If you are not quite ready then take a look at the 50 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: 45 minute 10k
| Pace per Mile | Treadmill Pace | 400m / 800m Splits | 1km Pace | 5km Race Pace |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07:15 | 8.2 mph/ 13.3 km/h | 1:48 / 3:36 | 04:30 secs | 22:30 min |
45 minute 10k Training Plan
| Day | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | 4 (rec week) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 45mins easy | Rest/ cross-train | 30mins easy | Rest/ cross-train |
| Tuesday | 30mins easy | Rest/ cross-train | ||
| Wednesday | Rest/ cross-train | 30mins easy | Rest/ cross-train | Rest/ cross-train |
| Thursday | @7:15 p/m (4:30 p/km) 2 min Rec | Aim for 22:30 | @7:15 p/mile (3:36 p/800m) 90s Rec | Rest/ cross-train |
| Friday | Rest/ cross-train | Rest/ cross-train | Rest/ cross-train | 45mins easy |
| Saturday | 45mins easy | @7:15 p/m (4:30 p/km) 90s Rec | 45mins easy | Rest/ cross-train |
| Sunday | Long run, gentle pace: 60-75 mins | 45mins easy | Long run, gentle pace: 60-75 mins | Rest/ cross-train |
55 Minute 10k Training Plan Components
Breakeven Sessions – 45 minute 10k
These sessions are used for maintaining fitness & recovery. Preparing you for breakthrough sessions:
- Easy Run – this should be no quicker than 09:15-09:45 p/mile.
- Long Run – this doesn't need to be any longer than 75 minutes.
Breakthrough Sessions – 45 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 07:45 p/mile pace for 3 miles with a 1 mile warm up/down either side.
- 800m Reps – should be reps at 07:15 p/m pace (3:36 per 800m) with a 90sec jogged recovery.
- 1km Intervals – 07:15 p/m pace (4:30 per km) with a 90sec jogged recovery.
- 2km Intervals – 07:15 p/m pace (4:30 per km) with a 2min jogged recovery.
- 5km Time Effort – run a 5k race/training run at your maximum, try and aim for a sub 22:30.
Notes on the 55 Minute 10k Training Plan
The 45 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 45 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.
Hi can I ask is it ok to add these running sessions onto my HITT weight training sessions. They are about 45-1hr 4-5 days a week.
Why does it say you should commit 10-12 hours every week?
please kindly share this programme on
Hi I’m on to second cycle of the plan, going great so far and thanks for creating this, I have completed a park run (5k at race pace – 21.19) on Saturday first week in this cycle, would you swap and do a slow run on Thursday in week 2 as that is essentially 5km hard, or if legs are feeling fine would you stick to plan on week 2 ?
Please can all the pacing be put in KM as well mile? My watch (and brain) work in KM
Hi Henry, all the KM pacings should be there as well as the Miles. I added both for convenience. Cheers.
Thanks Matt I think I am that used to running 6 days a week it feels strange not to run but will take your advice and rest it cross train. Thanks
Is it ok to do easy 45 min runs on cross training days instead of cross training
Hi Linda, I would advise against it personally. For the rest/cross training days the idea is to give your ‘running legs’ a rest so if you can do an other form of exercise or rest then that would be best in my view. If you had to run then perhaps a short slow run would be better than a 45minute run. Cheers!