In this space, we will share the key or favorite workouts of our running friends and elites, and provide all the Runivores out there some training tips. Run with a smile, of course, but be ready to take on some pain!!
“No matter what distances you’re racing, incorporating weekly speed-work is guaranteed to help you run faster times,” said this week’s guest Alix Slayton. She was a middle distance specialist and cross-country runner in college and a podium regular at our monthly Riverside 5K time trial.
It’s a pleasure to have her share a favorite work out aimed at improving 5km.
Alix Slayton
She started competing in track and field at the age of 12, and ran both cross-country and track in high school and university. Post-college, she transitioned to road racing and moved up to the marathon distance and began trail running as well since moving to Taiwan.
Personal Bests:
- 400m: 61.02 2001, high school
- 800m: 2:24 2007, University
- 1000m: 3:19 2007, University
- 1500m: 5:01 2007, University
- 1600m: 5:32 2003, high school
- 1 mile PB 5:27 2007, University
- 3000m: 10:51 2007, University
- 5k : 18:34 2007 road race
- 8k: 31:43 2009 road race
- 10k: 41:22 2014 road race,
- Marathon : Hyannis Marathon 2010: 3:17:06, 2nd place overall female
Without further ado, let’s hand it over to Alix.
12 x 400m Track Workout by Alix Slayton
I’ve been steadily improving my 5k time over the last 6 months after coming back from a debilitating IT band injury. The most noticeable improvement came after I incorporated speed training into my weekly workout regimen. And the most effective interval workout I’ve found to improve 5k speed is 12 x 400m, at 2-3 seconds per lap faster than goal race pace, with 30-40 seconds rest (see shorter version for beginners). The last 400m is an all-out effort, or as my high school coach used to say, “Whatever you have left in the tank.”
For example, my 5k goal for next race is 19:00, which is about 3:48/km or 1:31 for 400m.
Therefore, my aim for the workout is 1:28 per lap.
The rest is short, not allowing for much recovery. At this point in training, if that rest feels sufficient enough to get me through all 12 sets, then that gives me confidence that I can maintain my target pace during the race.
Keep in mind this workout will look different depending on where you’re at in training (beginning, middle, or end of race season), and fitness level.
Always begin with a 15-20 minute warm-up to loosen muscles and increase blood flow. Beginners should aim for 4-6 x 400m with a 200m slow recovery jog between each rep. End with a 10-15 minute cool-down.
In addition to speed-work on the track, I also run 8-10 strides (also known as accelerations) after training runs. Beginners should aim for 4-6 strides. Ideally, you want to find a softer surface than pavement to run these. This is something my high school and university coaches instilled in me in order to work on mechanics and maintain a faster turnover. What is a stride? Strides are about 100m accelerations where you start at a jog, build to about 95% of your max speed, and then gradually slow to a stop.
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Eating well and training well go together like peas and carrots. Here are the fan-favorite pieces to help you fuel your races, workouts and recovery, as well as some useful tips using energy gels.
The Complete Guide to Fueling (Daily Nutrition, Recovery, Energy Gel Strategy)
The Best Energy Gels for Marathons
What’s an Energy Gel? The Gooey Elixir that Endurance Athletes Can’t Live Without
