Marathons | Half Marathons | 5K | 10K
Training:
Intermediate 10-K Plan at WomensHealthMag.com
Week Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
EASY OFF SPEED EASY OFF LONG RUN OPTIONAL
CROSS-
TRAINING
1 3 miles OFF 2 x 1 mile 3 miles OFF 4 miles 30-45 minutes
2 3 miles OFF 2 x 1 mile 3 miles OFF 5 miles 30-45 minutes
3 4 miles OFF 4 x 800 meters 3 miles OFF 6 miles 30-45 minutes
4 4 miles OFF 4 x 800 m 3 miles OFF 6.5 miles 30-45 minutes
5 4 miles OFF 3 x 1 mile 3 miles OFF 7 miles 30-45 minutes
6 4 miles OFF 5-6 x 800 m 3 miles OFF 5 miles 30-45 minutes
7 3 miles OFF 1 x 1 mile,
1 x 800 m
OFF 2 miles OFF RACE
Program Notes:
Easy Run: Monday and Thursday are designed to be comfortably paced runs. Concentrate on relaxed running.

Long Run: Saturday is your long run day, which should also be easy running. Pay attention to taking in fluids at regular intervals, especially if your race is during the summer. If your race is on a hillier course, try to choose routes that will simulate your experience on race day.


Cross-training: Cross-training the day after a long run is optional based on how you feel. The best low-intensity choices are cycling, swimming, the elliptical, and yoga. Stick to non-weight bearing activities.

Speed Workout: Wednesday is reserved for speedwork on a track or a measured block near your house. Warm up for 5-10 minutes and cool down with an easy, 1-mile jog.
1-mile repeats: Run one mile (four laps on an outdoor track) at your 10-K goal race pace or 10 seconds faster. Recover by jogging slowly for exactly half of your 1-mile time. Repeat as directed.
800-meter repeats: Run 800 meters (roughly half a mile, or two laps on an outdoor track) at 5-K race pace. Recover with 2-3 minutes of slow jogging or active walking. You don't want to fully recover after each repeat, but you should be able to talk in one-word sentences before starting your next repeat.


Beginner Plan at WomensHealthMag.com
Week Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
EASY OFF EASY +
TURNOVER
EASY OFF LONG
RUN
OPTIONAL,
CROSS-
TRAINING
1 15 minutes OFF 20 minutes +
2-3 striders
15 minutes OFF 2 miles 30-45 minutes
2 20 minutes OFF 20 minutes +
2-3 striders
20 minutes OFF 3 miles 30-45 minutes
3 20 minutes OFF 25 minutes +
2-3 striders
20 minutes OFF 3 miles 30-45 minutes
4 25 minutes OFF 25 minutes +
2-3 striders
25 minutes OFF 4 miles 30-45 minutes
5 25 minutes OFF 30 minutes +
2-3 striders
25 minutes OFF 4 miles 30-45 minutes
6 30 minutes OFF 3 miles +
4-5 striders
30 minutes OFF 5 miles 30-45 minutes
7 2 miles OFF 20 minutes +
2 striders
OFF 15 minutes OFF RACE!
Program Notes:
Weekly runs are designed for a true beginner. Concentrate on minutes rather than miles during the week as you build confidence. Don't be afraid to take walk breaks, but try to keep your walk breaks to no more than 1 minute. For example: run 4 minutes, walk 1 minute. If you feel exhausted, slow down! Start slow and finish your runs strong.

Cross-Training: Cross-training the day after a long run is optional based on how you feel. The best lowintensity choices are cycling, swimming, the elliptical, and yoga. Stick to non-weight bearing activities.

Striders: After your run, do some pickups or striders, which teach your legs quicker turnover. This is not a sprint; it's simply a quicker pace. Use the straightaway of a high school track (roughly 100 meters) as a guide. If you don't have access to a track, measure it off in a field or grassy area. Keep your feet centered underneath you (don't overstride), and visualize either the finish line in front of you or a person in the race who you want to surge past.

Links:
10K Training: Run Your First or Fastest 10K | Women's Health Magazine
Runner's World 10K Plan: Beginners | Intermediate | Advanced $20
Do You Make These Four Tapering Mistakes? | Runner's World

last updated 20 Aug 2013