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Welcome to the DCRRC Wednesday Night Track Workouts. In conjunction with our year-round distance-specific training programs, and our regular Saturday Long Runs, these workouts aim to give runners of all abilities the fitness to reach their goals. For the novice or casual runner, these workouts will challenge you to a higher level of running fitness. For the competitive runner, track workouts are an essential means to reaching personal bests and to succeed at whatever level you are competing.
Where & When
Unless otherwise noted, workouts are held on the track at Washington-Liberty (formerly Washington-Lee) High School in Arlington. We meet near the concession stand (northwest corner) at 6:45pm and start the workout at 7:00pm. Warmups, drills, etc. are on your own.
Philosophy
Our workouts focus on two of the three forms of speed work used by distance runners from the 5K to the Marathon: Stamina Training (10K race pace or slower) and Interval Training (around 5K race pace). We also do a limited amount of Speed Training (faster than 5K race pace) especially during the summer.
Do not worry if this is new to you, and especially if you feel that track workouts are for "fast" runners. Our posted workouts are suggested "maximums," and can be individually tailored to your current level of fitness and specific running goals. Our coach, Ed Grant, has been leading these workouts for 20 years, and is happy to customize a workout plan to meet your needs.
Paces
To get a sense of how fast you should run during these workouts, we encourage you use the McMillan Running Calculator. You can plug in a recent race time and a goal race time, and the Calculator will churn out Training Paces (click on that term) for everything from long runs to speed paces. We recommend applying Mark Hadley's temperature + dew point adjustments in warm and humid weather. Temperature and dew point forecasts are available from the National Weather Service.
Track Workouts: December 2010
Welcome to Winter Running!
This winter, our Wednesday Night program is expanding, due to the influx of participants in the DCRRC Spring Training Program for the Marathon and Half-Marathon. By January, the workouts for the training group and the regular Wednesday night group will largely be the same. But December's workouts are bifurcated, see below charts. I will make adjustments as the season progresses, and obviously if the weather dictates. If it is so cold that a simple 20-minute tempo run and then a dash to the car is all we can handle, that it what we will do.
Workouts for the training program will start at 7:00. Those in the full or half-marathon training programs should be warmed up, stretched, and ready to go at 7:00.
Workouts for the "regular" Wednesday night group will start at 7:15. This should reduce congestion on the track between the two groups. But, if congestion problems remain, we will move back the training group start time to 6:45.
Please remember the Lane One Rule at all times -- run your "fast" repeats in Lane One, hugging as close to the inside line as possible. Do not run side-by-side. Leave Lane Two clear for passing at all times. Jog your recoveries in the outer lanes, or inside the track on rhe grass/turf.
The following workouts are designed for both the marathon and half-marathon. Most of the work during December and January will be done at three paces: Tempo Run Pace (TRP), Tempo Interval Pace (TIP), and Cruise Interval Pace (CIP). (These terms can be found on the McMillan Running Calculator©, accessible from this page.)
For Wednesday night regulars, TRP and TIP are 10-Mile race pace -- but as you can see from the McMillan calculator, TIP (used on shorter tempo intervals) is a bit faster than TRP (used on steady interval runs of 15 minutes or more).Cruise Interval pace approximates your pace for a 10K. For the regular Wednesday night group, weather permitting, we will throw in a couple of Interval or 5K pace workouts -- in February and March.
Many ask whether they should base their speed on their past times, or the times they are shooting for. As long as your goal pace is realistic, it’s fine to train at that pace. But be careful about over-doing things, and it is a good idea to start at the slower end of the pace ranges found in the McMillan Calculator©.
Some hints, particularly for those in the training programs: Workouts can be customized, but preferably, such “customization” should take place by varying paces. This should be done in consultation with one of the coaches. For examples, some might wish to do some faster speed (“Interval Pace”) work later in the program. This can be accommodated.
The schedule here is not set in stone, either for individuals, or for the group. Individual coaching means just that. These will be the basic workouts for the group; we will adjust as the needs of the group and weather conditions warrant. In addition, you should consult with your coaches regarding questions on the number of repeats or intensity that you should be dong.
Finally, for those who cannot make the workouts: These workouts can be done on a treadmill, or on a measured trail (preferably flat). If that is not available to you, a good all-purpose workout is Hill Repeats. Try a half-dozen repeats up a moderately steep hill of 150M to 200M in length. Run the hills up comfortably hard – not all-out. Jog down the hill for your recovery.
Everyone should begin the workouts with a warm-up jog of at least 1 mile, preferably 2 miles. Warm down should be at least 1 mile of jogging, plus some stretching.
Now, the workouts:
Remember:
Tempo Run Race = TRP = 10-Mile to Half-Marathon race pace.
Tempo Interval Pace = TIP = 10-Mile race pace or slighty faster.
Cruise Interval Pace = CIP = 10K race pace.
