Your Speed/Distance Training Zones: 18 minute 5k
| Pace per Mile/ Km | Treadmill Pace | 400m / 800m Splits | 5km Race Pace |
|---|---|---|---|
| 05:45 / 03:35 | 10.4 mph / 16.6 km/h | 86s / 2:52 | 17min 55s |
Your 18 minute 5k Training Plan
| Day | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Rec. Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 30mins easy | 30mins easy | Examples | Rest/ Cross-train |
| Tuesday | Reps@3:35 per km / 90s 5:45p/m (90sec rec.) | Reps@84s per 400m/ 5:35p/m (60s rec.) | Reps@3:35 per km / 90s 5:45p/m (90sec rec.) | Rest/ Cross-train |
| Wednesday | 30mins easy | 30mins easy | 30mins easy | to include 3miles @6:00 p/m |
| Thursday | Reps@2:49 per 800m /5:40p/m (200m jog rec.) | Examples | Examples | Rest/ Cross-train |
| Friday | Rest/ Cross-train | Rest | Rest/ Cross-train | 30mins easy |
| Saturday | 30mins easy | Reps@2:49 per 800m /5:40p/m (200m jog rec.) | 30mins easy | Rest/ Cross-train |
| Sunday | Long run | Long run | Long run | Rest/ Cross-train |
18 Minute 5k Training Plan Components
Breakeven Sessions – 18 minute 5k training plan
These sessions are used for maintaining fitness & recovery. Preparing you for breakthrough sessions:
- Steady/ Easy Run – this run should be according to how you feel, don't worry about the time, make sure it's no quicker than 07:45 p/m. Concentrate on recovery and form.
- Long Run – slow & steady run, this should be less than 1 hours work.
- Fartlek – unstructured training. Example Fartlek sessions.
Breakthrough Sessions – 18 minute 5k training plan
These sessions are meant to be challenging intense efforts, treat them as mini-milestones towards your target:
- 400m Reps – these need to be at 5:35 p/m pace (84s per lap) with a 60sec standing recovery.
- 800m Reps – should be reps at 5:40p/m pace (2:49 per 800m) with a 200m jogged recovery.
- 1km Intervals – hit 5:45p/m pace (3:35 per km) with a 90sec jogged recovery.
- Hills: Kenyans/ Hill Sprints – alternate between Kenyans and Hill Sprints to get a balance of power and endurance training. Example Hill Training Sessions.
About this Plan
Remember that to even consider following this 18 minute 5k plan you should already be able to run at a target race pace of 5:45 for at least a mile (3:35 p/km) and/or have a PB under 20 minutes.
The core work for the 18 minute 5k training plan is set over a 3-week period with the addition of 1 week's recovery. At the end of the first 4-week cycle you can repeat and/or tailor the plan to your individual needs to focus on your particular 5k event.
It is recommended that after three months following the 18 minute 5k plan that you reduce your training for a period of one to two weeks to allow your body time to recover from the impact of running. This should mean more time cross-training with a couple of nice easy runs every few days to keep the legs ticking over.
last time i ran sub 18 was in 2016. I will start on JULY 10 2023 i hope i can break sub 18 wish me luck.
I am a15 years old sophomore and my 3 mile pr is 17:17 in September of this year. What time should I be trying to break in a 5k since ive been training a lot harder now.
if you keep up intense workouts and not get injured you could break 17 next xc season. Try to gradually increase your weekly mileage, but stay consistent with the rate of increase, you don’t want to overload yourself.
just got a 16:48 5k today and 16:10 3 mile
I was running sub 18s in my mid/late 20’s with little commitment to training. Started running again 6 weeks ago after a 15 year hiatus. ……. Now doing a very embarrassing 27min.
No shame in that. As long as you enjoy running, you are doing great. I was never able to get below 19, but I am going back into trainning.
Hi
Hello really like the look of this plan. I haven’t followed any kind of running plans since my cross country days and in those days I just shut up and did what the coach said without knowing the reasoning.
My goal is sub 18:00 5km. I am wondering about the long runs. In it you say they should be “no more than 1 hour” is there a big negative impact I will find by going 2 hour runs on the long run day?
The reason being is I really want to keep my volume high for marathons. I off the couched a 3:58 marathon this year with 2 10km runs under my belt and avg weekly mileage of about 10km. My joints screamed bloody murder but it was a fun experience. Looking to continue with the odd marathon here and there but am more interested in building a faster base currently then pursuing full marathon training plans (they’re boring). So can I do this 5km plan and throw in a once a week 15-30km run? That way I keep my mileage up for marathons and the long runs are my way to explore all the cool trails in my area
Hi Matt, love the look to this plan – variety and tempo. Can I do this on a treadmill? And if so, what incline do you suggest? Thank you!
Hi, can someone please explain and give an example of what they mean by the Tempo Run to include 3 miles @6:00 p/m part please? I understood tempo runs to be 30 sec slower than your target pace, which is 6:00. Thank you!