6 x 400m sprint intervals - tough...very tough... - Couch to 5K

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6 x 400m sprint intervals - tough...very tough...did I mention it was tough?!

Aftabs profile image
AftabsGraduate
4 Replies

Hi all,

I am currently at the beginning of a 12 week half marathon training course. I haven't 100% committed myself to the HM yet because I want to see what shape I am in after 4 weeks, but it is looking good so far.

On Saturday I ran 5km (fast pace), Sunday I ran 8km (slow pace) and today almost 7km (intervals).

Today I ran 1 mile at a slow pace to warm up and then did 6 sets of 400m sprints and 200m recovery walks. I then finished with a 1 mile slow pace cool down.

I am using a heart rate monitor and the programme I am following was saying I needed to get up to 95% of my maximum heart rate during the intervals, it was really tough to keep that pace up for 400m but I think that is the point of sprints. It supposedly raises the threshold at which your body produces lactic acid, this allows you to run at a faster pace for longer.

I have posted a link of my run below and it is very obvious when the intervals are. It says my best pace was 3 min per km, but I can assure you I only kept that pace up for about 10 seconds! My average during the sprints was about 4:25 mins per km.

The programme has one interval session per week so hopefully I can improve over time and this will feed into my normal runs.

connect.garmin.com/activity...

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Aftabs
Graduate
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4 Replies
greenlegs profile image
greenlegsGraduate

You really like a challenge don't you! That is a lot of running, even without all those very tough sprints in there.

I'm enjoying watching from the sidelines! :)

Aftabs profile image
AftabsGraduate in reply to greenlegs

I need to keep challenging myself to keep myself interested, so running is great because there is always a new challenge! I can run faster, or longer and hopefully over time do both!

ju-ju- profile image
ju-ju-Graduate

wow...that is really fast for a km...well done and good luck on the training.

Aftabs profile image
AftabsGraduate in reply to ju-ju-

Thanks! I am hoping to get to the stage where I can average 4min kms during these intervals, that should help get my 5km times down.

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