TIP OF THE DAY: Speedwork usually involves bursts of fast running - TopicsExpress

TIP OF THE DAY: Speedwork usually involves bursts of fast running (at race pace) followed by periods of slower running, or rest. That is essential, because most runners probably can achieve race pace for long distances only when well motivated and rested, in other words, during the race itself. To achieve race pace in practice, they need to cut their race distance into segments, and rest between those segments. If you were a competitor at 5000 meters, you could run 12 x 400 meters in a workout, resting short periods after each 400, and simulate some of the stress of your race as well as practicing race pace. A marathon runner probably would not do 26 x 1 mile in a single workout, but the principle is the same.