10k Race-Prep Tempo

10k Race-Prep Tempo

Workout - 10k Race-Prep Tempo

  • 1.0km @ 7'00''/km
  • 1.5km @ 6'15''/km
  • 9.7km @ 4'20''/km
  • 1.5km @ 6'45''/km
  • 1.0km @ 7'00''/km
Ready to start training?
If you already having the Pacing app, click try to import this workout:
Try in App Now
Don’t have the app? Copy the reference above,
to import the workout after you install it.

Intro: RUN SDJ’s breakdown of “This 10k Race did NOT go according to plan! - Leicester 10k Jane Tomlinson Run for All” has plenty to teach. Check out the full video for the complete picture—here we’re extracting the workout you can add to your training today.

Key Points:

  • The runner treated this 10k as a secondary race, trading a 4-mile tempo for a 6-mile tempo at roughly 4:20 km⁻¹ to stay sharp before targeting a sub-20 minute 5k.
  • The opening 2 km featured hills that complicated pacing; holding the target pace worked until leg pain forced a walk break.
  • Crowd encouragement, an electrolyte tablet, and fluids at the 5 km mark proved vital to finishing.

Workout Example:

  • 6-mile (≈9.7 km) tempo run – target about 4 min 20 sec per km (≈6 min 58 sec per mile).
  • Warm up with 1 km of easy running, then settle into your target pace for the rest.
  • If the route climbs, keep effort steady rather than watching the pace; let your effort guide you on the hills.

Practical Tips:

  • Practice your pacing on mixed terrain well before race day.
  • Take an electrolyte tablet and drink water at the 5 km mark (about halfway).
  • Lean on your running community or a training partner when the fatigue sets in.

Closing Note: Work this tempo run into your training and use the Pacing app to adjust the targets to match your current shape. You’ll have everything you need to handle the terrain and hold strong through the finish—get out there and do the work!


References

Inspired by RUN SDJ

More Running Tips

Mastering Speedwork, Threshold Training, and Race‑Day Tactics: A Runner’s Blueprint

This collection of blog posts and vodcasts unpacks the science behind speedwork, threshold heart‑rate zones, aerobic vs. anaerobic effort, and practical tools like the talk test and cadence tweaks, all aimed at shaving seconds off 5K, 10K, and marathon performances. Readers get actionable workout structures, micro‑goal setting, and recovery nutrition tips that can be instantly translated into personalized interval plans, real‑time audio coaching, and adaptive training schedules within a modern pacing app.

Read More

Mastering Speed: Structured Training Plans to Crush 5K and 10K Goals

This collection gathers detailed guides and video tutorials that break down the exact interval, tempo, hill, and long‑run workouts needed to hit target times from sub‑20‑minute 5Ks to sub‑45‑minute 10Ks. Each piece explains how to periodise mileage, set target paces, and fine‑tune race‑day strategy, while highlighting the importance of recovery, nutrition, and progressive overload. By leveraging a personal pacing app, runners can automatically generate the right zones, receive real‑time audio cues, and track each workout’s metrics to stay precisely on target and adapt the plan as fitness improves.

Read More

Master the 10K: Proven Pacing Strategies and Workouts to Break 40 Minutes

This collection distills expert guidance on level pacing, fast‑finish runs, and targeted interval sessions that together build the speed, endurance, and mental toughness needed to shatter the 40‑minute 10K barrier. It outlines weekly structures, progressive interval progressions, and race‑day pacing cues, giving runners a clear roadmap to become their own coach while seamlessly integrating with a personalized pacing app for real‑time feedback and adaptive planning.

Read More

Ready to Transform Your Training?

Join our community of runners who are taking their training to the next level with precision workouts and detailed analytics.

Download Pacing in the App Store Download Pacing in the Play Store