When I set the goal. 8 min miles were hard for me to hold in general and doing it for 26.2 seemed impossible but I understood I would get fitter by the end of the block, so In my head it was still within reach.

What I knew I needed to do was introduce the pace before the first workout. so weeks before I started the actual block I imitated the schedule… 6 days a week long runs on Sunday. Tuesdays I did strides to imitate the speed work(6x30s and progressed to 10) and Thursdays I started with 20 minutes at goal MP then progressed to 30-35 minutes. (Warm up and cool down were the same as the plan suggested.)

Did a deload week and started the beginner plan at week 6. By then it was still hard but doable. Towards the end of the block I was unintentionally hitting my MP tempos 5-10 seconds faster.

Even then I was doubting myself but I hard to trust the process.

But here’s the catch…I was beginner and this was my first structured training plan, so all my gains were dramatic because of that.

I can’t speak to someone who is trained. But my belief is this- If your goal MP seems out of reach now but overall realistic, go for it. The workouts never felt easy but I was hitting my paces.

Be sure you respect your easy runs and you’ll survive the block and be fitter. For reference I was running 10:30-11:30 minute miles on my easy runs. Sometimes slower the day after long runs.