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5KHard8 weeksby Hal Higdon

If you are an experienced runner looking to improve your speed then this is the program for you. Not for the feint of hearted.

Schedule

Week 1

Mon
Easy

3 miles

Tue
Intervals

5 x 400m

1-2 mile warm up. Faster than 5k pace. Jog interval distance between reps.

Wed
Rest

Alternatively, go for an easy run.

Thu
Tempo

30 min

Easy running for the first third and last 5 - 10 minutes. For the middle period gradually accelerate to faster than 10k pace, maintaining peak speed for 3-6 minutes.

Fri
Rest
Sat
Fast

4 miles

Faster than conversational pace.

Sun
Long

60 min

Week 2

Mon
Easy

3 miles

Tue
Intervals

8 x 200m

1-2 mile warm up. Faster than 5k pace. Jog interval distance between reps.

Wed
Rest

Alternatively, go for an easy run.

Thu
Tempo

30 min

Easy running for the first third and last 5 - 10 minutes. For the middle period gradually accelerate to faster than 10k pace, maintaining peak speed for 3-6 minutes.

Fri
Rest
Sat
Fast

4 miles

Faster than conversational pace.

Sun
Long

65 min

Week 3

Mon
Easy

3 miles

Tue
Intervals

6 x 400m

1-2 mile warm up. Faster than 5k pace. Jog interval distance between reps.

Wed
Rest

Alternatively, go for an easy run.

Thu
Tempo

35 min

Easy running for the first third and last 5 - 10 minutes. For the middle period gradually accelerate to faster than 10k pace, maintaining peak speed for 3-6 minutes.

Fri
Rest
Sat
Fast

5 miles

Faster than conversational pace.

Sun
Long

70 min

Week 4

Mon
Easy

3 miles

Tue
Intervals

9 x 200m

1-2 mile warm up. Faster than 5k pace. Jog interval distance between reps.

Wed
Rest

Alternatively, go for an easy run.

Thu
Tempo

35 min

Easy running for the first third and last 5 - 10 minutes. For the middle period gradually accelerate to faster than 10k pace, maintaining peak speed for 3-6 minutes.

Fri
Rest

Alternatively, go for an easy run.

Sat
Rest
Sun
Race

Race

Week 5

Mon
Easy

3 miles

Tue
Intervals

7 x 400m

1-2 mile warm up. Faster than 5k pace. Jog interval distance between reps.

Wed
Rest

Alternatively, go for an easy run.

Thu
Tempo

40 min

Easy running for the first third and last 5 - 10 minutes. For the middle period gradually accelerate to faster than 10k pace, maintaining peak speed for 3-6 minutes.

Fri
Rest
Sat
Fast

5 miles

Faster than conversational pace.

Sun
Long

75 min

Week 6

Mon
Easy

3 miles

Tue
Intervals

10 x 200m

1-2 mile warm up. Faster than 5k pace. Jog interval distance between reps.

Wed
Rest

Alternatively, go for an easy run.

Thu
Tempo

40 min

Easy running for the first third and last 5 - 10 minutes. For the middle period gradually accelerate to faster than 10k pace, maintaining peak speed for 3-6 minutes.

Fri
Rest
Sat
Fast

5 miles

Faster than conversational pace.

Sun
Long

85 min

Week 7

Mon
Easy

3 miles

Tue
Intervals

8 x 400m

1-2 mile warm up. Faster than 5k pace. Jog interval distance between reps.

Wed
Rest

Alternatively, go for an easy run.

Thu
Tempo

45 min

Easy running for the first third and last 5 - 10 minutes. For the middle period gradually accelerate to faster than 10k pace, maintaining peak speed for 3-6 minutes.

Fri
Rest
Sat
Fast

6 miles

Faster than conversational pace.

Sun
Long

90 min

Week 8

Mon
Easy

2 miles

Tue
Intervals

6 x 200m

1-2 mile warm up. Faster than 5k pace. Jog interval distance between reps.

Wed
Tempo

30 min

Easy running for the first third and last 5 - 10 minutes. For the middle period gradually accelerate to faster than 10k pace, maintaining peak speed for 3-6 minutes.

Thu
Rest

Alternatively, go for an easy run.

Fri
Rest
Sat
Rest
Sun
Race

Race