55 Minute 10k Training Plan

TARGET RACE PACE 8:52 PER MILE / 5:30 PER KM FOR A 55 MINUTE 10K

To consider following this 55 minute 10k plan you should already be able to run at a target race pace of 08:52 for at least a mile (5:30p/km) and/or have a PB under 60 minutes.


If you are not quite ready then take a look at the sub 60 minute 10k training plan instead and then come back to this one once you are in a position to run at this pace.

Other 10k training plans: Sub 60 min 10k training plan|| 55 minute 10k || 50 minute 10k || 45 minute 10k || 40 minute 10k || 35 minute 10k

Please read before starting a training plan:
Frequently Asked Questions | Signs of Overtraining

Your Speed/Distance Training Zones: 55 minute 10k

Pace per MileTreadmill Pace mph400m / 800m Splits1km Pace5km Race Pace
08:526.7 mph/ 10.9 km/h2:12 / 4:2405:3027:30min
*for speed/distance conversation allow for a small amount of rounding up/ down.

55 minute 10k Training Plan

DayWeek 1Week 2Week 34 (rec week)
Monday45mins easyRest/ cross-train30mins easyRest/ cross-train
Tuesday30mins easy3 mile tempoRest/ cross-train3 mile tempo
WednesdayRest/ cross-train30mins easyRest/ cross-trainRest/ cross-train
Thursday3 x 2km
@8:52 p/m (5:30 p/km) 2 min Rec
5k Paced Run
Aim for: 27:30
5 x 800m
@8:52 p/mile (4:24 p/800m) 90s Rec
Rest/ cross-train
FridayRest/ cross-trainRest/ cross-trainRest/ cross-train45mins easy
Saturday45mins easy5 x 1km
@8:52 p/m (5:30 p/km) 90s Rec
45mins easyRest/ cross-train
SundayLong run, gentle pace: 60-75 mins45mins easyLong run, gentle pace: 60-75 minsRest/ cross-train

55 Minute 10k Training Plan Components

Breakeven Sessions – 55 minute 10k

These sessions are used for maintaining fitness & recovery. Preparing you for breakthrough sessions:

  • Easy Run – this should be no quicker than 10:50 p/mile.
  • Long Run – this doesn't need to be any longer than 75 minutes.

Breakthrough Sessions – 55 minute 10k

These sessions are meant to be challenging intense efforts, treat them as mini-milestones towards your target:

  • Tempo Run – hard but sustainable effort, usually about 30 mins in total and aim for 09:25 p/mile pace for 3 miles with a 1 mile warm up/down either side.
  • 800m Reps – should be reps at 8:52 p/m pace (4:24 per 800m) with a 90sec jogged recovery.
  • 1km Intervals – 8:52 p/m pace (5:30 per km) with a 90sec jogged recovery.
  • 2km Intervals – 8:52 p/m pace (11:30 per 2km) with a 2min jogged recovery.
  • 5km Time Effort – run a 5k race/training run at your maximum, try and aim for a sub 27:30.

Notes on the 55 Minute 10k Training Plan

The 55 minute 10k plan has been put together so it is cyclical and can be used over a period of weeks until you feel you are ready for your 10k event. At the end of each cycle you can repeat from the beginning or tweak the plan to suit your current ability and time commitments etc. As you improve you'll  maybe want to incorporate some sessions from our other 10k training plans.

If after a couple of rotations you want to make the plan harder, you could slowly increase the number of reps for the breakthrough speed sessions. Introduce changes slowly and over a few weeks, i.e., Week 1 = 3x2km Reps, Week 5 = 4x2km Reps, Week 8 = 5x2km reps, etc. Obviously there is only so far you can go with this, there would be no point in extending these way beyond the 10k distance. The other way of making the plan harder is to adjust the pace slightly and run faster!

It is recommended that after three months of using the 55 minute 10k 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.

To realise improvements it’s worth remembering that training is cumulative and it takes time and dedication to follow any training plan and achieve the results you want.

11 Responses

  1. Sidney says:

    what is gentle pace in week 1 – Sunday Long Run mean?
    Easy Run?
    Thanks

  2. Sidney says:

    Hi there,
    I am trying to following this 10km sub55 plan, I am sure if my understanding about the pace.
    1. since this is a 10k sub55 goal, therefore our goal pace is 5:30/km and this is also the race pace, right ?
    2. Tempo pace will be race pace + 30 sec. = 6:00/km pace.

    Is my understanding correct? Hope I can get improvement in 4 weeks time.
    BTW, I am still not understand why we are training at slower pace and can achieve faster pace finally ( in the race day )

    Thanks a lot

  3. Dr Ram says:

    I am 60, and at present running 10km in 58 min without following any plan. Should I opt for 10 k in 42 min in one year? Which plan should I follow? Should I go for 55,50,45 like wise?

  4. Achmed says:

    Hi runningfastr

    I hv been following ur training plan module from lazy to non stop 10k, 5k sub30, 5ksub25, 10k sub1. Now i’m planning for 10k sub55.

    It took me all together 21 weeks to get where i’m now

    Tq for the training plan idea and i hope god will give u the best life, health and wealth

    Thank you again

  5. Paul Smith says:

    By losing weight,is there any improvement in 10 k times?

  6. Francesca says:

    Hi! I’m following the plan for 10k in 55 min and was wondering which would be the optimal pace for the long run.

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