This Advanced 5K Training Plan is designed for runners who have multiple races under their belts.

It is perfect for runners who are searching for peak performance and maximum speed. 

This training plan offers interval training days, speed work, short runs, timed duration runs and longer runs to help you build stamina. 

This training plan was developed to help you hit a target time goal in most cases below 20 minutes. 

Advanced 5K Training Plan – (12 Week w/PDF)

ADVANCED 5K TRAINING PLAN WEEK BY WEEK

WEEK 1:

 Week One Comments:

This plan has 28.25 total miles in the first week. You will notice that most Tuesday's have the interval runs throughout. 

Coupled with the fast runs, the strategy is to have two days during the week that you are focusing on increasing your speed.

Be cautious on the easy run days so that you have stamina to power through the interval Tuesday. 

It's worth mentioning that warming up and cooling down help your body get prepared for the stress of interval work and recover when you are slowing down your heart rate.

The interval runs work best to run fast. 

For the 400 or 1/4 mile, once you hit the the specific distance STOP to catch your breath and then go at it again.

How ever long it took you to run the 400 or 1/4 mile is normally a good rule of thumb.

So if it took you two minutes to run the 1/4 interval, you rest for two minutes and then go continue to the next interval run. 

Don't be surprised, normally the first interval run will be your fastest and then the time will go down each time. 

The Tempo Runs will help you work on a consistent pace throughout your race. 

Week 2

Week Two Comments:

This week begins with an easy three mile run to get you started. The increase of one more interval will push you on Tuesday. 

The mid-week rest days are beneficial to refresh your legs and prepare you for the busy weekend.

The fast run on Saturday will be a great stamina test for you. 

It will give you a really good idea of where you are and where you want to be. 

Remember that it's an eight week training plan, not two. So if the results are not there just yet you have plenty of time for improvement.  

On Sunday, the 60 min run should be at aN easy pace, even a little brisk.

Try to get eight miles in that 60 minute run, which is the equivalent to a 7:30 pace. 

Week 3

WEEK 3:

Week Three Comments:

The interval runs have switched to 200's or 1/8 mile. 

These really force you to dig down deep, especially when you progress from 5 to 6 and 6 to 7. Keep working hard and they will feel really good as you cool down.

This specific interval run will be hard on your legs so you have a few easy run days in to make sure you get solid miles in.

On Sunday the timed run is up to 75 minutes or about 10 miles, keeping at the 7:30 pace you locked in on during your second week of training. 

Be sure to focus on your breathing pattern during your tempo run.

That way you will be preparing your body for the race along with your legs. 

Week 4

WEEK 4:

Week 5

WEEK 5:

Week Five Comments:

This week will be the second stage of your training. You are back in the 30+ mile per week range and have a TON of interval runs these week.

Ten to be exact.

Following Tuesday's interval runs, the easy run on Wednesday will be tough to get going but once you are warmed up you should feel pretty good.

Saturday's five mile fast day will give you a pretty good indication if you over did it on your tempo run on Thursday.

So try not to push yourself too hard on Thursday.  

Take Sunday easy, it's a lot of miles to run after a hard day on Saturday so be cautious and don't over do it.

If you get over 10 miles in over 80 minutes consider it a very impressive performance. 

If you don't reach 10 miles, during the 80 minutes of running, don't beat yourself up.

Your legs are telling you to rest. 

Week 6

WEEK 6:

Week Six Comments:

This week has a heavy run load on the weekend.

The 6.5 miles that you will run on Saturday will be a challenge but helps your endurance, form and breathing.

The 90-minute run on Sunday should be about 12 miles or slightly above it.

The Tempo Run on Wednesday added a few more minutes since last week (longer duration of time).

The speed work on Tuesday will push you to see how much gas you have in your tank.

Week 7

WEEK 7:

Week Seven Comments:

The countdown to race day is on. You are two weeks away from your race, week seven provides one more challenging week before the race.

With 10 intervals on Tuesday, you should plan on leaving everything out there on those runs.

Saturday's seven mile fast day should really give you an idea of your comfort level.  

The 90- minute run on Sunday further cements the training that you have worked so hard on. 

Week 8

WEEK 8:

Week Eight Comments:

It's race week.

The total number of miles decreases from what you are used to so that your legs are fresh for the races. 

On Race Day, be sure to stick to your routines (what you eat, how you stretch, etc). Try to get to your goal race pace within the first mile of the race.

If you can do that and hold it, you have a really good chance of reaching your goal.

Once you get to the last 1/2 mile or 1/4 mile, run very hard to the finish line. 

That time will make up for the time it took you to get to  to your race pace. 

Got a question about the training plan? Send me an email and I will respond as quick as possible = JEREMY@RUNNDIGITAL.COM  

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