Adding speedwork to your training has lots of benefits, including improved performance, form, efficiency, confidence, and even more calories burned. But to prevent running injuries, it’s important that runners take some precautions before jumping into speed training. Follow these steps before you start speed training.
1. Establish a good running base.
If you’re a beginner runner or you’ve taken an extended break from running, you should be running consistently (3 to 4 times a week) for at least three months before starting speedwork.
2. Pick the right course and surface.
During speed training sessions, you’re less likely to pay attention to potential hazards because you may be a little more uncomfortable than you are during an easy, slow run, and you’re really focused on your workout. So try to pick a course that’s relatively traffic-free and look for a smooth, obstacle-free route.
For example, you may be running so fast that you don’t see sidewalk cracks, potholes on the road, or tree roots on a dirt path. If you have access to a rubberized track (check your local high school), that’s a great option.
3. Always warm up.
Always begin with 5 to 10 minutes of easy running before picking up the pace. You can also do some warm-up exercises. A pre-run warm-up gets your blood flowing, slowly elevates your heartrate and temperature, and gets your muscles warmed up and ready to go.
Jumping into speedwork without a warm-up increases your chances of injury. Even if you don’t get injured, the quality of your workout will suffer because you’ll feel uncomfortable when you start.
4. Don’t start too fast.
Runners who are new to speedwork sometimes make the mistake of running way too hard and fast for every interval. You should put in a good effort, but don’t run so fast that your breathing and heart rate are totally out of control.
Try to run your intervals consistently so that your last one is the same effort as your first. If you feel like you have nothing left for your last interval or the last few minutes of a tempo run, you did it too fast.
5. Focus on proper running form.
Speed training helps to improve your biomechanics and running form, so don’t let your form fall apart when you’re running fast. Follow tips for proper running form during your speed workouts.
6. Rest the day after.
Don’t be tempted to run hard two days in a row. You may feel fine the next day, but your body is still recovering — and some people feel more muscle soreness two days later. Give yourself some down time by either taking a complete rest day or doing easy cross training the day after doing speedwork.
7. Do one session a week to start.
Don’t get too enthusiastic and do two sessions of speedwork a week. A little speed training goes a long way — even just adding one session of speedwork can make a big difference in your running. Once you improve your fitness and confidence, you can add another session (but, again, never two days in a row).
8. Don’t skip your cooldown.
A 5 to 10-minute cooldown at the end of your workout is just as important as your warm-up. Easy running or walking after you finish your speedwork will prevent blood from pooling in your legs and help flush out the lactic acid and other waste products from your muscles.
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Running coach, marathon runner, and fitness writer Christine Luff is an RRCA-certified running coach and ACE-certified personal trainer. Founder of the website Run for Good and author of the book Run for Good: How to Create a Lifelong Running Habit, she coaches runners, from beginners to advanced, who are training for races, from 5Ks to marathons.
