Good video for those who want to understand LT1, LT2, VO2max, mechanical efficiency, metabolic efficiency
The guy who tested Vo2max explains how VO2max is like the volume of a gas tank. Lactate threshold is like the volume of fuel inside the gas tank. Metabolic/mechanical efficiency shows the quality and processing of the fuel.
Can keep improving over time even for Matt Fox's level. >> Do long runs at lower end of threshold range (LT1), Do 400 reps faster to develop neuromuscular speed.
Can empathise with Nicole. 1.5k is really a pain to run if more suited to 5/10k. Can see that even though she hit her PB, but still wasn't very satisfied since she only wanted to race the 5k only.
Also, special mention to the coach, know him well since I see him in the track frequently. He has a no-nonsense style approach. Either do it or don't.
From what I hear from others under his coaching >> He is very achievement-oriented, so he simplifies individual struggles in order to achieve performance. Can be good if you want to be the best out there, sucks if you want to achieve balance between comfort and performance though.
I haven't done Yasso 800s before but from what I understand, it's usually used as a predictor workout for marathon. You run 10 x 800 with the same rest time as you run the intervals. The average pace of the workout = your marathon time. I have done 8 x 1k w/ 3 minute rest @ 4.03 min/km average so I think I can chime in?
Let's get into the juicy part now.
1, Is it a predictor for marathon?
- Depends whether you are in marathon shape (you are clocking high mileage, done couple of marathons before and have experience, do long runs (30+km/week) and whether you are fast twitch or slow twitch runner. If your mileage is low, you are fast twitch or you lack experience in running marathon, then this workout is very far from predicting actual marathon performance.
- What you definitely can get out of this workout is as follows quoting a Letsrun thread commenters: "The best explanation I have ever had for the Y-800’s is that it tells you what you can’t do a marathon in, not what you can do it in. Make sense? For example, if you want to do a 3:00 marathon, and you can’t do the 800’s in 3:00, then you can’t do the marathon in 3:00. But if you can do the 800’s in 3:00 it is not a guarantee that you can do the marathon in 3:00. It has held true for me."
- "Basically, the Y800s are using 10k speed as the limiting factor for your marathon time, which isn't a perfect predictor because it happens to be a 42k race. For that reason, I think that a lot of younger people coming up from 5/10k (me) find the "prediction" fast, and people with big aerobic development can run closer to the time."
2. Breaking the workout down
- Usually, you start at <=10% and run your peaking/final interval repeats at 20-25% of your race distance anywhere from 1.5k to 10k. For instance, 1.5k, you start the season with 200s and then progress to 400s as your final distance. For the 10k, you start at 1k and progress to 2k. So, 800s are usually done as either a 3k/5k workout.
- Goal pace depends on your rest. So, if rest = work, then it's closer to vo2max (3k pace).
- Putting everything together, it's indicative of 6-7k race fitness. You can do this workout at your goal 6k-7k pace and you should survive until the end. But naturally, you will run 3k pace if you don't pace yourself well.

3. What are your goals/What do you intend to do with the workout?
- Use it as marathon predictor? >> Best not to read too much into that since the distance is too short to be a proper marathon predictor.
- Use it to progress to 7-8 x 1km? >> That's alright provided you don't change the rest too much and planning to progress to 10-21.1k. In this case, it's a good early season workout.
- Cut the rest times for 800m sessions across the weeks? >> Also alright, provided you don't change the distance and using this as 6-7k training.
That being said, I am gonna do 10 x 600m w/ 2 min rest today, since FFRC did this workout last Thursday and claims that goal 3.15 marathon runners should run 3.25 - 3.35 min/km pace as a vo2max workout. If anything, I think that running club bo chup since the person planning the workouts isn't a verified coach. Just doing this to see how I stack up against the fastest group there and since the workout helps in my 5k prep.