Doing Longer Workouts (20 min Tempo/Threshhold) On a Track?

I can get my average hr higher on a track than on a trail. Is that better? Shrug.

It is easy to manage. I mean it is only 20-30 min. This is not an either or. Do them on the track so you perfect your pacing and learn what that effort level should feel like. Doing them on trails so you can get used to running on that surface. Just don't waste time thinking about this instead of running

Ron Swanson wrote:

Is there a difference in terms of benefit gained from doing longer 20min tempo (5:20/mile) runs on a track as opposed to on trails or paths? I would prefer to do such runs on a track as I would be aware of 400m splits rather than on a path with only mile markers (that may be off). But I am doing this training for cross country races so is it more beneficial to do fast paced runs on grass and become acclimated? Also do you have experience doing 20min+ tempo running on a track? Is it incredibely boring or manigeable?

Thanks in advance for advice.

I regularly do 7-10mile tempos on a track. I prefer it over the trails because I can take out all the other elements (elevation, surfaces, etc) and know exactly the pace I am hitting. I usually look at my watch every half mile so that I get used to feeling the pace and staying consistent. If you do your tempos on grass or trails, you might be 10sec per mile slower just because of the surface. Plus the miles might be short or long due to turns/tangents or inaccurate mile placings.

Mentally, you get used to doing that many laps all in a circle. Yes it sucks sometimes, but when you hit a good workout, it makes it worthwhile.

I believe Alan Culpepper and some other old school Colorado guys used to do their thresholds on the track. Like others have said, it's easier to track pace and keep a constant rhythm.

In the run-up to a marathon this spring, I did 10 miles (well, 16000 meters, anyway :) at marathon pace in the freezing rain and hard wind on a track, in the dark. Absolutely miserable, but with the snow and ice I really didn't think I could do it safely on the roads, and it was a key workout in my prep (like many of you I have a busy work life to work within).

One of the best calls I ever made in terms of feeling tough psychologically for race day, when the weather turned out to be perfect.

dasfafsdaasfsadfdsasd@hasd.com wrote:

This is not an either or. Do them on the track so you perfect your pacing and learn what that effort level should feel like. Doing them on trails so you can get used to running on that surface.

This.

I suppose you should do whatever works for you, but in my opinion, you are over-thinking things if you are worried about 400 splits during a tempo run. You know what tempo effort feels like. Go out and run at that effort for 20 minutes.