5 Speed Workouts You Don't Need A Track For

Runners are busy and don’t always have time to drive to the oval and run in circles. Here are five workouts for speed you can do anywhere, including hilly terrain:

THE LADDER

Warm up to moderate pace for up to 20 minutes

5 minutes at half marathon pace

3 minutes at 10K pace

1 minute at 5K pace

1 minute easy

Repeat three times

Cool down 10 minutes

THE HILLS*

Warm up for 10-15 minutes

2x [30 seconds at 2% incline or moderate hill, 30 seconds easy]

2x [30 seconds at 4% incline or slightly steeper hill, 30 seconds easy]

2x [30 seconds at 0% or flat road, 30 seconds easy]

Repeat six times, keeping speed as even as possible though the hills

Cool down 5 minutes

*You can use a treadmill for incline reference here as an option

ON AND OFF

Warm up for 10-15 minutes

3 minutes fast or “on”, 1 minute easy or “off”

2 minutes fast, 1 minute easy

1 minute fast, 30 seconds easy

Repeat 5 times

Cool down 5-10 minutes

THE LONG RUN

Plan pickups in your long run with 1 minute hard efforts during each of your last 5 miles. This will teach your legs to run fast while fatigued. Be sure to focus on your form and keep it when you pick up the pace!

THE QUICKIE

Warm up easy with a 10 minute jog

3 x 5 minutes at 10K pace with easy 2-minute jog or walk in between

Cool down 5 minutes and stretch