Tempo is an intensity that means different things to different athletes and coaches. For me, I define Tempo as an effort comfortably below the Threshold pace. It is the sort of intensity that if you had to you could maintain for a duration longer than a half marathon. It is higher than the aerobic running pace, sort of in the mid-zone between the two levels. Spending more than 15-20 minutes at this intensity, helps the body practice clearing the small amount of lactic acid generated at this pace, without needing to slow down to do so. This is a perfect session for runners and triathletes running events up to full marathons and further.
Each week I will be posting the Friday Fartlek Run Sessions that you can do to enhance your running. Fartlek is a Swedish term that is often used by runners and it means speed-play. See a previous post about training intensity (levels) to know how hard to work.
20/15/10/5min Tempo Run Intervals
- 10min WU Level II;
- 20min Level III, 2:30min Level II RI;
- 15min Level III, 2:30min Level II RI;
- 10min Level III, 2:30min Level II RI;
- 5min Level III;
- 10min CD Level II;
- 10min Stretching
The Warm Up (WU) should be done at an intensity that is steady but not over consuming at Level II for ten minutes.
The main set is made up of four reps run at Level III. The first rep is twenty-minutes long, the second rep is fifteen-minutes long, the third rep is ten-minutes long and the final rep is five-minutes long. Take a two and a half minute Rest Interval (RI) between reps.
The Cool Down (CD) is at low-intensity jogging (Level II) for a minimum of ten minutes.
Finish with 10 minutes of stretching to assist with the recovery.
If you would like further advice feel free to contact me.
I am the Head Coach & Director of Qwik Kiwi – Endurance Sports Consultant.
I specialise in assisting first-timers and recreational athletes to achieve their sporting goals. I can be contacted at coachray@coachray.nz and 021 348 729.
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