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Lesson 3 of 12
  • Year 8

Training in teams for personal bests in middle distance events

I can start to work independently within a small team to improve my personal best in middle distance events.

Lesson 3 of 12
New
New
  • Year 8

Training in teams for personal bests in middle distance events

I can start to work independently within a small team to improve my personal best in middle distance events.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Move: maintaining a forward and relaxed alternate arm action helps maintain speed and balance.
  2. Move: increasing stride length and/or stride frequency towards the end of a run can improve time.
  3. Think: being able to maintain a "race pace" for the full distance of a race without fatigue will maximise performance.
  4. Feel: running alongside others can help to regulate emotions during training.
  5. Connect: running with others in pairs or small groups can help with motivation over longer distances.

Keywords

  • Communication - sharing ideas, listening and giving feedback to teammates and coaches to improve performance and understanding

  • Aerobic - physical activity that relies on the presence of oxygen to produce energy. Lower intensity and longer in duration than anaerobic activity

  • Pacing - managing your speed throughout the race to avoid burning out too early and maintaining enough energy for a strong finish

Common misconception

To get faster at running middle distance you always have to train at race pace.

Improvements in speed and fitness for middle distance running can also come from running easy efforts. This builds aerobic fitness and gives the individual a strong base where over time the same effort will be maintained but at a faster pace.


To help you plan your year 8 physical education lesson on: Training in teams for personal bests in middle distance events, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Using the Borg RPE Scale will allow every pupil to find their own personal pace. Using conversation as a gauge in the lesson will indicate if the effort is too hard or too easy. It will not be possible to hold a conversation when running a hard middle distance effort.
Teacher tip

Equipment

worksheet; stopwatches - one between two

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - physical activity

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Prior knowledge starter quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
What does achieving a personal best mean?

my best effort
Correct answer: my best result
my best day

Q2.
Anaerobic exercise occurs over What is required when working as a team?

Correct answer: cooperation
fitness
being the best

Q3.
What can sprinting help develop?

endurance
flexibility
Correct answer: power

Q4.
How long does anaerobic exercise occur?

Correct answer: seconds
minutes
hours

Assessment exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
What element is essential for aerobic activity?

Correct Answer: Oxygen, O2

Q2.
Why might someone be motivated to run?

Correct Answer: wellbeing, fitness, a challnege, to socialise, enjoyment

Q3.
What is a steady pace effort on the RPE scale?

0
6
Correct answer: 12

Q4.
How can running and talking help you?

Correct answer: to communicate
build anaerobic fitness
to judge others

Additional material

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