CHANGE GEARS:
If you've been dropped by a group you were trying to stick with, do not run blindly in chase mode or you risk blowing up. Shift out of the red zone, and run at the fastest pace you can comfortably manage.SETTLE IN:
Assess the new pace: Are your muscles responding? Is your breathing manageable? Can you maintain your stride rate? If the answer is yes, lock into this pace for the duration of the race.RECOVER:
Focus on relaxing your posture and synchronizing your breathing with your footfalls. Breathe in for two strides and out for two strides; this respiration rate indicates a pace that is strong but manageable. Reducing tension and stabilizing your breathing will allow you to recover, enabling you to better pick up the pace later on, charging after frontrunners, and fending off those behind you.LOOK AHEAD:
Switch from defense to offense. Choose a target and make a concerted effort to close the gap. Be patient; trying to close the gap all at once can fatigue you all over again.KEEP IT UP:
As you catch tired racers, avoid the urge to settle into their pace. Keep moving and congratulate yourself with every late-race pass.LONE RANGER:
Maintain your pace by keeping your stride rate at 180 per minute.Cruise Control
Threshold intervals ingrain toughness to go it aloneTHE WORKOUT: 1000-meter cruise intervals with quick recovery
PACES: Warm up for 15 minutes, then run each interval 15 to 20 seconds per mile slower than 10K race pace. Jog for 60 seconds between each.
RUN IT: Start with five intervals. Add one per session until you reach eight to 10 repeats. Your times should be consistent—if they fall off, you're running too fast or doing too many.
HOW OFTEN: Once a week
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