In the Return to Get up to Five programme you will have noticed that there are 'run faster' sections. In designing this programme we want to add a bit of intensity as well as longer duration in your running. So how do you know if you are you are doing it correctly? Here are some tips that will help you get to the right place in these faster sessions.

 

Step 1, keep to 6/10: One of the keys to being successful with this programme is making sure you still stick to 6/10 in your longer, normal sets. If you try to increase the speed during that stage of your run you increase the chance that you will need to stop and you won't have the energy to push a little bit harder when you are meant to run faster. 
 

Step 2, know what faster feels like: When you are running at 6/10 it should almost feel easy, you can hold a conversation, your breathing rate is at a steady pace, and can feel relaxed. When it's time to do your faster sets the responses you get will increase in intensity. The aim is to get to a place where you notice that your breathing has increased, you are a little bit uncomfortable with the intensity but you know you can hold this intensity for the whole duration of the set, and you would no longer be able to hold a conversation. We would call this 7.5/10.
 

Step 3, don't go too hard: Like we mentioned above you should feel that you can maintain this intensity for the whole duration of the set. If you start a set of 5mins faster and 30secs into it you think you need to stop you have probably gone too fast. Use the indicators above to help you find the place where you know you'll get to the end of the set. If you do feel you have gone out too fast it's ok to slow down. 
 

Step 4, find small success markers: Even when you find the correct speed and intensity for the faster running sets you will probably still be mentally challenged. A good tip here is to break down the whole set into small chunks that you can focus on. For example, in a 5min set you could focus on working through every minute. Once you get to the end of that minute you can tell yourself you are doing well and then refocus on the next minute. 
 

Step 5, enjoy the high: Faster running is harder but at the same time there's a pretty great mental reward that comes when you get to the end of the set. Make sure you stop for a moment and allow yourself to enjoy that place, let yourself enjoy the high of the work you have done.  
 

There are so many benefits of doing the faster run sets in your training. By using the tips above you will be more successful in getting all of those benefits.