Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Exercise

Chat to other fitness enthusiasts on our Exercise forum.

Running faster

40 replies

kindertoPTS · 29/10/2024 18:56

I run for an hour (treadmill) a couple of times a week, and do alternative exercise on other days- all gym based. I'd set myself an informal goal of getting up to 10 km in an hour but it's still taking 1 hour 10/15. I do interval, endurance, progression runs but not sure if there's a ratio I should be doing these in to improve? I am improving just slooooowly. Do I realistically need to run for longer to get my time down? Any other tips? How achievable is it to shave off 10 minutes?

Been running for nearly a year but do consider myself fit. Just slow at running

OP posts:
Shopgirl1 · 01/11/2024 23:33

You need to build a foundation of a strong aerobic base - easy runs will do that. No need for speed sessions yet, they only increase your injury risk.

kindertoPTS · 02/11/2024 06:50

Thanks @Shopgirl1 yes I run for an hour twice a week. I exercise for 90 minutes most days (combination of spin/dance/aerobics/weights etc) so I don't find the 60 minutes a challenge- I'm just slow 😂.

OP posts:
Shopgirl1 · 02/11/2024 07:29

Your body become more efficient at running when you do it more.
What kind of effort are you putting in for the 60 minutes? Do you track your heart rate?

kindertoPTS · 02/11/2024 07:56

I don't track my heart rate no. Maybe I should ask for a fit bit for Christmas!

In terms of effort- I do get sweaty. I tend to go on the treadmill after a weights class so my muscles are already a bit pre fatigued. Sometimes I run slower so I could have a convo but sometimes when I'm trying to run a bit faster I get tired by the end (but can still carry on to finish 10 km if I choose to).

I'm going to do a 30 min run after spin class today just to add on more runs in the week.

OP posts:
Shopgirl1 · 02/11/2024 08:03

I would say do it at a pace you can hum or chat at, if you need to slow down do that.

Also, could you run before you do weights as opposed to after? Running on fatigued legs won’t help.

If you swapped the dance and aerobics for running and ran 4 times a week, all easy pace, keeping strength and the spin class, I would expect you would start seeing an improvement in your pace after a couple of months.

It needs patience though.

kindertoPTS · 04/11/2024 11:44

I'm going to add in a Tuesday run during my lunch break. So that will be 4 runs every 7-10 days depending.

I've done 2 easy runs (conversation pace) so far- 30 mins on Saturday and 45 mins today. So I'm thinking do some form of interval run tomorrow, then 60 mins on Sunday?

OP posts:
MagpiePi · 04/11/2024 13:42

Sounds ok.
Make sure you are getting enough recovery time in between. Can you postpone the interval run so that you aren’t running on consecutive days?

MiddleAgedDread · 04/11/2024 13:43

Your first goal should be to run 5k in under 30 minutes because if you can't do that you're not going to hit 10k in 60min!

kindertoPTS · 04/11/2024 14:03

MagpiePi · 04/11/2024 13:42

Sounds ok.
Make sure you are getting enough recovery time in between. Can you postpone the interval run so that you aren’t running on consecutive days?

My rest day is Thursday because I work a long day. I can maybe play around with running sometimes on Wednesdays instead of Tuesdays but it gets tricky to fit things in around work/kids/life doesn't it!

I can run 5k in under 30 mins but to me that's a different kind of running. I can't sustain that level for 60 mins. But hopefully I can build up to that speed feeling more like endurance for me.

OP posts:
Shopgirl1 · 04/11/2024 14:17

5k and 10k are not different, both aerobic. It’s normal though for your 10k race pace to be a bit different than 5k. What is your 5k time race pace / best time now?

kindertoPTS · 04/11/2024 16:07

I don't race! But when I do a quick 30 mins run I would normally set pace between 6.5-7 mph and would cover more than 5 km. I couldn't run 7 mph for 30 mins I know that.

Sorry I'm not a proper runner in any way. I've just got a feel for the pace I can hold and for how long because I see it on the screen

OP posts:
Shopgirl1 · 04/11/2024 16:35

If you are running all out effort for all your runs, you are just going to get injured. Slow down to a pace you are comfortable at, enjoy your runs, ignore your pace, and you will naturally get faster over time.

xsquared · 04/11/2024 23:16

Do you own a Garmin watch @kindertoPTS or following any sort of training plan with the goal to run 10k in 60 minutes?

It's just that when I read your posts, it seems like you're making it up as you go along without any structure or consistency. I think if you were to follow a training plan with a 8-12 week timetable of specific runs and workouts, then you would have something to aim for each time you go for a run, and you will see improvements over the weeks.

There's plenty of free ones online from Running World, Women's Running, The Running channel, Hal Higdon etc. or if you plan on getting one, you could pick one from your Garmin app. When I first got my Garmin watch, I followed a 12 week half plan to the letter and was already beating my time goal well before the plan had finished. The advantage of doing a ready made Garmin one, is that they automatically set them to your watch workouts on the right days, so you don't have to create them yourself.

The other thing that stands out to me from your first post is that all your running is on the treadmill. The treadmill has its place, but it's not going to help you get much faster when you are only running on the same surface for a couple of hours of week because you won't get the stimuli that you get from running outside to "pick up" to go faster or increase cadence and take smaller steps for when you're running up a hill.

In summary, try running outside more and find a beginner's or improver's plan for 10k that has around 4 runs a week. Not all runs need to be done at a fast effort. In fact, most of them will be easy pace, but you should aim for one faster session during the week such as hill repeats, speed intervals or a tempo run.

Anyway, I hope you manage to find something and see improvements over time!

broccolienthusiast · 05/11/2024 11:06

Are you running on incline at all? If not you should incorporate some incline running into your plan, it will def improve your speed and endurance

Trickedbyadoughnut · 05/11/2024 11:17

I've used Runner's World plans a few times for very race objectives and they do have one specifically for 10k on a treadmill over 6 weeks:

https://www.runnersworld.com/training/a45850423/10k-treadmill-training-plan/

Takes a bit of time at the start to work out paces etc., but I usually copy they runs into a spreadsheet on my phone and then I can check them off as I go!

Your Treadmill 10K Training Plan for a Faster Race Finish

Forget all those numbers on the screen—here’s how to use the machine by feel to gear up for a strong race day.

https://www.runnersworld.com/training/a45850423/10k-treadmill-training-plan

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread