10/10/2026
Glad these simple and effective visuals are helping so many people
Your next goal: sub 18 5km
Tempo, threshold and VO2 max all broken down with exact paces and rep counts above. Save this one and start chipping away at it
Long run: 90 min easy, conversational
Easy/recovery: 25-45 min @ 4:39-5:08/km · 7:29-8:15/mi
Tempo: 3x12 min @ 4:05/km · 6:35/mi
Threshold: 4x8 min @ 3:52/km · 6:13/mi
VO2 max: 6x1km @ 3:33/km · 5:43/mi
Reps: 6-8x50m @ 3:18/km · 5:19/mi, tagged onto the end of easy and long runs
One thing worth being clear on. I wouldn’t run threshold and VO2 max in the same week. Alternate between them week to week and build up gradually rather than stacking every quality session at once.
Treat these as top sets, not a starting point. Once you can complete them all comfortably at these paces, go test your 5K again and update your numbers.
Save this if sub-18 is the goal.