increasing running speed

Anyone have any tips on increasing running speed?

I feel like I have the strength in my legs. I do squats and leg excercises 2-3 days a week, plus I cross train.

The real issue is I lose my breath.

Any tips to increase my speed without losing my breath?

Re: increasing running speed

the bets way to improve running - is to run. Cross training helps you maintain fitness, but it will not make you faster.


each week you should run 3 different kinds of workouts:

1. a long SLOW run. this will help your endurance, which will help your breathing.

2. intervals. you can do these on the track, hills or on the road (fartleks). this will get you used to running fast

3. a tempo run - warm up and then increase to 80-85% of fitness level for 20-40 minutes and then cool down. this will get you used to maintaining a faster pace.

any other running should be recovery running - easy. It is best not to run the day after a long run or the day before intervals.