Stride for Speed

Stride for Speed

Workout - Stride for Speed

  • 25min @ 6'30''/km
  • 5min @ 6'00''/km
  • 4 lots of:
    • 100m @ 2'15''/km
    • 1min 30s rest
  • 5min @ 9'00''/km
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Intro

Vo2maxProductions’ HOW TO INCREASE STRIDE LENGTH FOR SPEED! FASTER RUNNING TECHNIQUE EXERCISES shows you how to develop a longer, faster stride. We’ve distilled the key concepts so you can test the workout this week. Watch the full video for all the details.

Key Points

  • Stride length multiplied by cadence determines your speed. Target 170+ steps/min regardless of race distance or pace.
  • Stride repeats (also called strides) form the backbone: 4 × 80–100 m (or 15–20 sec each) done fast—around 90–95% sprint effort—with complete recovery between.
  • Explosive knee lift combined with a driving back-kick unlocks hip range and lengthens your stride.
  • Hip-flexor strength (through lunges, dynamic stretches) and knee-lift drills build the range and power needed for a bigger stride.
  • A strong aerobic engine underpins everything; you need solid fitness to hold longer strides at goal race pace.

Workout Example

Stride Session (post‑easy run)

  1. Warm up with 10–15 minutes of dynamic stretching.
  2. Run 4 × 80–100 m reps (or 4 × 15–20 sec efforts) at a fast pace:
    • Build to 90–95% of max sprint speed without going all-out.
    • Stay loose and controlled: drive your knees up, snap your heels back.
    • Rest: walk or lightly jog between reps until your breathing settles.
  3. Wrap up with high-knee drills (2 × 30 sec) and hip-flexor stretches (30 sec each side) to reinforce the movement pattern.

Adjust reps, distances, or times based on your current fitness.

Closing Note

Test out these stride and hip-flexor drills this week and adjust your pace targets in the Pacing app to align with your current level. Stick with it, and you’ll develop a longer, more fluid stride you’ll feel across every run.

References

Inspired by Vo2maxProductions

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