A 10K race is one of the harder races on your body. Typical times for non-professional runners range from 30 to 60 minutes and are close to your individual anaerobic threshold, or the pace at which you can run for 60 minutes without a loss in performance. Since you will be putting a lot of stress on your body by running at the limit of your capabilities, it can be helpful to know what running pace you can sustain for 10K.

New to longer runs?

Preparing for a 10K doesn’t need to be hard or take a long time. In fact, it’s possible to prepare for it in as little as two weeks! Get all the info in our article >> How to Prepare for a 10K Run <<.

Table of contents:

• Running at the Limit of Your Capabilities? A Lactate Test Helps
  • How to Estimate Your Anaerobic Threshold
• 10K Run: Download the Running Pace Chart
• Get Helpful Tips and Training Plans to Work on Your Running Performance

Running at the Limit of Your Capabilities? A Lactate Test Helps

One way of determining this limit is to do a lactate test in a lab. This not only defines your training zones but also includes a sports medical exam. Unfortunately, the values achieved on the treadmill don’t always transfer to running outdoors. Plus, the test – if performed regularly – is rather expensive.

All you need to estimate your individual anaerobic threshold is a stopwatch, a flat place to run, and some motivation.

How to Estimate Your Anaerobic Threshold

• Warm up for 10 to 15 minutes. Start slow and finish at a faster pace.
• Begin jogging in 5 X 100-m strides –  jog back to where you started as a break between strides.
• Graduate by running 1,000 meters as fast as possible and jot down the time. This step should get your body up to speed and your legs ready to run fast.
• Rest for 10 minutes but don’t stand or sit while you wait. Move around and stay loose.
• Now it’s time to run 5,000 meters as fast as you can – and don’t forget to jot down the time.
• Finally, jog for 10 minutes to cool down. Depending on the weather and the ground, you can also run barefoot on the grass for five minutes.

Good to know:

If you divide your 5K time by five, you will find your individual anaerobic threshold pace. And your 10K race pace, too!

Of course, you can also wear a heart rate monitor during the test to determine your working heart rate on that day. But remember that your heart rate can fluctuate significantly for the same activity based on the time of day. Therefore, it should only be used as a training tool when there is no other option for monitoring your performance (e.g., for running hills).

This test does not require much time; you can do it almost anywhere, and it provides you with all the information you need for your next race. But, generally, getting a medical checkup before you start training for a race is a good idea. That way, you can rule out any risk factors. A 10K race – as well as the test described above – is only suitable for healthy runners.

The table below (for download and printing!) shows you that your test results can tell you a lot more than just your 10K pace.

10K Run: Download the Running Pace Chart

Get Helpful Tips and Training Plans to Work on Your Running Performance

Now you know the running pace for your 10K.

But if you want to bring your performance to the next level, you should actively work on it. 

The following blog posts will support you in reaching your fitness goals:

• How to Prepare for a 10K Run: Beginners-Advanced
• 5 Simple Factors to Maximize Your 10K Performance 

And if you want to go even further, this training plan in the adidas Training app is for you:

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