80/20 Free Run Distance Library
80/20 Distance-Based Run Library
The 80/20 Distance-Based Run Library comprises the full collection of 80/20 structured Pace-based run workouts with the activities prescribed by distance instead of duration. This accomodates individuals who prefer to train by distance instead of duration. Athletes can now replace their plan's duration-based run with the matching distance-based run from the library, or use the library to create custom run plans. We recommend you read this Q&A before using the workouts in the Distance-Based Run Library.
A: A TrainingPeaks Basic (free) account is required to access and export the workouts.
A: Yes, these are full structured workouts that will export your custom zones to your compatible device like any other structured workout. Please note that the structured workouts in the Distance-Based Run Library are available by Pace only at this time. Our line of complete 80/20 Plans and Subscriptions still come with Heart Rate, Pace or Power workouts, but the Distance-based Run Library is Pace-only.
A: It depends on the device. To setup auto sync to Zwift, follow these instructions. For Garmin devices, use these instructions. If using a manual export, follow these instructions. Regardless of the device, make sure you first setup your zones as outlined in the document Understanding Your TrainingPeaks Structured Workout Plan.
A: Regretfully, the run workouts have to be replaced one-by-one. There are multiple methods to do this, but perhaps one method would be to perform this replacement process one week at a time. Drag the corresponding distance-based workout from the library onto the same day as the duration-based workout, then delete the duration-based workout.
A: The free 80/20 Workout Library includes collection of hundreds swim, bike, and run workouts, but has several limitations. The 80/20 Workout Library workouts can only be exported as a .FIT files, and the bike and run workouts are prescribed by Duration. Additionally, the 80/20 Workout Library workouts are not full structured workouts and do not include your custom zones the way a full structured workout from TrainingPeaks will. Finally, the 80/20 Workout Library workouts must be manually imported to your device, while the full structured workouts found in the Distance-based Run Library can be automatically synced to your device each day. See the Q&A at the 80/20 Workout Library page for more information.
A: No, the run workouts in your 80/20 plan will remain primarily duration-based to preserve the 80/20 intensity ratio. However, you now can drag and drop the matching distance-based workout to your calendar to perform the same workout by distance. For example, you can now execute the RAn1 workout by either duration (default) or distance (from the Distance-Based Run Library within TrainingPeaks).
A: Yes, this library is already available to every current 80/20 subscriber along with the other eight swim, bike, run and strength libraries available in Pace, Power and Heart Rate.
A: Both. We offer both imperial and metric versions of Distance-Based Run Library.
A: This is the natural consequence of converting duration to distance: the result is not always an integer. Don't worry—we're not aware of any research suggesting that whole-number running works best, and your structured workout will tell you exactly when to start and stop each interval.
A: You can't. That's why we recommend duration-based workouts and use them in our plans. Here's an example: Imagine that you decide to do 40 miles of running instead of 5 hours of running in a week. With the best of intentions, you plan to do 80 percent of that distance (or 32 miles) in Zones 1 and 2. If your average pace in these two zones combined is 9.5 minutes per mile, and your average pace for the 8 miles you do in Zones 3 to 5 is 6.5 minutes per mile, you’ll wind up spending 304 minutes running at low intensity and 52 minutes running at moderate to high intensity over the course of the week. That’s not 80/20 training. It’s 86/14 training. With distance-based training, actual weekly time at low and moderate intensities can only be determined after the fact, by reviewing the amount of time spent in each zone, an arduous and impractical exercise.
A: This is another challenge with prescribing or using distance-based running. Jack has a Zone 2 limit of 10 minutes per mile, but Jill has a Zone 2 limit of 8:30 per mile. If both runners perform a 10-mile run from the Distance-Based Run Library, it will take Jack 100 minutes and Jill 85 minutes. The issue becomes even more complex when we introduce distance-based intervals, where an interval that Jill sails through in 2 minutes might be a 3-minute sufferfest for poor Jack. There is no solution (other than using duration instead of distance!). To mitigate the issue, we use an "average" runner who can complete a 10K in 50 minutes as our baseline. This means our "average" athlete will take about the same amount of time to complete the duration-based workout as the distance-based workout. If you are slower or faster than our theoretical "average" runner, you'll complete the workout in more or less time than the original duration-based workout.
A: With access to the library, it's easy to pick another workout of the same type that will more closely match your expected duration. For example, if the RF6 is too short for the day, load the RF7, 8 or 9.
A: The calculation comes directly from your individual run zones defined in TrainingPeaks. Using the most simple example, if your mid-Zone 2 is 9 minutes per mile, and the run is a 10-mile run in Zone 2, the planned duration is 90 minutes. This makes it essential to ensure you have properly setup your 80/20 Zones per our document Understanding Your TrainingPeaks Structured Workout Plan.