REGULAR GROUP WORKOUTS
| Date | Distance & Suggested # of Repeats |
Pace --McMillan Running Calculator Will Help Choose Your Pace |
Rest Interval |
| Regular Workout | |||
| 12/01/2010 | 10 x 400M | TIP | 100M jog |
| 12/08/2010 | 3 x 1600M | CIP | 400M jog |
| 12/15/2010 | Christmas Relays: 2 person teams | Alternating 400M - 10 x 400M for each team member | Your teammate's turn! |
| 12/22/2010 | 5 x 1000M | CIP | 400M jog. |
| 12/29/2010 | 20-Min. Tempo run as part of 45-60 minute total run. | TRP | 15-minutes jog at front and back ends. |
| MTP Group Workouts | |||
| Workout For Marathon Training Program. Will be MODIFIED for Half-Marathon Program! | |||
| 12/01/2010 |
8 x 400M Half Marathon: Indian Files |
TIP | 100M jog |
| 12/08/2010 |
4 x 800M Half: 4 x 400M |
CIP | 400M jog |
| 12/15/2010 | Christmas Relays | Your teammate's turn! | |
| 12/22/2010 | 15-min. Tempo run as part of 45-minute total run. | (TRP: About 40 seconds per mile faster than marathon goal pace; close to half-marathon goal pace). | Warm up and warm down 15-minutes each. |
| 12/29/2010 | 20-minute tempo run as part of 50-minute total run. | TRP | Warm up and warm down 15-minutes each. |
January-March Workouts to Come!
Track Workouts -- September-November 2010
Following are scheduled workouts for Wednesday nights for the next 3 months. Unfortunately, we lose one Wednesday in September, and three in Octoberr (13, 20, 27) to high school games currently scheduled for the Washington Lee stadium. Alternate workouts will be posted for those evenings.
The scheduled workouts are, for the most part, on the difficult side. Please remember that there is no obligation to complete all of the recommended repeats! I note that the SLR/Marathon Training schedule is also very challenging during this time. I strongly recommend that you consult with your individual coaches regarding whether to attempt to complete all of these workouts (both Saturday morning and Wednesday night). Personally, I would not try to do so -- I would skip some of the long runs or, if the long runs were that impoirtant to me, would go light at the track. (Keep in mind, for example, that recovering from a 20-mile run, or even a hilly 16 to 18, can take many days). I'm also available for any questions you might have on this score. You can email me at: edgrantnj@comcast.net
Without further ado:
Sept 1: 20-Minute Tempo Pace Run (Aim for 2-Mile Warm-Up and 2-Mile cool-down, minimum)
Sept. 8: 4 x 5:00 @ 5K ("I") Pace. 5:00 recovery between. Note: Easy does it on Saturday's 20-miler.
Sept. 15: 2 x 15:00 Tempo Pace Runs. 2:00 Recovery.
Sept. 22: 4 x 1-Mile Repeats on Custis Trail. 10K to 10M Pace.
Sept. 29: 8 x 500M, 5K ("I") Pace, 300M recovery
Oct. 6: 1 x 20-Minute, 1 x 15-Minute Tempo Run. 2:30 Break.
Oct. 13: Mile Repeats on Custis Trail.
Oct. 20: Short-Distance Work on Custis Trail.
Oct. 27: Easy run on Custis Trail.
Nov. 3: 16 x 400M, 10K (C/I) Pace 100M Recovery.
Nov. 10: 5 x 1000M Repeats. 5K Pace. Slow 400M Recovery.
Nov. 17: 20-Minute Tempo Run.
Nov. 24: NO WORKOUT.
Directions to Track
Track workouts are held on the track at Washington-Liberty (formerly Washington-Lee) High School.
From Washington DC: take I-66 east to the Glebe Road exit, turn right on Glebe, right on 15th Street for about 0.4 miles, to Stafford Street, turn right and cross over I-66 and the school is on your left.
From Vienna and points west in Virginia: take I-66 east to the Fairfax Drive exit, follow Fairfax Drive for about 0.8 mile to Stafford Street, turn left for about 0.3 miles and the school is on your right.
From Alexandria: take Glebe Road going north until turning right on 15th Street, and proceed as from DC.
Metro: Washington-Liberty is a short walk from both the Virginia Square and Ballston Metro stations (Orange/Silver lines).
Track Resources
Upcoming Events
| Alexandria Turkey Trot Thu, Nov 28th, 2024, @9:00am |
| DCRR Gar Williams Half Marathon Sun, Dec 1st, 2024, @9:00am |
| DCRRC Bread Run 10K & Gingerbread 2-Miler Sun, Dec 8th, 2024, @10:00am |
| Book Club Sun, Dec 8th, 2024, @4:00pm |
| DCRRC New Year's Resolutions 5K Wed, Jan 1st, 2025, @12:00pm |
| DCRRC Al Lewis 10-Miler and 5-Miler Sun, Jan 5th, 2025, @8:00am |
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The DC Road Runners Club is a member of the Road Runners Club of America and is also affiliated with USA Track & Field. We provide a year-round schedule of running events that offer everyone a chance to participate regardless of age, gender, or athletic ability. |