Running your easy runs too hard?

This is called “gray zone running"and it may be the reason for your plateau.

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Easy pace is a runners bread and butter.

(If youre someone who likes scales, think of this at a three out of 10 effort.)

This common mistake is called running in the gray zone and it can lead to a frustrating plateau.

Woman walking on a treadmill at the gym.

Grey zone running is when youre using pace as your guide, rather than effort.

This probably sounds familiar, right?

The good news: It doesnt have to feel this way.

Full body female athlete in sportswear using rowing machine during fitness workout in gym.

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Meanwhile, those stress-free runs up your aerobic fitness.

This means that, over time, your easy pace will naturally become a little faster for you.

For the uninitiated, afartlek is any speed playwhere youre toggling through different paces.

Healthy female training in the gym, performing a hip thrust.

Instead, think about the purpose of your run before you run it.

Were not reinventing the running shoe here, after all.

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A young black woman doing post-run stretches in the park on the road amidst green grass and trees.