400m Repeats

Repeated hard laps with short rest. Sits between speed and threshold work, building the ability to hold a fast pace when already breathing hard.

DIFFICULTY
Intermediate
EQUIPMENT
Track · Timer
PRIMARY MUSCLES
Quads · Hamstrings · Glutes
ALSO WORKS
Calves · Diaphragm · Gastrocnemius · Hip Flexors
HOW TO DO IT
  1. 01Warm up with fifteen minutes easy running, then drills and four short strides.
  2. 02Run 400 metres at RPE 8, hard but repeatable, roughly the pace you could hold for a mile race.
  3. 03Jog or walk 90 to 120 seconds between reps until the breathing comes back under control.
  4. 04Complete six to twelve reps, aiming for every lap within two seconds of the first.
  5. 05Cool down with ten minutes of easy running.
COACHING CUES
  1. 01First rep should feel too easy.
  2. 02Even splits beat a fast start.
  3. 03Relax the face and hands at speed.
COMMON MISTAKES
  1. 01Sprinting the first two reps, which guarantees the last third of the session falls apart.
  2. 02Cutting the recovery jog short, which drops the quality of every rep that follows.
  3. 03Adding reps once the pace has slipped, which accumulates fatigue with no matching stimulus.

Note: Reference material, not a prescription. Load, volume and whether this movement suits you at all depends on your assessment — if something hurts, stop and get it looked at.

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