200s, what does this do?

Staple workout for mid distance runners.

What's the rest? 20x200 can be a good early season workout for a 800-3200m runner. Back in high school we would do 20 or 30 x 200 at what would be mile pace with a standing 45-60s rest.

Is it hard endurance-wise? Shouldn't be. The difficult part, and goal, for a distance runner would be to maintain speed from the beginning to the end and even finish the last few even faster. If you started at 28 and finished at 33 I'd say the workout was a failure. If you started at 33 and finished at 28 then I'd call the workout a success.

Know the goal of your workout. Don't overshoot or undershoot it.

Alan

I am a 5k guy, and started at 36 and got down to 34 for the last few...It always feels like crap when we do this and I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't doing this in vain.

Did you ask you're coach?

If you ask in the right spirit - seeking understanding rather than as a challenge - most coaches are happy to explain why and how a particular workout fits into the overall program.

This is a great mid distance sharpening wo. Problem is, unless you plan on hitting you're season goal pace in the next 4 weeks, this wo is out of phase with the season. Additionally you're a 5k runner and this wo really isn't necessary, and won't do any good at all unless it's within 8-10 days of your final racing anyway.

Cali Guy wrote:

Did you ask [your] coach?

If you ask in the right spirit - seeking understanding rather than as a challenge - most coaches are happy to explain why and how a particular workout fits into the overall program.

Hear, hear! This has been my experience (as coach and athlete), as well.

If you ask "why are we doing this workout?" as a genuine seeking of information, your coach should be able to show you how it fits into the overall program--or should be honest enough to acknowledge that it *doesn't* fit, and change it.

If you ask "why are we doing this workout!?" as a simple whiny complaint, then I'm sure no answer will satisfy you.

Nil Pas wrote:

This is a great mid distance sharpening wo. Problem is, unless you plan on hitting [your] season goal pace in the next 4 weeks, this wo is out of phase with the season. Additionally you're a 5k runner and this wo really isn't necessary, and won't do any good at all unless it's within 8-10 days of your final racing anyway.

Okay, I won't even start on critiquing this one. Suffice it to say:

OP, this kind of response is why you should be talking with your coach, and not us (me included)!

I am always amazed at the trolls who come on here with these types of questions, then the bigger trolls who actually offer up "advice" with knowing so little about the person. For all you know this is Bekele asking, in which case this would be nothing more than some light strides! Not knowing PR's, recent races or how the rest of the season's w/o's have progressed, no one can give you an intelligent answer. "Unsure of my coach" and the fools who offered advice, perhaps less time spent on this crap and more effort on the track woud be a better use of your time.

Unsure of my coach wrote:

Every spring we go out and run 20x200s, what do these do? I feel like they are a complete waste time and do nothing for me.

Am I wrong? Do other teams do this?

You are practising running fast, which is kinda important if you wanna be a faster runner.

Can you run 10x 400 in under 60 seconds with just 60 seconds rest?

No you can't because you have practised running fast enough.

I was there yesterday for this workout. Perhaps you should stop questioning Pete and realize there is a reason that he was an all american and has had many all americans run under him. The 200's are a good workout because they help with your turnover. Good turnover is nice to have at the end of a race when you need to outkick someone. Trust me, I've learned the hard way several times. Go Tommies.

20X200 in about 27 with 45 sec rest was a staple early season workout for Coe.

D()()()D E()()()()D wonders why we do 200s?