A: Planned TSS requires a planned duration: something you won't have until you load the distance-based workout onto your calendar and have properly setup your 80/20 Zones. Planned TSS will then appear in the workout.
A: Not necessarily. There may be some drawbacks to distance-based running, but it's not a huge risk if you understand the impact. If distance-based running helps you run more regularly, either because of device compatibility or preference, that's a good thing.
A: Not for free. Coaches need a monthly coach subscription to use these workouts, or any 80/20 material, for their athletes. Contact us for more information.
A: Yeah, we created almost 1,500 workouts by hand. There may be some issues. Just let us know and we'll fix it.
"During my first 12-week base period on an 80/20 plan I cut more time off more disciplines than I did in a year of Ironman training with one-on-one coaching. I’ve also boosted my bike FTP by 20 watts. It’s unreal."
Chris DiRienzo
"The results were amazing. I shed 27 minutes out of my 70.3 personal best and felt so strong and confident during the race that at times I thought the pace and time my watch was showing me was wrong!"
Carlos Salgado
"Only in my dreams did I dare to aim for 10:45 but the result was so much better: 10:34! No injuries were recorded during the whole preparation period."
Hanan Drobinar
"Over the past 16 weeks on an 80/20 plan I have improved my fastest kilometer by almost a minute, my 5k went from 38:50 to 30:28, and I ran 10 km, 21 km and 30 km for the first time ever. Oh, and I lost 22 kg in the process!"
Franziska Kühne
"My mom lost about 40 pounds, learned how to eat and exercise, and completed her first tri. I did my first Ironman on the 80/20 system. She continues to run and swim 4-5 days a week and honestly lives an entirely different life."
Skylar Clark
"The 80/20 plan was a joy and a relief. I now enjoy running more, run more with friends, and am creeping up to faster and faster speeds without injuries."
Ben Graham
"The almost-daily runs and training consistently with the established intensity were key. I had no injuries while training!"
Ashish Gupta
"Using the 80/20 system, I ran a half marathon in 1:25, and followed up the performance with a Boston-qualifying 3:08 marathon at age 45!"
Dean Murley
"At 46, I broke my 5K record from when I was 33 and qualified for Boston using the 80/20 method."
Jennifer Hickman
"Trust it. This program relies on the time-tested methods of consistency and incremental gain. I am looking forward new PBs, even at 50 years old!"
Randy Kinsey
"I could not be happier. Finally, the work paid off and it was enjoyable!"
Jacques Van Wyk
"My expectations were exceeded. My fitness level is higher than it has been in two years, and has come at no cost to my body in regards of injury."
Grace Coller
"I don't think I would have considered training for a marathon without the success I had with 80/20 training."
Kristi Smith
"I searched for answers and discovered the 80/20 way. Trust the process and stick to the plan!"
Mauricio Hernandez
"This is my 8th or 9th year of triathlon. I'm 10 weeks into the 80/20 training and I don't think I have ever been so strong."
Peter Richmond
"80/20 helped me go from running 3kms to 21kms and bike from 40kms to 90+kms without any injuries. I am a believer of 80/20 and have referred many of my friends. Thank you!"
Winston Bryn
"The training is less demanding and less tiring, and the result exceeds my expectations."
Thomas Løvholt
"I honestly can't rate these plans high enough. Being able to wake up knowing what I've got planned for the day is comforting, but knowing it is working and making a difference is priceless."
Scott Bass
"A training system which led me to achieve my ambitious goals. I am so glad that I trusted 80/20 and the plan. "
Marcin Bury
"I went into my race knowing I was fitter and healthier than I have ever been."
Richard Sudworth
"Having 8020 provide the structure took the anxiety out of my training and knowing whether I was doing the right things!"
Matthew Neale
"I never thought I could beat my personal best Marathon time of 3:09, but with the 80/20 I ran a 2:57! My last kilometer was my fastest and I could have gone another 10K at that pace!"
Lindt de la Port
"80/20 Endurance dropped my threshold pace by 2 minutes per mile!"
Michael Metz
"The injuries all but disappeared!"
Mike McPharlin
"The best thing is that, throughout the training plan, I always felt great. I was never injured and enjoyed the experience."
Juan Carlos Diaz Arelle
"80/20 is a huge underlying principle of what I do week-in, week-out."
Bronwyn Tagg
"I'm making a lot of progress due to the increased volume I'm able to do by just slowing down. I'm also feeling more rested for the tough workouts and really appreciating the recovery workouts in between."
Pete Babins
"The results so far have been an increase in fitness and performance. I can run much farther at a constant pace than I have ever been able to before I also know so much more about my body and limits."
