Welcome to weeks 5-8 of our FAST PACE MARATHON programme!
This programme is designed for people who have been running 3-4 times a week for at least 4 months and are aiming for a marathon time between 3 hours and 3 hours 45 mins. As well as running schedules, the programme includes strength training sessions to improve tissue tolerance, running speed and form.
BEFORE YOU START
Running is a repetitive, high impact physical activity, and training for long distances requires excellent cardiovascular and musculoskeletal fitness, so it’s important to evaluate this before you start. This will lower your risk of injury and give you the confidence to take on our FAST PACE MARATHON programme.
Follow this simple test for your muscles and joints:
- Jump from one leg to the other for 1 min
- Repeat 3 times with a 1 min rest in between
- Perform a single leg jump on the spot for 1 min. Switch sides
- Repeat 3 times on both legs
If you completed these tasks without any joint pain, you’re ready for the programme.
To ensure you can complete the programme without getting injured, it is important to follow the steps set out for you. The programme is designed with walk/run intervals and plenty of rest days – so don’t be tempted to run more “because you feel like you can” or miss out on your rest days.
ACTIVATION & STRETCHING
It is also very important to cool down and stretch after your run. This will allow your heart rate to fall gradually and restore the range of movement in those muscles that were heavily used. Finish every running session with an easy 5-10 mins walk and stretching. Here are our top five post run stretches.
TERMINOLOGY
If any of the words or phrases used in the programme aren’t familiar to you, just go to our terminology page where they will all be explained.
TYPES OF RUN
The programme references 5 different types of runs: EASY, TEMPO, HARD, FLAT-OUT and HILL. Here is a quick explanation of what each type means, with some hill running tips.
EASY: This pace uses aerobic effort, and you should be able to maintain a conversation without losing your breath. Running at this pace allows you to run for a long time, improves your fat-burning enzymes, and minimises stress on the body. It is used for long and recovery runs.
TEMPO: This pace uses moderately challenging effort and hovers around the lactate threshold. Energy consumption shifts from fat to using more glycogen. It is slightly above your comfort zone and talking is more difficult. This pace is used during long interval runs to raise the threshold, and help you run faster at easier efforts.
HARD: This pace sits between tempo and flat-out. It is well above your comfort zone, but not a full sprint. This pace is used during medium-length interval runs.
FLAT-OUT: This pace is very challenging and well outside your comfort zone. It is used for sprints, short intervals and hill repeats. Training at this pace will improve fitness and speed and boost your metabolism for hours post-workout. You should not be able to talk during these runs.
HILL
HILL: Hill training is brilliant for improving your running fitness but it’s important to do it right. Here are a few tips to help.
HILL: Hill training is brilliant for improving your running fitness but it’s important to do it right. Below are a few tips to help.
- Don’t start hill training until you have 6-8 weeks of base running experience – at least 3 days per week and a distance average of 25k per week.
- Find a hill that is 100-200 metres long. You want the incline to be enough to test you, but not so tough that you won’t be able to maintain good running form.
- Don’t look down at your feet, or up to the top of the hill – especially if it’s very long or steep. Focus on the ground about 5 metres ahead of you. This will help your form and keep you mentally focused.
- Start running up the hill at flat-out pace. Push yourself, but don’t lose your form too significantly. Try to keep a consistent effort up the hill.
- Keep your elbows at a 90o angle and move your arms forward and back (rotating at the shoulder) not side to side. Drive your arms back to help power you up the hill.
- Keep your back straight and upright. You can lean in very slightly from the hips, but don’t hunch over.
- When you reach the top of the hill, you should be out of breath and your legs feel heavy. Turn around and recover by easy jogging or walking down the hill.
Don’t worry if there are no hills near you, use the same times but sprint on the flat surface.
WEEK FIVE
20 min walk 15 min easy run
STRENGTH SESSION
5-10 min warm up
5 min fast walk
20 min easy run
3 x tempo run/ 3 min walk (6 min, 9 min, 6 min)
REST DAY
or spin
5-10 min warm up
25 min easy run
20 min tempo run
5 x 1k tempo run/ 3 min walk
5-10 min warm up
30 min easy run
5-10 min warm up
8 x 30 min easy run (½ marathon pace)/ 5 min walk
WEEK SIX
20 min walk 15 min easy run
STRENGTH SESSION
5-10 min warm up
5 min fast walk
20 min easy run
10 x 800m tempo run/ 2 min walk
REST DAY
5-10 min warm up
25 min easy run
10 x 3 min flat-out run/ 2 min walk 15 min easy run
20 min easy run
5-10 min warm up
15 min easy run
Hard run sets/ 1 min recovery: 5 x 60 sec 5 x 45 sec 5 x 30 sec
45 min easy run
WEEK SEVEN
20 min walk 15 min easy run
STRENGTH SESSION
5-10 min warm up
20 min easy run
40 min marathon pace run
10 min easy run
REST DAY
or spin
5-10 min warm up
20 min easy run
10 x 1k tempo run/ 3 min walk or jog
30 min easy run
5-10 min warm up
5 min fast walk ½ MARATHON TEST