I'm sure many people on here can reach a speed of at least 5 min/mile but would come to a slow because their breathing would get out of whack.
So when people say to "increase speed", isn't it more of a question of raising the lactate threshold pace?
I'm sure many people on here can reach a speed of at least 5 min/mile but would come to a slow because their breathing would get out of whack.
So when people say to "increase speed", isn't it more of a question of raising the lactate threshold pace?
It means they're slow.
Your welcome.
Speed you can reach while at race pace. Can you accelerate and hold sub 55 sec 400 pace for last lap
It's easy. See, if you can't run a 400m in sub 60 seconds, it means, no matter how hard you try, you aren't going to run a sub-4 mile. Sure, you can work on that, but not having the natural top end speed makes it very difficult to compete any higher than collegiately.
But what about within the context of longer distances such as the 10k/half-marathon.
For example if my 10k PR is a 45 min (7:14 min/mile) and I want to get down to 39 min (6:16 min/mile), the limiting factor would be my lactate threshold and not my "speed"
I can still run at 6:16 min/mile but I wouldn't be able to hold it because I'd be gasping for air which is what's slowing me down.
Whenever I hear the term "not enough speed" I literally think about a runner who can't move their legs past their designated race pace
speed?wtf? wrote:
But what about within the context of longer distances such as the 10k/half-marathon.
For example if my 10k PR is a 45 min (7:14 min/mile) and I want to get down to 39 min (6:16 min/mile), the limiting factor would be my lactate threshold and not my "speed"
I can still run at 6:16 min/mile but I wouldn't be able to hold it because I'd be gasping for air which is what's slowing me down.
Whenever I hear the term "not enough speed" I literally think about a runner who can't move their legs past their designated race pace
I agree with you on that. But for someone like me, with a 4:45 mile PR, 62 sec 400m starts to be very limiting. It means I have a lot less room for better endurance to help me in such a short race. Sure, I can improve by increasing my lactate threshold, but it also means I get blown by, by people with much faster top end speed. Truly, this argument depends on who you are, if you are a sub-elite or elite, top end speed matters a lot, because it also determines what percentage of your speed you are running at, but for slower people, 40 min 10k+, speed is not your problem, unless you are 60 plus.
It usually refers to sub 4 minute milers and their ability to compete on the world stage. Unless a person can run 1:46 or better in the 800, even if they can run low to mid 3:50s for the mile, they won't be competitive on the world stage because they don't have enough speed to be competitive in a strategic 1500/mile at worlds or the Olympics (where the last 700 meters is of often times run in 1:45-1:46 800 pace). It additionally applies to 10k runners that can't break 13:00 in the 5K, as at worlds or the Olympics, the final 5K is often run at or near 13:00 pace. Basically it means that metronomic runners that can hit split after split in a certain pace will not be competitive at the biggest venues if they lack the top end speed required for racing. It is more than just lactate threshold as it can involve other factors like stride length, muscular strength, etc. Championships are for closers.
The fun thing about this being a non-championship year is we can watch runners like Simpson shoot for record times as their training is more geared for hitting a fast time and not necessarily simply being able to close the last part of a race, as place is not as important.