5 Mile Run Training Plan by Distance - 8 Weeks

This training plan is designed for the novice/intermediate runner looking to race a 5 Mile Road Race.

This plan assumes the athlete can handle 25 miles of running in a given week relatively easily and can run 5 out of 7 days. The athlete may have recently completed some base aerobic training OR just raced an 'A' race and is now looking to do a late season running race. Prior to beginning the training plan, the athlete should be training consistently and should be able to comfortably run an hour at an aerobic/Z2 pace.

The Training Zones and paces referenced can be found via one of the many on-line running calculators using previous race results or a field/threshold test. You can also use Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) - a scale of 1 (very very easy) to 20 (very very hard):

Zone: Name (RPE) - Description
Z1: Recovery (6 - 8) - Very Light
Z2: Extensive Endurance (9 - 11) - Light
Z3: Intensive Endurance (12 - 14) - Somewhat Hard
Z4: Sub Threshold (15) - Hard
Z5a: Super Threshold/LT (16) - Hard
Z5b: Anaerobic Endurance (17) - Very Hard
Z5c: Power (19 - 20) - Very, Very Hard

NOTE: These Zones are based upon those in Joe Friel's The Triathlete's Training Bible