WTF Is Threshold Running?

Ever heard of Threshold Running or Lactate Threshold but not really known what they are or why they are relevant to your running? Well look no further as in this video we explain what threshold is and why it could be the secret to making your running feel easier.

↓↓ Have you ever done threshold running? Are you going to start now? Let us know in the comments! ↓↓

What’s in this video?
00:00 Intro
00:18 What is lactate threshold
00:48 Pace and distance
01:42 How do you work out your lactate threshold/
03:30 Difference between threshold running and tempo running

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[runningchannel]

Have you ever done threshold running? Are you going to start now?

[liamroche]

If anyone needs convincing that less intense sessions can be effective too (at lower risk, I believe), a certain Jakob Ingebrigtsen does his threshold sessions at about 85% of his 5k pace and does intervals of 6 and 3 minutes with 2 to 1 minute recoveries. Low risk of injury, reliable training stimulus. For us runners with less super-human pace, a larger percentage of 5k pace could be appropriate (because our 5k pace is closer to our hour pace).

[fudbeer]

A word of caution if you want to avoid injury and get stronger slow/easy runs should form the vast majority of your training.Threshold and speed work should be no more than 20% of your training and less if you are building your base.(In my opinion.)

[Eddie-Spaghetti]

Absolute natural at this presenting stuff Sarah. Great video as always 👍😀

[snuffbox]

finally some clear, concise definitions! very informative.

[thomasbeasley]

Extra note: the sessions sarah listed at the end are pretty intense with only 1 min recover so maybe increase to 90s or 2mins first 👍👟

[John-tnqd]

I recommend that you do a video showing the accuracy of a Garmin lactate threshold test versus a lab based test.

[markchurch]

If Sarah had a video about how to tie your shoes for a run, I'd watch that one too!

[lucie]

Loved the graphics you used! It made it really clear and easy to follow! Thanks! :)

[raoufannab]

Awesome work guys, one thing though I would suggest is for these explainers videos to be done in the studio with simpler and slower explanation for beginners like me and many others. There's so many things I wish to understand thoroughly and it's bit distracting in this format honestly. Thanks a lot again

[Raucherbeinknacker]

I think the most important thing is to find the balance of stress and recovery within the sessions itself, within the week and within a training period. Those interrupted TSH sessions may be a very smart method to build up more than to push the hardest for 30min. Also the short intervals or the intermittent ones seem to do the same good job.
The tempo training is feeling quite comfortable compared to the latter, but the stress may be much higher and less predictable.
I'm on beginner stage, but these long tempo training seemed even to destroy gains while low intensity, interval and tsh doesn't.

[stephenmorton]

Thank you for this video! This term is always confusing to me. And Sarah is always my favorite!!

[cliodhnamalone]

this went over my head unfortunatelt lol, but well presented video x

[bartb]

Very informative video, great job.
Tonight I have a threshold session with the club: 3 times 4k with 2 minutes recovery jogging.

Threshold pace is usually between 10k and half marathon race pace.
For most people I think it is 15k race pace.
I race 10K and 5K races (just) faster than threshold pace.

[wowsa]

If threshold pace is a pace you can hold for 60 minutes, why should it be the pace you run in the last 20 minutes of a 30 minute time-trial? Shouldn't a 30 minute time-trial pace be faster than threshold pace?

[twoldthis]

Really enjoyed that.
I've learned a lot.
To my shame I new little or nothing about this.... actually what I *new* was nonsense!

[irisr]

I did a Garmin watch guided threshold test run today. It was quite tough towards the end, lol! Unfortunately, no threshold detected. I now know it’s likely to do with the fact I ran on an indoor track. I did use a Stryd foot pod. My watch does automatic threshold recognition and apparently you get the same numbers from that test. My training schedule includes threshold running, by the way. The threshold detected by my watch is probably just a tiny bit slower than I can run for 60 minutes (on a good day in close to perfect conditions).

[ABucc]

My problem is that I do more threshold runs than I should be doing in my training. I have the tendency to always start out at a faster pace because I'm to concerned about my split times. I thought it will help improve my split times, but instead it remains the same. I purchased myself a Garmin heart monitor and now I'm going to concentrate on MAF running so I could actually build up my pace times gradually and it will eventually help me improve my final overall marathon times.

What does "tempo run" actually mean? Nothing at all? Just an up-tempo run? Something faster than purely aerobic workout? Could you do a video about tempo run?

[txnerd]

This is the best explanation I have heard for lactate threshold running!