Mile repeats are a simple enough workout: you run hard for one mile, recover for a bit, and repeat a few more times. The beauty of this workout, much like the long run, is in its simplicity: it is effective, easy to execute, and adaptable based on your ability and goals. Plus, it is one of the most reliable contributors if you want to learn how to run a fast mile.
Mile repeats are a versatile running workout. You can manipulate the number of repetitions, pace/perceived effort, duration of recovery intervals, and even where you are in your training season.
Mile repeats offer significant physiological benefits to runners across all distances, from the 5K to the marathon. Additionally, they can increase capillary and mitochondrial density, which in turn helps more oxygen get to your muscles. Mile repeats also recruit both your fast-twitch and your slow-twitch muscles, which help you build speed and stamina.
Finally, an increase in stroke volume and the amount of red blood cells helps improve your running economy, which will benefit you no matter what distance you are racing.
Like all good workouts, mile repeats not only help you improve physically as a runner – they build mental toughness. You have to be mentally comfortable with physical discomfort during these intervals. You also learn how to pace yourself evenly, minimizing the “fly-then-die” tendencies for some runners, and how to hold a hard pace for a longer amount of time.
It can be easy to crank out a bunch of 400-meter repeats at a very hard effort since you enjoy more frequent recovery intervals. The same cannot be said for longer intervals, even if the total distance of hard running is the same.
The following workouts are some examples of how you can include mile repeats in your training.
5K-paced mile repeats are challenging no matter what your pace is. As a result, you want to save them for the 3-6 weeks out from a 5K or 10K race, when you are fit enough to handle the stimulus, but not so close that you leave your race in training. 5K-paced mile repeats work your aerobic system almost at your VO2max, therefore improving your running economy and optimizing your recruitment of fast-twitch muscles.
5K pace intervals come with numerous caveats. First, you have to stay controlled. If you run any pace faster than 5K race pace, long intervals become less of a workout and more than a race effort. Second, you want to avoid doing them if they will last longer than 5-6 minutes, since output near VO2max will decline and lactate will too rapidly accumulate. If you are slower than that, either scale the duration or intensity.
If you are training for a 5K race, you can use 5K-paced mile repeats to build race-specific fitness. At the beginning of the training cycle, run three one-mile repeats at your current 5K pace, with 3-4 minutes recovery in between. As your race approaches, run closer to goal race pace in the repeats and shorten the recovery intervals to 90 seconds.
For longer distances, 5K-paced mile repeats can be used throughout the training cycle – especially in the earlier weeks – as a way to build speed without compromising endurance.
Sample Workout:
1-2 mile warm up
3 x 1 mile at 5K race pace with 3 minute recovery in between
1-2 mile cool down
Threshold pace is approximately the effort you could sustain for an hour if racing. This effort improves aerobic fitness by taxing your system right at your lactate threshold (when anaerobic glycolysis occurs and lactate accumulates rapidly in the blood). Mile repeats at threshold pace allow you to do a greater volume while minimizing training fatigue.
You can use threshold repeats at any point in the training. Early on, they can prepare you for bigger threshold workouts. Workouts such as 4 to 6 x 1 mile at threshold pace to prepare the body for longer workouts like 2-mile repeats or continuous tempo runs. During high mileage marathon builds, threshold pace mile repeats maximize adaptation while minimizing training fatigue. Regardless of your ability level, threshold mile repeats utilize short-rest intervals, rather than the longer recovery intervals of 5K and 10K paced mile repeats.
You can also use slightly slower half marathon pace mile repeats to add in a higher volume of training near at your goal pace without as much fatigue as a continuous tempo run. For example, you might choose to run 8 x 1 mile at goal half marathon pace about 2-4 weeks out from your race, to practice a high volume of goal pace running without the risk of leaving your race in your training. Marathoners will find that long intervals at threshold pace allow them to work at a higher volume near lactate threshold during the peak fatigue of marathon training.
