# Sanity check on prescribed paces

**URL:** <https://forum.athletica.ai/t/sanity-check-on-prescribed-paces/2054>\
**Category:** Training & Coaching\
**Created:** [September 29, 2024, 1:12am UTC](https://forum.athletica.ai/t/sanity-check-on-prescribed-paces/2054 "2024-09-29T01:12:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ohlylo](https://forum.athletica.ai/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@ohlylo](https://forum.athletica.ai/u/ohlylo)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 1:12am UTC](https://forum.athletica.ai/t/sanity-check-on-prescribed-paces/2054/1 "2024-09-29T01:12:08Z")

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I have a December marathon scheduled. I might just be a Nervous Rex here, but the paces that are getting prescribed to me for some short distance workouts seem fairly wacky.

Example - I’ve had a HIIT (short) and hills workout prescribed regularly, which involves “sprinting up a hill” repeats followed by 3 min repeats of 2m hard/1m easy. But Athletica is prescribing the exact same pace for both of those! I know I’m not an elite athlete, but I’m not even close to sprinting at 8:37/mile. That’s about 40 seconds above the pace I raced a recent half marathon in (in really hot weather, too, hah).

My pace profile says I may be limited at VO2 max and in the 2-3 minute range. I haven’t manually set my CP or CHR since the change, just accepted whatever Athletica is suggesting. Thoughts? Am I overthinking it?

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**Author:** ![Prof](https://forum.athletica.ai/user_avatar/forum.athletica.ai/prof/32/28_2.png) [@Prof](https://forum.athletica.ai/u/Prof)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 1:44am UTC](https://forum.athletica.ai/t/sanity-check-on-prescribed-paces/2054/2 "2024-09-29T01:44:56Z")

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Hi @ohlylo ,  
Yes - I think you’re overthinking those sprints. Really you shouldn’t be paying much attention to the pace. You should be paying attention to the effort. I would describe these efforts as ‘easy speed’ and towards maximum. So very strong from an effort standpoint will above half marathon race pace. Up a hill so obviously the pace diminishes but don’t look at that or HR as these won’t guide you. Only the effort level guides you.  
We made the pace similar because a short 100m sprint up a hill can be similar to an L4 pace you’re doing for your 2’ hard/1’ easy.  
Hope that helps clarify. Go easy on yourself and don’t overthink.  
Best,  
Paul

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**Author:** ![ohlylo](https://forum.athletica.ai/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@ohlylo](https://forum.athletica.ai/u/ohlylo)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 2:00am UTC](https://forum.athletica.ai/t/sanity-check-on-prescribed-paces/2054/3 "2024-09-29T02:00:12Z")

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Thanks so much for the explanation!