There’s one workout that every endurance runner should be running. This “bread and butter” workout is the almighty tempo run.
Tempo runs are beneficial for virtually every runner – from milers to marathoners to ultramarathoners, tempos are ubiquitous.
This workout is also known as a lactate threshold or anaerobic threshold workout (these terms are synonymous). In this article (and in every podcast episode or YouTube video), I will use the term “tempo” to refer to lactate or anaerobic threshold.
In college, we ran tempo runs during cross country when we were training for the 8km distance. We also ran them during the base phase for indoor and outdoor track (even though I was focusing on the 3km and 5km distances).
And of course, they’re a staple for longer distance runners training for the marathon and beyond.
We also have a video on our YouTube channel about the tempo run:
If you’re not familiar with this type of workout, there are three popular definitions:
1. Comfortably hard. A pace that’s faster than “moderate” but not exactly “hard.” If you have a high training age and prefer running by feel or perceived effort, this may be the most helpful definition for you.
It should feel somewhat sustainable. But speaking is very difficult: you should only be able to talk in bits and pieces of sentences.
2. The pace you could race for an hour. For some runners, their tempo pace is similar to or about the same as their 10k pace. If you’re one of the best half marathoners in the world who runs 13.1 miles in about an hour, your tempo pace is also your half marathon pace!
To use myself as an example, look at my PR paces for several distances:
- 10k PR (33:41) Pace: 5:25 per mile
- 10-mile PR (54:50) Pace: 5:29 per mile
- Half Marathon PR (1:13:38) Pace: 5:37 per mile
If the “one hour race pace” rule is true, then my tempo pace is around 5:30 – 5:35. And when I was racing at this level, that was exactly the pace I’d run for my tempo workouts!
3. 85-90% of maximum heart rate. If you train by heart rate (learn how to calculate your max heart rate here), this is a valuable way to ensure you’re in the right range for your tempo run.
More scientifically inclined runners know that tempo workouts are run at or near your lactate threshold. This is the pace at which you’re producing the maximum amount of lactate that your body can clear from your muscles and blood stream.
In other words, tempo runs are done at lactate threshold which is the fastest you can still run aerobically.
If you run any faster, you won’t be able to clear that lactate and you’ll be running beyond your threshold. You’ll then experience the familiar burning sensation of acidic muscles and fatigue that is felt at the end of a short, hard race.
The goal then is to straddle the lactate threshold and not run any faster.
Why Is the Tempo Run So Beneficial?
There are two main reasons why tempo workouts are so helpful.
First, tempo runs boost your lactate threshold. Since you’re ideally running at a threshold effort, your body becomes more efficient at clearing lactate and using it as fuel.
Exercise science has taught us that lactate threshold pace is a fantastic indicator of running performance. The faster you can run while still clearing and using lactate (before going anaerobic), the faster you’ll be able to race.
But there’s also a significant mental aspect as well: they’re hard, stressful, and mentally fatiguing. Tempo workouts teach you to manage your emotions when running becomes difficult.
As University of Colorado at Boulder head cross country coach Mark Wetmore has said in Running with the Buffaloes:
Distance runners are experts at pain, discomfort, and fear. You’re not coming away feeling good. It’s a matter of how much pain you can deal with on those days.
It’s not a strategy. It’s just a callusing of the mind and body to deal with discomfort.
Tempo workouts callous the mind for racing. They teach you to tolerate more discomfort and develop mental toughness.
For runners, there’s no more valuable skill.
The Two Types of Tempo Runs
There are two main types of tempo workouts: sustained tempo runs and repetitions at tempo pace.
Sustained Tempo Runs
This workout includes one block of running at tempo pace. That might be 20 minutes or 3 miles but there’s no break or recovery in the middle of the effort.
A simple example is a workout like this: 7 miles with miles 3-5 at tempo pace. Here you have a 7-mile run with the middle 3 miles at tempo.
Sustained tempo runs should be capped at roughly 40 minutes – any longer and the effort becomes too difficult, bordering on a race effort.
Runners who haven’t done any tempo runs (or who might be returning to running after an injury or long layoff from training) should start with 10-15 minutes of tempo running before gradually increasing the duration of the run.
Tempo Repetitions
This workout is similar to intervals except they’re done at your tempo pace. The recovery is kept to a short 60-90 seconds and the repetitions are generally longer.
An example is 7 miles: 3 x mile at tempo pace with 90sec jog recovery. This workout is very similar to the sustained tempo mentioned above except we’re including a short recovery after each tempo mile.
Repetitions at tempo pace can be run slightly faster than tempo pace since the recovery will help clear more lactate. Though it’s best to pace yourself conservatively rather than too fast.
Many programs (including ours!) will have you progress from tempo repetitions to sustained tempo runs. First you must be comfortable doing a certain mileage at tempo effort (say, 3 miles) and the secondary goal is to get you to do 3 miles continuously at tempo pace.
When to Run Tempo Workouts
Most runners should be doing a tempo run every 1-2 weeks during a properly planned season.
Training for short races of 5km or less? If so, tempo runs are best done early in the season during base training. They help build endurance that helps support race-specific fitness later in your training cycle.
Training for longer races of 10km or more? If so, tempo runs are best done during the mid-late portion of your season. Even though they’re aerobic, they’re either a little slower or a lot faster than your goal pace so they’re best used later in the training cycle.
Many of my runners do some type of tempo workout during most weeks of their season. As fundamental “bread and butter” workouts, they have serious benefits that accumulate week after week.
Tempo Variations (Advanced!)
You might think that tempo runs are a little boring – and they certainly can be – but with some imagination and strategic changes, a tempo workout can offer significant variety.
One option is called a tempo circuit and provides a great strength AND endurance stimulus.
A circuit workout is one that mixes running and strength exercises. Here’s an example:
By including strength work during the recovery, heart rate stays higher than it normally would while you get stronger.
It’s a fantastic workout for a variety of runners:
- Beginner runners
- Runners with a long injury history
- Warrior Dash or other OCR athletes
- Advanced runners (be sure to use our more advanced circuit workout)
Another more advanced type of tempo run is called a lactate clearance run. These are like sustained tempo runs except that you insert a 30-60 second surge at about 5k pace or slightly faster every 5-8 minutes.
The surge introduces significantly more lactate into the blood stream. When you settle back into tempo pace, the body is forced to clear that lactate while still running at tempo pace.
This helps the body process lactate more efficiently, ultimately helping push your lactate threshold pace slightly faster.
Since this workout is quite stressful, it’s best to run them once every 2-3 weeks during the mid-late phase of training.
Endurance is Waiting…
Building endurance isn’t overly complex. Follow a few principles and you’ll run faster, for longer, in no time:
- Run a consistent long run every week
- Focus on aerobic workouts like tempo runs
- Gradually run higher mileage (but increase that volume strategically and carefully!)
With sound training like this, your running performance will skyrocket after 3-4 months of consistency.
And 1-2 years from now?
Well, you’ll barely recognize yourself as a runner. Your current 10k pace might be your half marathon pace next year.
Train smart and I have no doubt your running will be at a whole new level.
This is a big reason why all of our training programs (even the running plans focused on the 5,000m distance) include a healthy dose of tempo or lactate threshold workouts.
These workouts build the foundation that your running success rests upon.
