I usually run twice during the work week and do 6 to 7 miles each run. Then over the weekend I usually do a long run of about 8 - 13 miles. I'll build up to 13 and then taper and then build back up. I think this gives your body recovery time so you're not cranking out 13 mile runs every week! Good luck!
2008-02-25 1:39 PM
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Subject: RE: Need to get faster on the run...
What's wrong with 13 mile runs every week?
2008-02-25 2:03 PM
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Subject: RE: Need to get faster on the run...
Scout7 - 2008-02-25 2:39 PM

What's wrong with 13 mile runs every week?


Nothing at all. I've just found that my body responds better to buidling up to a distance and then working back down...must be a getting old thing!!! I will have to change that strategy though as I'll be running a marthon this fall so the mileage will have to stay up later this year!


2008-02-25 3:57 PM
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Subject: RE: Need to get faster on the run...
Thanks for all the input guys...
2008-02-25 11:38 PM
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Subject: RE: Need to get faster on the run...
read"jack daniel's running formula" you wont regret it.
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