Sample Workout:
1-2 mile warm-up
4-6 x 1 mile at threshold pace, with 1 minute recovery in between
1-2 mile cool down
Marathon pace may feel relatively comfortable for mile repeats – and that’s exactly why you do mile repeats at marathon pace. For the first half of a marathon, marathon pace SHOULD feel relatively comfortable. You need to learn in training how to control your intensity when running at marathon pace. Mile repeats at marathon pace teach that control.
Marathon pace repeats are typically best done earlier in a cycle, before an athlete is ready for continuous marathon pace runs. For more experienced marathoners, marathon pace workouts can be folded into long runs.
Sample Workout:
1-2 mile warm-up
6-8 x 1 mile at marathon pace, with 1 mile easy run in between
1-2 mile cool down
It’s important to note that mile repeats are not meant to be run at race effort. You might set your mile PR during these workouts if you never run mile or even 5K races, but the focus should always be on proper pacing for the intention of the workout. The best way to tell you are running at an appropriate effort? You should always have a little bit left in your tank, rather than feeling completely wiped by the end of the workout.
Running mile repeats can mix up your workout and are highly flexible to your time, goals, and fitness level. Not only can they improve your running economy, but they can help strengthen your mental game, too.
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20 Responses
They helped me so much in my half marathon training! That’s good to know they helped with your marathon, I’m trying to build a marathon plan for later this year and considering using mile repeats as my main speedwork!
Mile repeats are really tough but so effective! I don’t think Ive ever done more than 3 mile repeats. I think more that that would be really mentally challenging but also a great workout.
Like any great, effective workout, I loathe the mile repeats!! It’s one of those workouts that makes me actually nervous beforehand and, afterward, I usually feel great and confident…if I hit my paces of course. They are a proven tactic for sure and hurt so good.
They are a great confidence building workout – the most mentally challenging workouts often are!
I just did mile repeats yesterday! It had been so long that I had done any type of structured workout that I was intimidated at first but once I got in the flow I felt really good. And my legs are tired today!
That’s awesome! The tired leg feeling from mile repeats does feel sort of good!
My coach had me do mile repeats for my marathon training and because it’s so hard to run fast and steady x 3+ repeats, it was great prep for a long distance race!
I agree with your coach – they are great for longer distances because of how challenging the pacing is!
I love repeats! Cannot WAIT until I can start running again! 🙂
I hope you are able to return to running soon!
I am sure that doing mile repeats would really help me! Don’t know why I don’t do them
They are a good addition to any training plan!
I love and hate mile repeats- they have so many benefits, but I also get nervous about how I’m going to feel running them! I have some half marathon paced mile repeats coming up soon which are much easier to stomach as, like you said, it’s at half pace and not all out.
They are a workout that hurts! Good luck on your upcoming workout and rest of Boston training!
I didn’t realize that there’s so much variety to choose from when it comes to mile repeats, but it makes a lot of sense! I do find the half marathon pace to be tough to nail down!
I bet half marathon pace mile repeats would be a good workout for you!
Mile repeats really helped me to achieve PRs from 5K to Marathon races. Great workout for any distance.
Found this article again after saving it some time ago and thought I’d give it a go to mix things up. After having trained for an ironman last year my speed has dwindled but stamina is strong.
First attempt I did 7 mile repeats at 10k pace while fasted (15hrs) and felt good.
This week pushed a little harder and managed 8 repeats , again while fasted.
Will make this a regular feature of my intervals.
Would this be similar to jeffing? I’m training for a marathon in the heat and am currently only able to do 1:1 consistently for 2 hours. I’m not ready yet to transition into running a full mile. How can I transition to do mile repeats?
Thank you for reading! If you are using run-walk, I encourage holding off on mile repeats – you want to be able to run a mile continuously to do these. Intervals could be a good training option such as some of these: https://lauranorrisrunning.com/beginner-speed-workouts/