Training paces from your MAS

Updated

Short answer

Enter your MAS in km/h. The table gives, for each percentage from 60 to 105 %, the speed, the pace in minutes per kilometre and split times over 100, 200 and 400 m. These are the classic landmarks of MAS-based training: easy runs at 60-70 %, threshold at 85 %, short intervals at 100-105 %.

% MASZoneSpeedPace100 m200 m400 m
60Recovery jog–––––
70Easy aerobic–––––
80Marathon to half pace–––––
85Threshold–––––
9010 km pace–––––
955 km pace, long intervals–––––
100MAS, short intervals–––––
105Over-speed (30-30)–––––

Where these percentages come from

The zones follow the French tradition of MAS-based training, popularised by Véronique Billat and athletics coaches: every pace is expressed as a fraction of the maximal aerobic speed measured in the field. Labels are indicative, boundaries vary between runners and with effort duration. The table does not replace a test: it translates a number you have measured.

How to read the table

The 100, 200 and 400 m splits are those of a flat track with no wind. In a shuttle, uphill or on grass the same speed costs more: keep the percentage, not the split. Percentages above 100 % are only sustainable on very short efforts, 15 to 30 seconds. And a MAS measured on the beep test is usually 0.5 to 1 km/h below the same MAS measured on the VAMEVAL: build your paces on the test you repeat.