Happy Tuesday! It’s time for another edition of Tuesday Topics. This week’s Tuesday Topic: How do you incorporate speed work into your running? You can write about this or any running related blog post. Remember to link-up with Kim and Zenaida and the bottom of this post!
I’ll be the first to admit that I hate speed work. I am very comfortable once I lock into a pace and I’m okay riding out that pace for a few miles. This is probably because I’ve never been a fast runner and because I have primarily focused on longer distances (half marathons and marathons) over the past few years. Also, PRs don’t really mean anything to me so I don’t use speed work as an incentive to get new PRs. At this point, I’m just happy to be running! Although I don’t do separate speed work workouts, it still finds a way into my weekly workouts. Here’s how…
Orangetheory Fitness Classes
No matter the type of workout – ESP, Endurance, Strength or Power – there is always speed work on the treadmill. The way the treadmill works is that you have a base, push and all out pace. For example, if your base pace is a 5, your push pace will be a 6 and the all out pace with be a 7 or higher. We always hit all out paces on the treadmill at least twice and we hit the push pace several times, so I feel like that is a good way to get in some speed work.
Peloton #Saturday60 Bootcamp
This is my favorite way to not only incorporate speed work but hills are well. Left on my own, I will never run inclines or do hill work, so these classes force me to do it. For the #Saturday60 bootcamps, there are 3 treadmill sections, around 10 minutes each. Because each segment is only 10 minutes, I treat them as their own workouts so I’m able to push the pace whenever the instructor calls for it.
Tell me: How do you incorporate speed work into your running?
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I don’t like speed work either. It’s much nicer to go for a relaxed run!
I like how you manage to incorporate speed work in a fun way. That Saturday bootcamp with 3 x 10 minutes sounds quite effective. 10 minutes can be long – well done!
Yes, totally agree! I’m also not looking for any PRs in the future, so for now I just like to enjoy the run.
I used to like speed work but I don’t do much of it anymore. Like Catrina, I’d rather just enjoy the ride!
Same! I’m just happy that I can still run injury free (knock on wood)!
I never used to do speed training because I didn’t see the value in it. I’m still not a huge fan (because it’s so hard!), but in recent years I have come to appreciate what it can do.
I know that it can definitely help with endurance and make you a stronger runner, but that still doesn’t give me incentive to do it on my own lol. Thankfully I have to do it for some of the classes that I take.
I hate speed work too. I rarely do any. Only when I joined a running group and I had to.
I do know you should
Same here! I know it will really help with endurance but I honestly hate it lol.
I actually do enjoy speed work (sometimes, anyway), even though I’ll never be a fast runner either.There’s just something about a challenge . . . and I do enjoy a PR. Of course there have been none this year, but that’s ok (sort of).
That’s a great point – I do like the challenge aspect of it, but not enough to do it on my own, lol.
Ha ha when I saw the line “I hate speed work” I was like wait a minute, what about all of that OTF? And then of course I scrolled down to your first recommendation. I’ve heard some incredible success stories coming out of OTF.
I kind of let the speedwork drop lately, either b/c it was too hot but also b/c I ran with friends over the summer who were faster than me, so it was kind of built in speedwork. Now that school has started we’re not meeting as much so I’ll be getting back to more traditional speed workouts.
Same! I have a friend that has really gotten so much faster after a year of OTF workouts. I don’t think I’ve gotten that much faster but my endurance is probably better.
because of all of my recent injuries, i have not done any speed work in a while. I bet those boot camps really do help w your speed. Thanks for the link up
I don’t think I’ve gotta any faster – then again I haven’t done any races all year so it’s hard to tell lol
I’m not a fan of speed work. In fact, today was meant to be a 6K speed workout session and I did a 14K long run instead, LOL! BUT having said that doing speed work at least once a week (usually interval training) has really improved my times so although I hate it, I see the value!
I definitely see the value in speed work but that still doesn’t make me want to do it, LOL.
I like speedwork – don’t hate it but don’t love it either! You’ve been doing so well in your OTF and bootcamp classes. You will definitely do very well whenever next year for races (I keep telling myself that we will have races next year to be positive).