Free running workouts

Short Interval Workouts

20 short, sharp sessions of about 45 to 60 minutes from the library my athletes train from. Every rep is set as a percent of your threshold pace, so the same session works for every runner.

  • 20 workouts
  • Paces as % of threshold
  • Screenshot friendly

How the paces work

Every target is a percent of your threshold pace. 100 percent is your threshold pace, higher is faster and lower is slower. Your threshold pace sits close to your current 10K race pace. Not sure what that is? Put a recent race into the race time predictor.

Pace% of threshold
Sprint, flat out115 to 135%
1K pace110 to 115%
3K pace105 to 110%
5K pace100 to 105%
10K pace95 to 100%
Half marathon pace88 to 95%
Marathon pace83 to 88%
Long run pace75 to 83%
Easy65 to 75%
Warm up and cool down50 to 75%
Enter your threshold pace to see your exact paces on every card.

The workouts

Run the first rep at the slow end of each range. If the last rep is a struggle to hold, the session was a little too fast. See also the long interval workouts.

Questions runners ask

What is a short interval workout?

A session of fast reps, usually 200m to 1km or 30 seconds to 4 minutes, with short recoveries. They build speed, VO2max and running economy in under an hour.

How often should I do short intervals?

Once a week is plenty for most runners, alongside one longer threshold session and an easy long run. Keep the days either side easy.

What does 110% of threshold pace mean?

It means 10 percent faster than your threshold pace. Higher percentages are faster, lower percentages are slower.

How do I find my threshold pace?

It sits close to your current 10K race pace. Use a recent race in the race time predictor to estimate your 10K pace, then use that here.

Can I load these onto my Garmin?

Every card is laid out so you can screenshot it and build it on your watch. Coaching members get them sent straight to their watch through the Final Surge app.

Should beginners do short intervals?

Build a few months of consistent easy running first. Then start with the lower effort sessions and run every rep at the slow end of the range.

Want these built into a plan?

Ask the Coach members get sessions like these placed in the right week, sent to their watch, with paces set from their own threshold.