How important are tempos for a 5k?

Can't really say much without knowing what you're doing .. if you're still doing workouts that work towards like tempos, but with less fatigue or try to get more volume, then you should be fine, ie: 6x4'/1' min @ your 20 min tempo pace is a reasonable substitute later in the season.

If you've just been banging out intervals at 5k pace for 2 months, I'm not so sure.

I assume you've been running races and/or other work at tempo pace or faster over the last 6 weeks? That's your tempo substitute. You're all set!

.......1234 wrote:

Can't really say much without knowing what you're doing .. if you're still doing workouts that work towards like tempos, but with less fatigue or try to get more volume, then you should be fine, ie: 6x4'/1' min @ your 20 min tempo pace is a reasonable substitute later in the season.

If you've just been banging out intervals at 5k pace for 2 months, I'm not so sure.

Try 2 mile pace...

You know honestly I used to think tempos were super important until this year. Before college I would struggle with a 3-4 mile tempo any faster than 5:55. But after a lot of intervals at 5k pace and no tempos I banged out a hilly 9 miler at 5:40 pace.

However I did TT 8k-3200m a few times this block which could count towards a tempo depending on how you look at it.

I’d say you shouldn’t be too worried about it and have faith in your coaching. The phase for tempos is supposed to be very early and if you raced at all since September then you should especially not be worried about it.

I have read a few of the articles on your website now, and I really like your style.

this is gonna really depend on how things are spread out. For instance, since my started racing on 9/21, we have had 2 races, every single week, which continues through this weekend. We are most certainly not running tempos at this time. It is tough in season. If teams are not running 2x per week, i think many are certainly doing 3 every 2 weeks.

if you are racing every week, and also doing 2 mile pace intervals every week, in between, that seems a bit much. hope you have built up a very strong base!

When I think of tempos I think of 6-8 milers versus some saying 2 miles. Pushing strong for that long of time will help through laps 6-10 in my opinion. I've always had an 8 mile weekly tempo on Tue after Monday's workout while still a bit tired. Helps with that mid-race push.

jeffery34 wrote:

My coach only has us do tempos during base and very early season. My peak race is in a month and I haven’t done a tempo since the beginning of September and won’t be doing one in the next month. So how much will this effect my peak race?

yes.

jeffery34 wrote:

My coach only has us do tempos during base and very early season. My peak race is in a month and I haven’t done a tempo since the beginning of September and won’t be doing one in the next month. So how much will this effect my peak race?

You should be fine.... Depends how fast you are trying to run and what your body responds best to. For what it is worth, I recently ran 16 minutes for 5k off of a few speed workouts (1k repeats, 6x600m, etc) and otherwise slow mileage.