Get Running advanced training plan: Week Five

You are now halfway through the programme. Well done: you have built a solid base, and in four more weeks you will be up to 10k. This week we keep you motivated by adding in some interesting changes to your runs.

Variety: This is the key to keeping your running interesting and also to making you stronger. If you do the same run, at the same pace, at the same location, the body will get used to it, and your training will stagnate.

Try out fartlek running: Fartlek is the Swedish word for “speedplay”. Check out the video to learn about it but, put simply, I want you do a few faster sections in the middle of your run, and some slow recovery sections too. Decide your route as you go along, and vary everything. This way your body won’t know what is going to come next and it will be great training.

Three new exercises for strength: This week, I want to show you a few exercises you can also try out. You can include these in the middle of your fartlek run, or do them at the end. They will all help you get a bit stronger, and make your running a bit easier.

Get Running advanced training plan: Week One

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Get Running advanced training plan: Week Two

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Get Running advanced training plan: Week Three

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Get Running advanced training plan: Week Four

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Make your long run less scary: Our long run this week is for 50 minutes. That sounds long, I know. My trick is to divide it mentally into two sets of 25 minutes. Break it down into smaller chunks and it will be much more manageable. Perhaps even five sets of 10 minutes will sound more appealing to you. Whatever works, go for it.

So that’s it. The Week Five plan is waiting for you, so we wish you the very best of luck.

Homework: We will have three runs each week. Spread them out across the week to allow the body to recover.

Week Five Training Plan

Homework 1

1. Warmup: Take a five-minute brisk walk
2. Run/walk session: 30 minutes run on a new route or reverse your normal route
3. Cooldown and stretch: Five minute walk and three stretches

Homework 2 (a day or two after Homework 1)

1. Warmup: A five-minute brisk walk
2. Run/walk session: 30 minutes fartlek run
3. Cooldown and stretch: Five-minute walk and three stretches

Homework 3 (a day or two after Homework 2)

1. Warmup: A five-minute brisk walk
2. Run/walk session: 50 minutes’ slow run. Track your distance
3. Cooldown and stretch: A five-minute walk and three stretches