How to Run Faster for Longer

Wether you are running a 10km, a 1/2 marathon, a marathon or an ultra marathon runners want to

know how they can run faster for longer. There is no simple answer, there is not one miracle type

of training, supplement or food. It comes down to hard work and doing a number of things well. I

will briefly outline some training principals that if you apply to your own training then it will help you

run faster for longer. As I said above to improve you will require applying more than one of these

principals and hard work.

1. Learn to Run

Running is a skill! Everyone can kick a football but some people can kick a football better than

others. Well, running is the same. Everyone can run but some people are more efficient at running

than others. Working on your running biomechanics to make you a more efficient runner will help

you run faster for longer. For some basic info on how to run more efficiently check out these videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVxY8Wh8I90 or https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=zSIDRHUWlVo

(note you don't need to be barefoot or in vibram fivefingers to run more efficiently)

2. Build on Your Base Milage and Be Specific

The key to getting your legs used to running your desired distance is simply by putting in the miles.

Building the milage up week by week. As a guide you should not increase your weekly / monthly

milage by more than 10% per week. Be sure to keep your runs specific to the event you're taking

part in. If it’s a flat run, train on the flat but if it’s a hilly run, train in the hills. Also try and

avoid running on pavements as much as possible to reduce the risk of injuries. “

Pavement damages joints, tendons, ligaments, and muscles. The more you can run on grass,

woodchips, or dirt, the better off you are. My athletes run 90 percent of their workouts on soft

surfaces.” Alberto Salaza

3. Speed Workout

Many people make the mistake of running too fast on their steady, long and recovery runs and then

running too slow on their speed sessions because their legs are fatigued. Your steady and longer

runs should be run at a pace where you can hold a conversation and where your heart is working

at no more than average of 75% of your maxHeart Rate (HR). Depending on what your race is will

depend on what speed session you will do but no matter what distance, your speed sessions are a

vital ingredient for running faster for longer.

Hill Sprints / Short Intervals (100m, 400m, 800m,)

These will increase your VO2 max and running speed as well as build power in your legs. Sample

hills sessions could look like; sprinting up a hill at 90-100% of max HR for 1-2 minutes followed by

a recovery walk or jog back down the hill.

Tempo / Fartlek Sessions

These are again best run over similar terrain to what you will be racing on. For this you'll be looking

to run close to your race pace for a 10k but run for 45mins to an hour, helping push your lactic

threshold. Tempo running is part of the staple training plan of many elite Kenyan distance runners.

4. Core, Strength & Conditioning

It important to incorporate this into your training to reduce the risk of injury and also to help

maintain your running form when you are fatigued therefore maintaining efficiency so finding

yourself running faster for longer. I recommend active yoga, pilates sessions for core, also don't

forget back is included in core. Body and free weight exercises are good for developing legs and

upper body strength and muscular endurance.

5. Nutrition

You can't out train a bad diet. This expression is particularly relevant in a society where a growing

number of people think an hour or so of running should be rewarded with a takeaway!. Learning

from the Elite Kenyan runners, you should be looking to fuel your training and body. Kenyan

runners base their diets on complex carbohydrates such as whole grains and vegetables, fresh

fruit, lean protein and natural fats. As guide to filling up your trolley at the supermarket is to think

about what would typically grow in your garden and also sticking to the fresh food isles and

cooking your meals from scratch and avoiding ready meals and processed food.

If you are all ready doing all of this in your training then you just have to improve on each principal

and work harder if you want to be able to run Faster for Longer