Ben Wyld
"Thank you for the role 80/20 played in getting to the finish line of Ironman Arizona. Going top 10% for my age group feels really great. Thanks for helping me conquer this life goal!"
Dwight Robertson
"After following the 80/20 plan I was able to break a personal best record. I not only finished within the goal I had set but did negative splits the entire race, which was a first for me."
Marco de Tavira
"I’ve never felt more energized in a training cycle. I’m really able to balance my training load and my workload without burning out."
Troy Bedik
"Thank you 80/20 Endurance! I followed the plan and ran a half marathon as a "feeler." I ran a 1:26, won my age group and was amazed that I could run that pace. Using 80/20, I went back to a marathon course where I ran a 3:23 on and ended up running a 3:13! I'm now qualified for the Boston Marathon!"
Andy Jones
"I honestly believe that there is no way I could've completed my first Ironman 70.3 were it not for the 80/20 training plan."
Shawn Platt
"I used the 80/20 plan to prepare for my first triathlon, which was also an Ironman 70.3. I was worried about injuries, available time, and being in shape to go the distance. All this worry for no reason, as the plan worked me up to the correct endurance levels without too many stresses on my aging body, and my plan did not overtake my life."
Pat Donohue
"I was in that "every workout should be hard" mentality until I trusted the 80/20 plan. My hard workouts were tough, but having fresh legs going into them was key."
Alicia Phillips
"I tell everyone about your plans. I’ve recently PR’d my 5k, half, full marathon, and 70.3."
A.J. Moser
"The 80/20 principles allowed me to improve my times for 5K and 10K cross country races. Staying injury-free paves the way to get personal bests because you can finish the plan with no surprises and no steps back."
Marco la Spina
"This past weekend I completed Ironman Wisconsin on the Run/Bike Power version of the Level 2 80/20 plan. While the volume was drastically higher than any I had done in past years, I had no injuries and I felt confident in the specificity of the purpose for each workout. On race day I was able to hit my power and pace targets and finish strong with a smile on my face!"
Roger Hipwell
"The 80/20 program made my first Olympic Triathlon not only attainable, but something that left me hungry and ready for more the moment I crossed the finish line."
John Hodges
"After three surgeries in three years I realized my way of training was wrong. After reading the book 80/20 Triathlon I decided to give it a try. It was fun and easy to follow and I ended up with my a PR in all three disciplines!"
Edson Vassoler
"I like 80/20 because it gives me permission to take it easy on some day. I don’t need to go out and hammer every day to get a new PR like I did in the beginning. The easy days are enjoyable and give me the power to nail (most of) my harder workouts. I don’t dread my sprint and hill work anymore, and at 54 I’m still setting PRs and I’ve been injury free."
Karin Peters
"I really felt my endurance build consistently throughout the training with my Level 3 80/20 Ironman 70.3 Plan. I was fatigued at times but never felt overtrained, and I went into my A race feeling more prepared then the three years prior."
Shawn Craig
"With this style of training, you can feel your gains throughout the season and you don't feel completely gassed every day."
Kevin Pogacar
"By following the 80/20 program I transformed from a 222-lb nonrunner to a 175-lb marathoner in the 10 months."
Brett Hoyer
"I swear by 80/20 and always talk it up during tri conversations. Thank you!"
Christopher Barry
"Heart rate training can definitely feel like defeat when you focus on how slow your training paces are, but the victory comes on race day. I am so glad I found 80/20 Running!"
Sarah Pirolli
"Before I started your program I predicted a 14-hour finish in my first Ironman. After sticking to the program and training for six months my conference grew tremendously. I crushed my goal by three hours!"
Greg Pawlisa
"With 80/20 training, I improved my 70.3 result by almost half an hour."
Mikhail Tinovitckii
"By following the principles of the 80/20 programming I was able to finish my first ever Half Ironman. Leading up to the Half Ironman, I also ran my first ever half marathon. The 80/20 programming also helped me to get through my full racing season injury free as well as feeling well trained and ready for all of my races."
Steve Messenger
"Absolutely loved the plan. It has allowed me to cut almost 8 1/2 minutes off my half marathon PB. The workouts were varied and fun (well sometimes fun in a brutal way haha) and I got great support from David when I had any questions about the plan. Would recommend unreservedly."
Mark Sun
"The 80/20 plan allowed me to train every day without getting stressed or fatigued and to show up on the day and perform fresh and uninjured."
Helen Hayward
"I've successfully lowered my Ironman 70.3 time by nearly 40 minutes through 80/20. Don’t be afraid to go slow when you’re supposed to!"
Damon Lebeouf
"Used an 80/20 plan for Ironman 70.3 Bintan in Indonesia and it went perfectly. Sometimes I had doubts that the training was too light or intense, but I kept repeating to myself "Trust the plan" and I ended up having an amazing race--much faster than expected!"
