Splits

[MuddledGardener]

Please can someone explain to me the concept of splits? I just don’t understand it, and it doesn’t feature in the pinned post on terminology. Sorry to be thick!

[Lindsey-joy Graduate]

What, like THE splits? I hope we aren't meant to be attempting that.... i would need a hip replacement!

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to Lindsey-joy]

Bahahaha! 🤣🤣🤣

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to Lindsey-joy]

If I had been drinking, it would have shot across the room! 🤣

[backintime Graduate]

Aren't split times your 1k, 2k, 3k.....times ?

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to backintime]

You tell me! 😶

[backintime Graduate in reply to MuddledGardener]

Shouldn't you be in bed 😜

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to backintime]

Yes mum. 😜

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

It is just a term used to describe a discreet division of your run. So you may talk about kilometre splis.......the time it takes for each kilometre.......or you will hear negative splits.........which is when the second half of a run is faster than the first half.

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Ta. It was the negative splits that really dumbfounded me! But why negative?

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate in reply to MuddledGardener]

Its negative because it was quicker than the last split time. You start off at one pace and negative splits could be each k was a little faster paced than the previous one!

I like a negative split run, can you tell!😊x

[2718281 Graduate in reply to MuddledGardener]

I guess if it takes less time to do the second split, then compared to the first one the difference is negative (for instance if the first one is 10min and the second is 9min it would be -1 min)

[Pianism Graduate]

What they said... you run later kilometres faster than earlier ones.

[TeeBedders Graduate]

🤯🤯😁

[lexi6 Graduate]

Hiya MuddledGardner, like you I didn’t understand all those terms but 3 months ago Realfoodieclub posted a very clever and brilliant explanation entitled Glossary of running terms. I’m not good at tecchie stuff, but if you put in @Realfoodieclub in Search Healthunlocked her post will be there. I always thought negative splits were a bad thing and painful! 🙁 now I try to do them every time I run. 👍

[MarkyD Graduate]

Just think about the run being 'split' up into 1km sections. So if you run 5km, you have 5 different sections/splits. Most running apps and watches will give you the time/speed/pace for the whole run, and also for each 1km split. Now you get 6 lots of data - the time for the whole run, and the time for each of the five splits. I suppose when we are new graduates and not used to running 5km we start to get tired towards the end of the run. This shows up in the split timing because the split times for the last few kilometers increase (we run slower). Once consolidation running has your split times consistent (you run each kilometer at the same speed) you are then ready for your next running challenge.

Sometimes you may set out on a training run and deliberately try to run each kilometer faster than the previous one. Your split times for each section will reduce - the fabled 'negative splits'.

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to MarkyD]

Thank you! 😊