As I am training for my next 10k run, I am scouring the internet looking for tips on how to run a faster. I run slow. I mean, really slow. If left to my own devices and not really pushing myself, I run at a pace of a 12 minute mile. Boo, this is not enough and I would really like to get sub 10 minutes!
As an attempt to self-motivate myself, I’m going to simply list the best tips I know about improving your pace. Hopefully it will help some others and not just me!
Tips for a 10 Minute Mile.
- Vary your speed throughout your workout. Pick a marker, a lamp post, a car, a street and up your pace until you reach the marker. Then slow down to your normal pace. Continue this throughout your run.
- Get enough sleep! I don’t think I need to elaborate on this – if you’re tired, you will tire quicker.
- Keep hydrated – make sure you have enough liquid with you. I always take a flask of 750ml liquid with me. If I am going longer than 6 miles, I’ll take some cash with me so I can grab another drink from a shop if needed!
- Run hills. You have to work harder to run up hill, so if you start mastering hills, you’ll find it easier to run faster on flat road surfaces.
- Get motivated with a running partner! This keeps you accountable to sticking to running dates as well as keeps you going. If one of you is feeling like you want to stop or slow, the other one will motivate you to keep going.
- Run as fast as you can for the last half mile or so of your run.
- Take the temperature into consideration. Heat kills me! I run in the mornings or the evenings during the summer because during the summer, it can get too hot and just makes me want to quit.
- Listen to something motivational. I either listen to songs that are upbeat and want to make me keep moving, a motivational audio-book or a podcast. I’m currently listening to an audio book called ‘The Power Of Habit’. I also like to listen to a The Running Podcast.
Ho-kay, these are the tips I’ve found that I’m going to try and employ on my next run.
My fastest mile over my last two runs has been 11:58! That’s just the fastest mile! I was running at an average of around 11:15 in full runs back in March – need to get back to that again at least! Hopefully I can break the average of 11 minute mile, then aim for 10:30, then the perfect 10!
Great tips! I’m trying to lose the baby weight very hard.. I tried running but lost motivation running streets, so now go to the gym and classes.Sophiexxwww.pocockins.co.uk
You prefer the gym? I really hate working out at the gym! It makes me feel so bored and just not as good as getting out in the open!
Great tips. I did my first 5 k run since haing the girls a couple of weeks back. No training or anything. I did the old run/walk thing. Good luck with the 10K. My goal is to be able to run the whole 5k next year … little steps
Well done on the 5k! I managed to run most of the 10k and hope for my next one I can beat my time!