how can I do speed work not on a track?

[AHappierHour]

I really want to do this once a week and some weeks I don't have my son to help watch the girls. If I run through my neighborhood do I just use time intervals instead of laps? Does anyone have a good workout for that?

[ebeth]

10 min warm-up

intervals of 2 min hard,30-60 sec easy

10 min cool-down

[grk2012]

My first ever (very informal) and still favorite speedwork is to run between landmarks. Jog to the speed limit sign, sprint to the hydrant. Jog to the next hydrant, sprint to the yield sign. I don't like looking at my watch every thirty seconds to figure out if I can slow down yet.

[AHappierHour]

thanks for the ideas

[stingsharkruns]

I don't have a track to run at either - IF i do speed work, I do farklets. Run hard to the "bird crossing" sign, then slow down for a few seconds, then run hard again.. those are my favorite type of speed workouts.

[gt7301b]

I usually run on the trail near my office and have started doing my speed work on the trail. I either use my garmin to figure out the distances or I just run distances that are close to a 400 or 800. For example there is a stretch between two roads that is a little more than a mile so I use that for mile repeats. I just run back and forth on that stretch of the trail for my workout. If I am doing 400s or 800s I just use the garmin to figure out the distances.

It isn't an exact science, but it is easier than going to the track.

I've also been going 4-6 hill repeats in one of my weekly runs.