Eugene, Ore. – This Saturday, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, the 23-year-old Olympic 1,500m champion, will make his long-awaited return to competitive racing at the Prefontaine Classic’s Bowerman Mile. This event will mark Ingebrigtsen’s first race in eight months.
During his break from competition, Ingebrigtsen has been relishing his newlywed status and recovering from an Achilles tendon injury sustained last fall. His comeback race is set to be a dramatic rematch against Scotland’s Josh Kerr, who defeated him in the men’s 1,500m at last year’s World Championships in Budapest.
To prepare for his season debut, Ingebrigtsen trained at high altitude in Flagstaff, Arizona, for nearly a month. FloTrack captured one of his final training sessions, providing a glimpse into his intense preparations.
Ingebrigtsen’s Training Regimen
The workout consisted of 12 repetitions of 400 meters at a 5K pace with 60 seconds of rest, followed by 10 repetitions of 200 meters at a one-mile pace with a 200-meter jog recovery. This session, conducted two weeks prior to his mile race at the 2024 Pre Classic, was aimed at increasing his lactate threshold. Enhancing this threshold allows athletes to maintain higher speeds for longer periods without fatigue.
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“During this pre-race period, it’s vital not to overextend myself,” Ingebrigtsen told FloTrack. “The objective is to balance mileage and race-specific work without overtraining. Listening to my body is key.”
Goals for the 2024 Season
Ingebrigtsen has clearly outlined his aspirations for the 2024 season. He aims to secure gold at the upcoming European Championships in Rome, retain his Olympic title in the 1,500m, and break the one-mile world record of 3:43.13, set by Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco in 1999.Embed from Getty Images
Runners looking to replicate Ingebrigtsen’s workout can modify it to fit their own training needs, especially if preparing for a 5K. Consider breaking down the 12x400m into two sets of five or six reps at 5K pace with 60 seconds of rest, and allow three to four minutes of rest between sets. Complete the 200m reps at a pace faster than your 5K pace, with a slow 200m jog recovery between each rep.
Way to Watch
The Eugene Diamond League’s Prefontaine Classic will be streamed live on Wanda Diamond League YouTube / Facebook. Coverage starts at 4 p.m. ET, with the highly anticipated Bowerman Mile featuring Ingebrigtsen and Kerr scheduled for 5:52 p.m.
Ingebrigtsen’s return to the track this weekend is set to be an exhilarating start to what could be a momentous season for the Norwegian champion.
