My version of interval training

I am trying to get faster, to get ready for upcoming half's, and where as before i used to run around a track, do 800m, then rest. I now just go out and run for 5 miles as fast as i can, the theory being i can do longer distances at a pace, which is faster than my norm, and will feel comfortable.

I have been doing this for about 6 months now. I did it yesterday, 5 miles in 33.59.

It works for me i guess..

each to their own, but that's the classic approach to get some improvements, but then hit a massive plateau, instead of working specific training zones mixed in with the majority of easy paced running

I am a great believer in fast paced running as a way to improve - I suppose from past experience you do have to balance that out with recovery runs - but in a past life all our long runs were done progressively quicker over the course of a 10/15 or 20 mile run - it worked as simple as that.

A five-mile race, perhaps?

I can feel a Venn diagram coming on...

Revolutionary methods, huh?  What goes around...

You'll need to throw in a few  Recovery-Sprints.

Grendel3 wrote (see)

I am a great believer in fast paced running as a way to improve - I suppose from past experience you do have to balance that out with recovery runs - but in a past life all our long runs were done progressively quicker over the course of a 10/15 or 20 mile run - it worked as simple as that.

fast paced as in intervals or tempo yes.

not doing the equivalent of racing a 5miler each week

Reminds me of an infamous long departed forumite, who would run ever run flat out, often faster than race pace, and because they pbd twice every 30races classed it clearly being a successful method.

Ignoring that if you up the volume and intensity however you do it you're bound to get some improvement...but it steeply levels off through such an approach

you can steeply level off.

I'm going to allow it.

Although the word steeply doesn't sound likea  word when you repeat it a few times

Rectangularly hyperbolated.

Oxymoron!