Running Press

News and articles from Running Training Plan

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Jo Pavey 10k Training Session

stopwatch running track

Jo Pavey’s extraordinary run in the European Championships 10000m has certainly made more than a few runners think again about what they can achieve.

In a recent issue of Runner’s World Jo detailed an ideal session for sharpening up before a 5k or 10k.

Unusually, it includes both interval and threshold training.

The session

  1. 3 x 800m with 2 min recoveries
  2. 3 mins rest
  3. 3 x 400m with 90 sec recoveries
  4. 5 mins rest
  5. 10 mins at tempo pace
  6. 5 mins rest
  7. 4 x 200m with 60 sec recoveries

The reps should be run at 5k pace or even slightly quicker.

We ran this read more

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Go Away Rain

rain

I’ve been running for quite a few years now, and been coaching for a few too.

I always endeavour to be the optimistic trainer. By this I mean that when in doubt about running or training (and I don’t mean due to health reasons), just go. Get out there, engage with nature — whatever it throws at you — relish the challenge, the invigoration, and the sense of being alive. We always read more

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2 ways to reduce the risk of running injuries

Don’t run in the same shoes all the time

running shoes

We see quite a few runners who have favourite running shoes; they won’t buy or wear anything else. I used to be like that. Once I’d found a particular type of shoe, I’d be very cautious about changing it for fear of increasing the risk of developing a running injury.

Nowadays, I’m a little more relaxed about my running shoes. A while ago I moved very firmly away from read more

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Bekele, Gebrselassie, Farah Stride Length Comparison

How do the stride lengths of the elite compare?

The video below captured Kenenisa Bekele, Haile Gebrselassie, and Mo Farah, at mile 12 at the BUPA Great North Run in 2013. At this point, the 3 runners are running at the same speed as they had done for most of the race; shortly after this point Bekele broke away.

We can see a very real differences in the stride lengths. If the speed is the same and stride lengths are different, then the cadence read more

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Tight calves running — time to stretch the calf muscles?

Most runners have experienced tight calves. Running obviously places a heavy load on the calf muscles so we must be careful not to increase the load on these important muscles. But is the reason for our tight calves the same as what we think it is? Maybe not.

So why do we have tight calves? Usually, we’ll look at what we’ve been doing lately; the type of running. Perhaps more uphill running read more

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Kenenisa Bekele, Haile Gebrselassie, Mo Farah in slow motion

A dream come true for the organisers of the Great North Run 2013: to have Kenenisa Bekele, Haile Gebrselassie and Mo Farah in the same race.

For a spectator, waiting in anticipation at mile 12 was exciting too. Who would be leading?

The press and the camera cars passed to reveal a truly magical moment: all 3 athletes so close together you could throw a blanket over them. And, to add icing to the read more