Have done a bit of research on increasing speed and came across a great calculator. According to this I should do 8x 400m at my speed pace followed by 3-4 minutes regular jog.
Well thatβs easier said than done! Managed to do 200m at speed pace followed by 200m walk and 200m regular jog. Think I managed 6 times and got to 4K. But the thing is, Iβm a bit put out by the fact that I canβt maintain that speed for very long. I must be so slow! If I ran an entire 5k at that pace, Iβd still be at 27 minutes. Like how do people even run fast for long? I donβt get it π€
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Tasha99
Graduate10
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Although new to running, I do ballroom dancing regularly, the saying is that you should only compare yourself with the dancer you used to be - a good idea to carry over into running!
I believe that we are all built differently - I cannot run "fast" even over very short distances. I did Parkrun with my son on Saturday and although I wasn't tired at all (we'd done walk/run intervals) when he kicked in the last 100m there was absolutely no way I could stay with him - my legs literally cannot move fast enough. I was always last by a very long way in the 100m at school and even in sport's day mums' races - got beaten by someone carrying a small baby once and I was properly trying π
My boyfriend's work colleague came 2nd in this week's Parkrun with a time of 16:10!!! I can't even imagine how anyone could do that let alone the world record 12:37 - superhuman!
We can only ever be the best versions of ourselves and practise will get us to that x
Yes I need to stop comparing myself to others! Hopefully intervals will help a bit! At Our ParkRun thereβs a guy who does it in like 15:30 or something ridiculous like that! π€
I'm sure the training will help - practising never made anyone worse at anything
Our Parkrun record is 14:14 - he's a local athlete who runs for GB. If he comes to do it again I'm going to watch rather than take part because I would just love to see someone going that fast
Yes, someone did ours in 15mins something and as he went past I just stopped to watch in wonder. My aim is usually to try and get round the first lap without being lapped by the lead runner - doesn't always happen.
Haha! Ours is along the seafront then you turn around just past the pier to come back. The leaders pass me every week when I'm at about 1.5k - it's really impressive!
Wow, 16.10 for a normal park run, that's something we all dream about, that guy must surely be in an athletic club for a time like that, probably using that for training purposes to run a marathon.
sorry about that, ha, there I was thinking the 2.5 was seconds, not 2 and a half hours, silly me, thank you for correcting me. Nevertheless, 2 and a half hours for a 26-mile marathon is still very good going and very fast.
I can't see the logic of doing 8x 400m intervals from the off. The point of this is to build speed. Intervals should be done over a shorter run as it is working on your speed. Try doing 4 x 400m for 2-4 weeks first then build up by adding another interval or two every couple of weeks. 8x400m should be an end goal not a starting point.
Not at all. You could do it a 6x100m or 4x200m - start at a managable point and build up. Setting the bar too high to begin with is going to make you feel like a failure. I am surprised with runnersworld.
Interesting read Tasha - but 400m intervals are pretty hardcore! Iβm doing 2 mins on and one minute off at the mo but thanks for sharing your holiday reading. πΉππ
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