HELP ME RUN A SUB 18 5K

That' some smart training. I'm in the same boat,but my goal is in a year or so from now.

Yeah, lowering your long run and easy pace was a smart move. You will get more out of it by running longer.

However, you should have some moderate runs at 7:30 -7:45 pace, your original easy run pace.

2x2 mile repeats at 6:15 are brutal ....but much needed. Run hard on hard days, and easy on easy days.

good luck, bro.

Don't overcomplicate it. Sub 18 is not very fast and does not require any "serious" workouts or anything (assuming you are a male. For females you will need to for sure do more faster workouts)

1. Smart move slowing down your easy pace. If the Japanese & other elites run their easy runs at 8:00/mi and are in 13 shape, you better be running like even slower maybe 9:00/mi pace on easy runs. KEEP IT EASY!

You just need to up your miles per week. Get up to 60 mpw and double as many days a week you can, do a tempo run once or twice a week and no long run. Just run frequently and more miles

dont over complicate wrote:

Don't overcomplicate it. Sub 18 is not very fast and does not require any "serious" workouts or anything (assuming you are a male.

For some a sub 18 is just as demanding as Bekele going for sub 12:40.

It's all relative to talent. Many men will never even break 20 by moving to Kenya for a decade in their prime.

The OP is not one of those but it bears mentioning.

Wow. You’re assuming that everyone is created equal regarding talent. Even with the best training some people will never break 20 mins. Get out of town.

dont over complicate wrote:

Don't overcomplicate it. Sub 18 is not very fast and does not require any "serious" workouts or anything (assuming you are a male. For females you will need to for sure do more faster workouts)

1. Smart move slowing down your easy pace. If the Japanese & other elites run their easy runs at 8:00/mi and are in 13 shape, you better be running like even slower maybe 9:00/mi pace on easy runs. KEEP IT EASY!

You just need to up your miles per week. Get up to 60 mpw and double as many days a week you can, do a tempo run once or twice a week and no long run. Just run frequently and more miles

Just run a lot and you should be able to break it.

That's right. Not everybody is willing to stop eating chips and get off their couch to train hard. Not everybody is created equal in that way motivation.

But every man is able to EASILY break 18, let alone 20 lol Just not many want it hard enough . It's "too much work" or whatever excuse.

Get lean, get fit, and get serious. Train like an adult.

Please stop. You’re embarrassing yourself.

Not as embarassing as creating 2 different accounts to back yourself up with. You dont got no possee boi

Sprinting for many wrote:

For some a sub 18 is just as demanding as Bekele going for sub 12:40.

It's all relative to talent. Many men will never even break 20 by moving to Kenya for a decade in their prime.

Keep thinking this and never get good. Just with such a mindset your setting yourself up for failure. You need to be optimistic and say “yes i CAN a real 18” not “oh it may be as hard as Bekele sub 12:30”

Think positive.

All the best think positive. By THINKING already that 18 is fast and that you can’t reach it you will never be fast.

What are your PRS? You must be really fast.

I’m not but I have some elite friends that I learned that “positive thinking” from. You’ll never see an elite say their 13:10 is fast. They WILL say that they could improve, could do better etc. a difference between us and them is they are positive and age group hobby runners aren’t.

I am only 15:50 right now but i am improving and only been in the sport for 4 years from scratch.

dont over complicate wrote:

I’m not but I have some elite friends that I learned that “positive thinking” from. You’ll never see an elite say their 13:10 is fast. They WILL say that they could improve, could do better etc. a difference between us and them is they are positive and age group hobby runners aren’t.

I am only 15:50 right now but i am improving and only been in the sport for 4 years from scratch.

I bet you could break 14 if you really put your mind to it.

Probably! :)

You never mentioned a long run, do you complete them, how often, and what distance?

5k 18:12

10k 40:30

Half marathon 129:30

400m 68 seconds

Mile 5:04

Half marathon is my farthest running distance , I've also done many a sprint triathlon

Easy peasy ,

I was doing a long run about 8-9 miles at 7:15-7:45 pace . Then a fellow runner invited me to run with him about the same distance only we do : 2ish mile warm up , 2x 2 miles at about 6:15-6 20 pace (5minute rest in between) Then a 2ish cool down. So I get about the same distance but with some faster pace miles in there . I don't really have logic there but it sounded like a good idea and I definitely push harder running with someone else . I've been doing that for 6 or 8 weeks now , when he isn't available I usually switch back to the regular long run

dont over complicate wrote:

Sprinting for many wrote:

For some a sub 18 is just as demanding as Bekele going for sub 12:40.

It's all relative to talent. Many men will never even break 20 by moving to Kenya for a decade in their prime.

Keep thinking this and never get good. Just with such a mindset your setting yourself up for failure. You need to be optimistic and say “yes i CAN a real 18” not “oh it may be as hard as Bekele sub 12:30”

Think positive.

All the best think positive. By THINKING already that 18 is fast and that you can’t reach it you will never be fast.

My modest talent and hard work put me several minutes under 18. That's how I know what I'm talking about.

Sub 18 is not fast but it is when you have zero talent.

dont over complicate wrote:

I’m not but I have some elite friends that I learned that “positive thinking” from. You’ll never see an elite say their 13:10 is fast. They WILL say that they could improve, could do better etc. a difference between us and them is they are positive and age group hobby runners aren’t.

I am only 15:50 right now but i am improving and only been in the sport for 4 years from scratch.

No. Everybody thinks they can improve and they know when they are near their limits.

OP, there's an obvious gap in your training program. I like the 2 x 2 workout, but you're doing your 12 x 400 workout at mile pace. That means you're doing no 5K pace work (or for Daniels aficionados, no vO2max workouts). If your goal race is a 5K, then replace the 12 x 400 workout with 6 x 800, 5 x 1000, 4 x 1200 @ 5K pace as one of your key workouts.