Venue:Find an even, flat circuit. A track is optimal, a park will do. Treadmill is not such a good option but can work if other alternatives are not available, if running on a treadmill set the gradient to 1deg angle to better simulate outdoor effort. The test will be repeated and that should be done with the same factors as previous tests.


The test:
This is a twenty minute threshold effort test protocol used to determine your “threshold heartrate” and pace.  
Knowing your threshold heartrate will help you both plan workouts as well as measure progress in your training. 

Using a GPS-Training watch to monitor the test:
Turn off "Auto-lap", and when starting the 20 minute maximum sustainable effort test press "lap". After 20 minutes, when test is complete, press "lap" again. When you upload the data you'll have a 20 minute lap with AVG HR and AVG pace data.


-Warmup:
5-10 minutes slow/easy jog and then 5-10 minutes easy jogging, with 2x 20 second strides thrown in, 2-3 minute recovery (easy jog) between strides. Minimum 3 minute recovery (easy jog) before beginning the 20 minute test.

-20 minute effort at maximum sustainable effort:
(maximum sustainable effort for 20 minutes means going at the top pace that you can maintain for 20 minutes)

If needed start slightly below what you think you can sustain, but continue increasing effort without going harder than you can sustain for the duration of the test. You should finish knowing you gave it everything you had.


-Cool down:
15 minutes easy cool down with stretching


Calculating your training zones:
Your estimated Lactate Threshold Heart Rate (LTHR) is 95% of your 20 minute average heart rate for the test.
Your estimate Lactate Threshold Pace (Functional Threshold Pace, FTP) is 105% of your 20 minute average pace for the test.
With some simple maths you can now determine and update your HR training zones and training zone pace in Training Peaks!

These zones are starting points but will be used in the training. There'll be more tests and each test will have some variation as heart rates can vary from day to day depending on several factors. Taking 95% of your 20 minute average HR is just an estimate for your “true” threshold but is good enough for most athletes! Same with the 105% of the pace.

LTHR: Take the average HR from the 20 minute test portion of the run and multiply it by 0.95. This value rounded up is your new LTHR-value.
Pace: Take the average pace from the 20 minute test portion of the run and multiply it by 1.05.
Please take note of the distance you ran during the 20 minutes.

The heart rate is used to determine training zones, and the average speed and distance are used to measure progress from test to test.

Calculating your Heart Rate Zones
Zone % LTHR Easy Math
Level 1 (Recovery Zone) 0-68% < LTHR – 35 beats
Level 2 (Endurance) 69-83% 25 – 35 beats below LTHR
Level 3 (Tempo) 84-94% 15 beats below LTHR up to LTHR
Level 4 (Threshold) 95-105% Tested LTHR from time trial
Level 5 (VO2) >106% 5-10 beats above LTHR


It is important that you maintain the same conditions from test to test, the 20 minute test is excellent for maintaining your current heart rate zones and measuring progress from test to test througout the program or season.

Easy jog at FTP (Functional Threshold Pace, see LTHR test) + 1-2 minutes (meaning 1 to 2 minutes slower than your calculated FTP).

Easy jog at FTP (Functional Threshold Pace, see LTHR test) + 1-2 minutes (meaning 1 to 2 minutes slower than your calculated FTP).

Run at race pace +15 to 60 sec. That means run approximately half a minute to a minute slower than intended race pace. (If Marathon race pace is 4:49 min/km, run at 5:15-5:45 min pace).


4:49 min pace gives a sub 3:30 Marathon timing.

5 x 800m intervals.
500 m easy jog in between at same timing as 800 m repeats.

Pace:
Take your expected Marathon finish time in Hours:minutes and translate that to your 800 meter timing in minutes:seconds.
Example:
If you estimate that you will run your marathon in 3 hours 20 minutes, you'll run your 800m repeats in 3 minutes 20 seconds => 4:10 pace/(6:40 pace for the 500m).

This set is a build set over a number of weeks.
Start with 5 x 800 m and build to 10 or 12.

Easy jog at FTP (Functional Threshold Pace, see LTHR test) + 1-2 minutes (meaning 1 to 2 minutes slower than your calculated FTP).

8 minute warm-up. preferably skipping rope, or cross-trainer or gym bike (no running).

2x5 minute repeats (2 minute paus between) of this circuit: (see video links below from LIVESTRONG.COM)
-10 crunches
-10 leg raisers
-10 russian twists
-10 back extensions
-10 push-ups (every other wide stance/narrow stance)
-10 hip hinges
-20 calf raisers (10/leg - single leg)

10 minutes of stretching focus on hips (hip flexors), front/backside thigh and calf.



crunches: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xyd_fa5zoEU

leg raisers: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JB2oyawG9KI

russian twists: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drvh39387LY

back extension: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bw9YuQTTc58

push-ups:
wide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaIpD_zfrJI
narrow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfIQ5V4Tcgo

hip hinges:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTkYuxzITU4

calf raisers (10/leg - single leg): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwLzBJYoWlI


hip flexors:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQmpO9VT2X4