When to start V02 Max Training

Start cranking out 10x800m at 3k-5k weekly. NOW!!

Seriously why is asking your coach not an option?

Are you from NY? August 14 is the start date. You can ask oyr coach if he'savailable. If he's not, why isn't he?

There's three variables you can control with intervals

* speed (that would be your choice of 3k or 5k pace)

* distance (that would be your choice of 400m or 1600m or whatever)

* recovery time

Pretty much the way to bring an athlete to a peak is to make the intervals progressively more intense by increasing speed (say, by moving from 5km to 3km pace), increasing the distance, or decreasing the recovery time.

If you want to peak in early September, and run your best race in a dual meet, then start 800m at 3km pace intervals now. If, instead, your aim now is to get comfortable with running at goal pace start with shorter 5km pace intervals and keep the recoveries long.

Keep the lactate threshold work in there, but don't let that become too fast.

I disagree. I don't think any intervals are necessary right now at all. In fact, I don't think they're necessary for at least another month. You can run really well off of pure threshold training and mileage. Just keep putting in the miles, don't worry about workouts.