) is the key to speed. Elites clock 180-190 strides per minute, but most of us make 150-160. Work out where you stand: count how often your right foot hits the ground in one minute. Do this three times and double the average. "Below 150, and you're probably

Q I started running two years ago and have increased my half-marathon pace from 9:30 miling to 7:30 miling. I have noticed recently that I’m using a longer, slower stride for both speedwork and general training, and my times have remained the same

and then decelerate for 20m. Lengthen repeats Elite tweak Coach Greg McMillan (mcmillanrunning.com) recommends repeats that total approximate goal race distance at goal race pace. This works your VO2 max and lactate threshold. If you're running a 10K, try three lots

not.2. Stopwatch fartlekAfter 10 minutes on a 30-minute run, begin alternating 15 seconds quick, 45 seconds easy, 15 seconds quick, and so on, until you’ve done five or six faster segments. Some sports watches can be set to beep every minute

resistance (aim for 10K race effort or slightly easier), followed by 3-5 minutes easy. Repeat both parts 2-4 times, or more if you’re trying to stay in shape for longer events.Optimal leg turnover is about 180 strides (or 90 per leg) per minute, just

to 10-15 seconds per mile slower than your current 10K race pace. Run at this pace for five minutes then increase the gradient to five per cent and run for two more minutes at the same pace. This should force your heart rate up by 10-15 per cent

developed sophisticated variations on the basic approach.Pump up your stride rate to 180 per minute At the 1984 Olympics, Daniels and his wife, Nancy, analysed the stride frequencies of runners from 800m to the marathon. At distances from 5,000m on, the top

’m plodding towards a 10K in September but I have a problem with hills. It's getting increasingly hard to find anywhere even remotely flat to run! In one way, it's a good thing as I'm entered for the Lanhydrock race which is hilly but it's really challenging

Speed repetitions Warm up, then run eight x 400m at mile race pace with two-minute jog recoveries between. 5 Sprints Warm up, then run eight x 200m at 800m race pace with 200m slow jog recoveries between.6 Strides Warm up, then run 10-12 x 100m

ran 2:42:24 in 1975, and Joan Benoit Samuelson ran 2:22:43 in 1983. ("World best" was the euphemism instead of "world record" for road-race performances before January 1, 2004.) This year saw a course record set in the men's race, but, at 2:07:14