The One Guide You Need to Run an 8K in 8 Weeks
8K in 8 Weeks
So, you’ve mastered the 5K and have thought about a 10K – but what about the often missed 8K? As a long-time runner, I have found this to be my favorite road race distance. It’s just challenging enough to warrant a training plan, but not so long that my training becomes all consuming.
Though the 8K distance (or 4.97 miles) is a little harder to find than the ubiquitous 5K, there are some great 8Ks right here in our backyard in North Carolina. Some of my favorite races are the Kilt Run 8K, and as an added bonus you get to be part of a Guinness Book of World Record group for largest kilt run group. Then my all-time favorite road race, hosted by Bull City Running, is the Running of the Bulls 8K in Durham, NC in June.
So how do you train for an 8K in 8 weeks? This week training plan will get you there in three days of running a week. Whether you are a walker, runner, or somewhere in between, this plan can get you there over the next 24 days.
Easy Days: Run at a comfortable pace. If you are not ready to run the entire time, then I recommend running until you start to feel like you can’t, then walk until you feel like you can run again. Want a time to aim for? Start with 2 minutes running, 60 seconds recovery. Then, each run, start to chip away at recovery time until you don’t need it. Why do an easy run? Easy days help you recover while still getting your body used to running on a regular basis. Use this run to focus on your form, especially your stride and foot strike.
400s: A 400 M is a quarter mile or one time around a traditional track. I recommend doing this workout on a flat greenway where the quarter miles are marked, a track, or the treadmill on a 1% incline. For this workout, you will repeat per the prescription (so X4 means repeat four times) and at the pace prescribed. Note that these are not sprints. For distance running, we are trying to get used to running race pace or get faster, but either way, this will not be the fastest 400 you can run. It’s more important that you run the same speed for each repeat so you learn how to keep a certain pace.
800s: An 800 M is a half mile or two times around a traditional track. Similar to the 400s this is best on a marked, flat trail, track or treadmill. Remember, you want to run all repeats at the same pace so don’t sprint the first one.
Race Pace Runs: Practice makes perfect. Learning how to run at the pace you want to run the race at is key. After years of pacing people, I have learned what a pace feels like. Repetition is important here so that is why I incorporate race pace during repeat days a lot. It is important to time these runs with a stopwatch so you can keep track of your time and make sure you are staying on pace. If needed, do a few of these runs on a treadmill so you can learn what the pace feels like – just be sure to put the incline at 1% to make the resistance more similar to running outside.
LSD (Long Slow Distance) Runs: I recommend running a further distance for the 5K and 10K distances even for beginners. This will give you the confidence you need on race day to know that you CAN run the distance. Run this a little slower than your desired race pace. This is a great run to do with a group. Find a hilly route with a softer surface to get even more out of the run.
Are you ready to run? Commit to it now and sign up for an 8K today to help you stick to your goal. Happy training!
