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Speed Work ? - How fast?

I usually follow Hal Higdon's intermediate HM training program. It recommends bi-weekly interval training, and says to do your intervals at your 5k pace. Normally when I do interval training I do them at 1:00 - 1:30/min faster than my 5k pace. I'm wondering if you think I would see any benefit by doing the interval slightly faster? Or is it probably neglible? Or is there a reason they recommend the 5k pace (as in is it bad to do them faster?)?

Thanks! 

Re: Speed Work ? - How fast?

  • The few times I've done organized speed work, the intervals have been faster than 5K time for me, too. I can't see how it's a *bad* thing. Maybe they say 5K pace b/c that is a tangible result for a lot of people to easily see and gauge against.
  • I think he means your goal 5K race pace?  That is what I do mine at...
  • How long are the intervals you're doing? If you're doing them 1:00-1:30min/mile faster, you might be able to up your 5K pace. My last 2 5Ks have been around 7:05 pace. My mile repeats have been around 6:50 pace and 800 6:30-:40 pace.
    image
    ~2012 Races~
    American Birkenbeiner - 50K Ski 3:19:00
    Davenport St. Patrick's Day Fun Run - 5K 21:58
    UIVA Warrior Challenge - 5K 22:06
    Iowa City River Run - 10K 44:37 PR!
    Green Bay Marathon 5/20/12
  • Do a one mile time trial and see what your pace is!
  • The intervals are 400m. Sometimes we'll throw in an 800m (more to get them over with more quickly :)

    I've only run one real 5k (rest were more fun runs) but it was when I was probably at when I was at my fastest. So I think that pace is pretty accurate.

  • You can try out this to see what interval paces they recommend running. Mine are fairly accurate.

    http://www.runnersworld.com/cda/trainingcalculator

    image
    ~2012 Races~
    American Birkenbeiner - 50K Ski 3:19:00
    Davenport St. Patrick's Day Fun Run - 5K 21:58
    UIVA Warrior Challenge - 5K 22:06
    Iowa City River Run - 10K 44:37 PR!
    Green Bay Marathon 5/20/12
  • Someone needs to run another 5K.  My 400s are about 40 sec to 60 sec faster than 5K pace.

  • imagegt7301b:

    Someone needs to run another 5K.  My 400s are about 40 sec to 60 sec faster than 5K pace.

    Ha, you're right. But they scare me! I don't mind the long distance, but it took me a good 15 years of running before really "racing" a 5k.

  • there really is no right or wrong here.

    you can do your intervals fast - and take long recoveries,
    or you can pace yourself on your intervals - and take short recoveries.

    if you dont need a recovery, obviously you did not run fast enough.  if you need 5 minutes, you ran too fast.

    i go entirely based on effort.  i know that when i do a 400, its going to feel fast from the start.  when i do a mile, i want to feel in control for a good chunk of it (and then have it be challenging at the end).

    my 5K pace is slow compared to my intervals.  i also take longish recoveries. the goal is to keep my speed intervals the same while decreasing my recovery time.  by doing that, i am hoping to make my interval pace my 5K pace.  make sense?  you need to work backwards. 

    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
  • imagecarlab44:
    imagegt7301b:

    Someone needs to run another 5K.  My 400s are about 40 sec to 60 sec faster than 5K pace.

    Ha, you're right. But they scare me! I don't mind the long distance, but it took me a good 15 years of running before really "racing" a 5k.

    Don't be scared!  It isn't like you are signing up for a marathon.  Just signup and kick some a$$. 

  • imagegumiberg:

    there really is no right or wrong here.

    you can do your intervals fast - and take long recoveries,
    or you can pace yourself on your intervals - and take short recoveries.

    if you dont need a recovery, obviously you did not run fast enough.  if you need 5 minutes, you ran too fast.

    i go entirely based on effort.  i know that when i do a 400, its going to feel fast from the start.  when i do a mile, i want to feel in control for a good chunk of it (and then have it be challenging at the end).

    my 5K pace is slow compared to my intervals.  i also take longish recoveries. the goal is to keep my speed intervals the same while decreasing my recovery time.  by doing that, i am hoping to make my interval pace my 5K pace.  make sense?  you need to work backwards. 

    That does make sense. I typically do 400m intervals, with a 200m slow jog between (so both my interval and my jog end up being between 1:25-1:45). So I think I'll keep doing what I'm doing!

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