The 5K is a perfect distance for the beginner looking to run their first race. But, given that it’s halfway between middle and long distance, it’s also a notoriously difficult distance for the experienced runner to master. Whichever camp you fall

training load with a series of explosive exercises including sprints of 20-100m, jumping, bounding and rapidly repeated leg presses with low weights. In a subsequent 5K time trial, the explosive training group improved by five per cent on average, whereas

Rest 5K t-trial run at estimated half-marathon pace 6M/10M/16M 17M/29M/48M WK 7 3M/4M/6M jog Rest/Rest/7-9M Tempo Run 4M/7M/10M steady Rest/4M/5M jog Rest 2M/5M/9M jog then 5K t-trial at just faster than marathon pace