The 4 main Types of Running Workouts for Track Season

Track season is here whether you like it or not, and it's here to stay. This means that you should start training if you are a track runner, cross country runner, or a casual runner. Track runners need to start training for meets, which means high-intensity speed workouts followed by rest days. Cross country runners simply need to start to raise their mileage per week to get ready for next fall. A casual runner needs to up their miles to 5-10 miles a week to start getting in the good habit of excercise. As you can see the training plans that need to be followed vary extremely by what kind of runner you are and what you trying are tring to accomplish, but most runs can fall into 4 categories.

1) Speed

These workouts are short fast and high intensity. The goal of these workouts are to increase the maximum speed that you can run and how long you can sustain it. A good example of a speed run would be 3 400 yard sprints.

2) Distance

These workouts are long and slow and low intensity. The goal of these workouts are to increase the maximum distance you could jog. An example of a distance run would be a 4-mile jog through your neighborhood.

3) Recovery

These workouts are both slow and short and have one purpose: to rest after a hard workout the day before while still getting running in. These workouts should be so easy that you don't even feel like you are working out. An example of this would be a 1.5 mile run on grass slowly.

4) Conditioning 

This workout is not technically running but is vital to getting in shape. The goal of this workout is to condition the rest of your body to run without running. These workouts are for all levels and can be any intensity you want. Some good examples of conditioning include squats, weights,  pushups, lunges, yoga, and stretching. 

I will be adding training plans every week on Mondays that incorporate these types of running workouts and are organized by the type of training you are looking for.