What's the difference between LT-runs and tempo runs?

I use the two terms interchangeably.

Not a troll, just wondering. wrote:

A lot of you will probably call me a stupid for asking this, but a serious answer will be much appreciated!

Not stupid at all, I'd like to know. It seems like they're the same thing.

LT, AT, threshold,tempo...all describe paces between about 10km race pace and marathon pace. All paces can accomplish the same thing, that is to put off the buildup of lactic acid while running fast. Coaches will agree to disagree on the application of these paces in training. Some like the faster end of the spectrum for reps, others like 10-15 mile marathon race-pace sessions. Kind of depends on the race distance you run most often but I find tempo efforts between about 10km race-pace and ten-mile race pace to be the most effective, and I'm a 1500m-5km kinda guy.

I'm just reading a post at the "Sub 1:50 800m training"-thread and in this quote:

"All of this is within the context that a basic regimin of strength training, with a mileage load (I worked up to 80 miles per week until the sharpening phase), working endurance muscle fibers with a long slow run per week (I topped out at 16 miles runs each Sunday), Aerobic threshold training including a 4-6 mile tempo run on a weekly basis, Lactate threshold training each week for 80% of the time until the sharpening phase -- 5-6x 800m or 1000m cutting down with 400m jog was the basics of what I did. In the endurance phase (fall) I might do 5x mile, by March 5x 800m finishing last interval at a pace to starts getting close to speed (ie if you are going to run 1:50 800m you might run 5x 800 in march in 2:16, 2:12, 2:08, 2:04, 2:00 running the 400m in less than 2min in between)."

I got the impression that tempo and tempo runs and lactate thresholdtraining was two seperate things, but maybe I just misunderstood?

Tempo is an all-encompassing term for a variety of different workouts that raise the lactic threshold, the point at which your body can no longer clear the lactic acid produced by harder running. LT stands for Lactate Threshold run, typically, an effort where small amounts of lactic acid are produced and rapidly cleared.

An LT is a longer slower type of workout that falls within the "tempo" category.

Thanks!

LT run= stay preferably a bit under LT. The feeling is "float".

Tempo= slightly faster than LT. Comfortably hard, not race

i've always thought of it as the pace you could hold for an hour so essentially lactate threshold.