As the name implies ‘alternations’ is a workout that consists of alternating between two or more paces or intensity levels as part of a continuous running session. Specifically, alternations consist of a faster segment followed by a slightly slower segment. Alternations differ from ‘intervals’ or ‘repetitions’ because there is no ‘recovery intervals’ in between ‘hard…
Tag Archives: Workout
FARTLEK step aside! It’s time for RYTMLEK
We’re big into our wild and wacky Fartleks in ChampionsEverywhere – these workouts are a staple part of every athlete we trains weekly training during the general practice and conditioning period. First engineered by Swedish coach Gösta Holmér, Fartlek means ‘speedplay’ and is a way to shake yourself out of that metronomic trance that can…
Natural workout sample – Gate Protocol #1
This workout can be used by any runner who has been instructed in basic jumping, balancing, vaulting, lunging and sprinting techniques. I came up with it on the August Bank Holiday as a quick morning workout that takes less than 30 minutes including warm-up and cool-down. Equipment needed 1 x gate (1m high or so)…
Speed training
Speed training is a term we use for a workout consisting of a mixture of longer easier running with a session of very fast and short sprint work early in the run. Where long runs focus on the cardiovascular system and intervals runs on the metabolic system, strides improve neuromuscular coordination (the brain’s ability to…
Circuit run (sub-threshold run)
The “Circuit run” workout is the fastest type of endurance workouts you will do during the early stages of the Quantity (traditionally called the Base or Aerobic) phase. It teaches you to run at the fastest pace you can sustain without “huffing and puffing”, that is – by burning mainly fat and oxygen for fuel and…
Warming-up and cooling down
Most of your workouts should be accompanied by some pre-exercise and post-exercise activity or what we commonly call warm-ups and cooldowns. Think of them as a transition into your full workouts and a transition back to a more relaxed state. Watch athletes warm-up, however, and you will notice many different methods and durations. Executing your…
Intervals (repetitions)
Interval training is a distance workout of faster repetitions, usually run well above your maximal steady state and your lactate threshold, with a recovery interval between each. The aim is to do enough “tiring, exacting work” (as Lydiard referred to it) to lower your systemic (full-body) pH as much as possible without the workout being…
Recovery run
This article used to refer to “Jog”. We have removed references to jogging on our site. Although this is a common term for slower running it also is synonymous with the damaging hybrid movement between walking and running that modern running shoes allow. We therefore prefer the term “Recovery run” as while you run slower,…
Race (non-peak/tune-up)
Test races are over and under-distance races that help you to gauge your form, practice race tactics and gather information about your weaknesses and strengths ahead of your peak race. Long test races should be high-end aerobic running, bordering into anaerobic, not all-out efforts. Test races are sometimes referred to as “tune-up races” because that…
