Run a Faster Mile: Workout and Training Tips

Co-authored by Kai Ng and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: February 23, 2023 References Approved

Are you looking for ways to run a faster mile? Many people find that their speed plateaus at a certain point. Fortunately, with the right training and mindset, you can shave a significant amount of time off your mile. Whether you're entering a race, trying to pass a military physical fitness test or just looking to challenge yourself, you can use the strategies and training routines in this article to boost your speed around the track.

Things You Should Know

Make sure your shoulders are back, your head is held high, and you're staring straight ahead as you run. Running with good form will help you run faster.
Try using shorter strides. Long strides actually slow you down.
Practice sprinting, running hills, and going for long runs. Doing all of these things consistently will help you improve your mile time.

1

Do 1 long run a week.

Distance running improves your stamina and speed. Pick a distance that’s a bit further than you’d normally run at one time. Then, try to run that amount every single week. If you can run a longer distance than 1 mile successfully, you’ll train your body to keep going and not give up once you start to get tired.^{[1]
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Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- It doesn’t have to be a marathon—even running 2 miles when you usually run 1 mile is enough.
- Running long distances also helps improve your mental stamina and durability.

2

Add strength training to your routine.

Strength training will improve your stamina and speed. Focus on lower body exercises, like weighted squats, lunges, and deadlifts to strengthen your legs for a faster run time.^{[2]
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Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}

3

Pace yourself.

Avoid doing too much too soon. While it’s great to be motivated and want to improve your mile time right away, working out too much too quickly can lead to injury. Shave off your mile time gradually, and be patient with yourself as you work toward your goals.^{[3]
X
Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- Be sure to incorporate 1 to 2 rest days into your weekly routine. Rest days give your muscles a chance to recover, which actually makes them stronger over time.
- Some runners see results in a few weeks, but some have to wait months until they see any change. Rest assured that you can reach your goal if you give yourself enough time.

4

Run with good form.

Bad form can prevent you from running faster. If you’re struggling to shave seconds off your mile, take a step back and examine your form. If you are slouched or flat-footed, that could be the reason why your mile time isn’t improving. Keep your shoulders back and stare straight ahead, and run with your head held high.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Kai Ng
Certified Running Coach
Expert Interview. 12 February 2021.}
- Look at the horizon, not at your feet. Tilting your head at this angle will align and straighten your neck and back.
- Keep your shoulders level and loose. If they start to come up toward your ears, then stop running and shake them out or stretch them gently.
- Place your arms at a 90-degree angle and allow them to go forward and backward instead of across your body. Keep your fists unclenched with your finger lightly touching your palms.

5

Take shorter strides.

Strides that are too long can actually slow you down. With each step, your foot should land directly beneath your body with your knee slightly bent. If your foot is landing in front of your body, then you are taking too long of a stride.^{[5]
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Research source}
- Push back every time your feet hit the ground. This will help support your momentum.^{[6]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Kai Ng
  Certified Running Coach
  Expert Interview. 12 February 2021.}

6

Set a goal for yourself.

A tangible goal will make it easier to train your way to a faster mile. Whether it’s a specific time limit or how many seconds you want to shave off, start out by creating a goal that’s both attainable and motivating.^{[7]
X
Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source} Your goal might be:
- “I want to run a 7 minute mile.”
- “I want to shave 30 seconds off of my mile.”
- “I want to get down to a 10 minute mile.”

7

Practice sprinting.

Sprinting prepares your body to run fast when you need to. Try sprinting for 30 seconds, then jogging for 60 seconds, and repeating that sequence 8 times. Over time, you’ll notice your sprints getting faster and your breathing slowing down.^{[8]
X
Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- You can also try doing a tempo run, which is a run that’s slightly faster than your top speed.

8

Run hills.

Hill training increases both your stamina and your running power. At least once a week, try to incorporate running up and down hills. Running hills helps strengthen your leg muscles and train your endurance for a faster mile.^{[9]
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Research source}
- If you don’t have any hills nearby, try running on a treadmill with an incline setting.
- If you’ve never done it before, running uphill can be a challenge at first. Just remember that it will get easier with time.

9

Try interval training.

Interval training increases your stamina and strengthens your muscles. To do interval training, run as fast as you can for 1 to 2 minutes, then slow down to your normal speed for another 1 to 2 minutes. Keep doing this over and over until you can’t workout any longer.^{[10]
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Trustworthy Source
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public
Go to source}
- Interval training is all about pushing your body to its limits. If you feel tired and worn out at the end, that’s a good sign!

10

Stretch after warmups and cool downs.

Stretching lengthens your muscles and helps you run faster. Plus, it helps avoid injury. Stretching after a run improves your blood flow and can even increase your range of motion, leading to a better running posture. After you warm up and cool down for the day, try stretches like:^{[11]
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Research source}

11

Track your mile time.

Keep a record of how fast you’re running day by day. It’s hard to know how much you’re improving if you aren’t quite sure how fast you’re running. Whenever you set out to run a mile, keep a stopwatch going to see how fast you can make it. Note your average mile time and then aim for a faster mile from there.^{[12]
X
Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- Try using the stopwatch on your phone so you can have it on your person while you run.

12

Run with a buddy.

A running partner is encouraging and motivating. Choose someone who runs about the same speed as yourself if possible, since this provides encouragement and friendly competition. While you can train alone, training with a team of similar runners is a huge motivation booster.^{[13]
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Research source}
- A running buddy will also hold you accountable to meet your fitness goals. It’s a lot easier to blow off your run for the day if you’re by yourself; but if you have to cancel on another person, you’re more likely to get out there and do it.

13

Drink plenty of water.

Staying hydrated will keep your body functioning well. Aim for around 64 fluid ounces (2 L) of liquid a day so you can focus on running instead of being thirsty. If you don’t love water, try sports drinks instead.^{[14]
X
Trustworthy Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
Go to source}
- Invest in a hydration pack or hydration vest if you don't feel like carrying a water bottle.^{[15]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Kai Ng
  Certified Running Coach
  Expert Interview. 12 February 2021.}

Expert Q&A

Question

What is the best way to build endurance?

Kai Ng
Certified Running Coach
Kai Ng is a USATF and RRCA Certified Running Coach at Run Coach Kai. Kai has competed in over 55 races and over 15 marathons, and has trained with 16x USA and World record holder Patti Catalano Dillonso. He specializes in coaching runners of all levels and showing people that everyone can be a runner. Kai is committed to helping his clients reach their goals by showing them how to run with proper form and holding them accountable to train consistently.

Kai Ng

Certified Running Coach

Expert Answer

Take it slow. Get your heart beating at a steady pace instead of working overtime. You don't have to feel exhausted and drained to have a good run!
Question

Do full body workouts that don’t require running help improve my mile time?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Yes, most full body workouts will strengthen your legs and increase your stamina. Weight training, swimming, and even yoga can help improve your mile time.
Question

What if you're not a fast runner, what will help you to keep running and not stop?

Community Answer

Try not to think about stopping, or even how hard it is not to. If you can "disconnect" your mind from your body, it will be easier not to stop. You don't have to be a fast runner for good endurance. If the problem is cramps, or other sharp pains in your side, learn to exhale on your left foot landing on the ground - it will happen less. Everything comes gradually, so don't be surprised if it is still hard; one day, you wont have to stop.