Sergio Real
"I trained with the 80/20 half marathon plan, and did a personal best! I felt good after! It made me think about what it could do for me for a marathon or beyond. It taught me so much about how to pace myself and be more in tune with my body when I ran. I cannot recommend this training enough. It made me believe that Matt Fitzgerald and David Warden truly know how to train us to be better athletes."
Lai Flushing
"80/20 provided a method and training plan that made me excel beyond my wildest imagination in my ever first triathlon."
Erik Enqvist
"I loved the Olympic plan I used about a year ago. Now I'm ready to do a half-Ironman."
Mark Burdeshaw
"After deciding to pursue the goal of qualifying for the Boston Marathon, I purchased an 80/20 training plan. The results were dramatic. After one training cycle, I dropped over 31 minutes in my marathon time!"
Mitch Atkinson
"I am satisfied with your 80/20 training plan. Thank you very much for your help in attaining my goals."
Julia Ponce
"There’s no way I could have accomplished what I have without adhering to the 80/20 plan."
Scott Bleazard
"When I made the switch to 80/20 I quickly realized that after 10 years of hard training, this new method felt very doable and was a comfortable fit. Thanks for making it available to us in the age-group triathlon world."
Jim Moore
"The best year ever! After a few years of sporadic training efforts and competing in triathlons from Sprint distance to full Ironman I decided to look into a more structured approach to training. After looking into the plethora of plans available, I selected a 80/20 Endurance plans. I completed 2 Sprints, 1 Olympic, 3 halves and 1 full Ironman, and setting personal bests at all distances, slicing 2 hours 20 from the full Ironman."
Mark White
"Kudos and appreciation to your training programs as I set a new 1/2 marathon PB at 1:28:20 (6:13 off my previous best). My cycling FTP is now just short of 300W (from 230W) after starting training with your programs around 8 months ago. I also took 30 minutes off my 70.3 personal best time with a 4:56, while balancing a large family and professional commitments."
Jeremy Biggelaar
"This year I decided to use an 80/20 plan. For the first time, I felt that my training had structure; each unit was part of a whole and it made sense. I was very satisfied with the results."
Jose Fraile
"I PB'd every race I did this year and then topped it off with my first 70.3 thanks to the 80/20 plan I used! PB'd the Olympic distance at nationals! The 80/20 method really changed my approach to training and got me fitter than I've ever been without a single injury."
Claire Colbert
"Matt created a customized training plan for me that not only allowed me to balance triathlon training with marathon training, but to have PR's in all my repeat races!"
Mackenzie Howard
"I used 80/20 for all of my raining this year and got my highest age-group finishes at any event in my nine years of racing triathlons."
Bob Ford
"In my first triathlon after switching to 80/20 I had my fastest swim pace at any distance and my fastest Olympic bike and run splits. Even my transitions were faster!"
Curtis Repen
"I purchased the 80/20 70.3 plan and it completely changed my game. Knowing what workouts you have to do and when to do them removed the hardest part of training for an event, in my opinion. All I had to do was show up when I said I was going to."
Rachel Whitehead
"IUsing your Level 3 Ironman 70.3 Plan I have gone from the bottom third to the top third in my age group at the half-Ironman distance."
Michael Shulman
"I have started to run after few years off and the 80/20 plan allowed me to get fit and achieve my first half marathon in Verona in no time! What I love most is that following a clear and defined plan boosts my motivation because I can see the progress I am making."
Marco Saraceno
"David and 8020 helped me set a new half marathon PR of 1:46 from 2:35 in 15 weeks. Thank you David for your hands-on coaching. I love the data-driven, balanced approach. I'll never overtrain again."
Tiara Womack
"Training towards sustainable functionality is more important than pushing to the limit. By using the 80/20 system you have the luxury of both worlds!"
Meaux Redhead
"I used the 80/20 plan for the first time this year. I absolutely loved it. Well Balanced and effective. I can't wait till my preparation for next year starts."
Dennis Ruts
"After reading 80/20 Running and focusing on slowing down, I am absolutely amazed at the results. I just completed a PB of 2:52:48. By slowing down my recovery has been excellent."
Daniel Velardo
"Using an 80/20 plan, we both came in 7th place in our AG at 70.3 New Zealand! We were fresh all the time and the fatigue we had become accustomed to all those years was not there."
Jose and Isobel Uribe
"Using an 80/20 plan I not only set a PB in 70.3 but then 2 weeks later set a PB in a full Ironman and qualified for Kona!"
Colin Lewis
"I have travelled with 80/20 plans within my country, to Boston in 2018, and soon to Berlin. I am now a wholly better person than I was before."