Why “Tempo Run” Needs to Die: Redefining Running’s Most Misused Term

Show Notes

Are you really doing a tempo run—or just running in the gray zone without purpose? In this episode, Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr, and Caitlin Tocci take a sledgehammer to one of running’s most overused and misunderstood terms: the “tempo run.” We explore the history of the term, why it’s misapplied in so many training plans, and what terms like lactate threshold, critical velocity, VO2 max, and steady state actually mean. Plus: our “Tempo Run Hall of Shame” and some spicy takes on running culture.

Whether you’re training for a marathon, coaching, or just want smarter workouts—this episode will change the way you think about pace.

⏱️ Chapters Below

🗨️ Drop your worst tempo run story in the comments!

📬 Send us questions for our upcoming Mailbag episode at [e-mail]

00:00 - Intro + Boston Marathon Non-Super Shoe Division
04:00 - Shoe Picks for “No Super Shoe” Marathon
10:15 - The Problem With “Tempo Run”
12:00 - Alex’s Tempo Rant: Blob Runs and Gray Zones
13:45 - Origin of the Term: OBLA Study and Jack Daniels
15:00 - Caitlin’s Coaching Definition of Tempo
17:30 - Rebuilding the Glossary: Lactate Threshold Explained
19:55 - What Is Critical Velocity (CV) Pace?
21:20 - Marathon Pace vs Tempo Pace
22:40 - What Is “Steady State” Running?
24:00 - Identifying the Two Gray Zones in Training
26:00 - Easy Runs: Why Most Runners Go Too Hard
28:15 - What’s Your Real Easy Pace?
32:00 - Emotionally Engaging With Easy Runs (And Why That’s Bad)
34:10 - Mileage-Based vs Time-Based Recovery Runs
35:30 - Recap: What Tempo *Should* Mean
36:10 - Rebranding “Tempo”: Blob Runs and Grind Runs
40:00 - Failure Runs and Misjudged Workouts
44:30 - Tempo Run Hall of Shame: Trail Excuses + College Races
48:50 - Final Thoughts: Clarity Over Terminology
49:45 - What’s Next: Vlogs, Reviews, Interviews & Mailbag

What is Marathon Handbook Podcast?

Marathon Handbook's weekly podcast covers everything you need to know about running, from running your first 5K to qualifying for the Boston Marathon! Each week, our editors chat about what's going on in the running scene, as well as timely training tips, the best new gear, and what's happening at the world's biggest races. We'll cover everything from the Boston Marathon to the Barkley Marathons, often podding live from the most important moments in running! Watch our video podcast each week on YouTube, and listen to it wherever you get your podcasts! Inquiries: [e-mail]