My friend Marcy is training for her second 5K this spring and, like many runners with at least one race under their belt, she wants to run faster. So what's the secret to shaving some minutes off your race time? You might assume that the key to running faster is running more miles. But, in reality, if you're running more miles at the same pace you've always run, it's not going to make much of a difference. The only way to learn how to run faster is, simply, to run faster.

If you're fairly new to running, and you've never tried speed training before, here are some simple things you can do to start running faster.

Related links:

• 5K Intermediate Training Schedule
• 10K Intermediate Training Schedule
• How to Run Farther