Five runners, five training approaches. Local athletes prove that when it comes to training, different strokes work for different folks, and what works for them, might just work for you, too.

Lesley Higgins 

TRAINING TACTIC: Member of New York Athletic Club’s elite women’s running team.

2008 GOAL: To qualify for this summer’s 2008 Olympic trials in the 3000m steeplechase.

RUNNING ROUTINE: Trains with teammates five days a week, including at least one group workout. In 2007, she completed 13 local road races in the NYAC uniform.

WHY IT WORKS: Higgins, a former NCAA Division 1 track All-American out of the University of Colorado, says the transition from training solo to training with a team sparked significant momentum and motivation in her running. “Prior to joining NYAC, it was easy to get by with half efforts and mediocre performances,” she says. “Now, I’m accountable to my team. Every morning that I get out of bed is not out of obligation to me, but to my teammates. I could easily hit snooze and go back tosleep, but if I’m meeting someone in the middle of the park, I will never stand them up. Same goes for races—knowing that running a little faster will make or break the team, I always find that extra gear.”

SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT: Since joining NYAC in 2003, Higgins has lopped time off of her PRs on the roads (including a speedy 36:44 10K in last year’s Healthy Kidney race in Central Park) and the track. Last spring, she ran a 14-second post-collegiate PR of 10:21:08 in the 3000m steeplechase, qualifying her for 2007 USA track & field championships.

THE DOWNSIDES: As the team leader, Higgins handles administrative duties like recruiting, coordinating practices, and providing uniforms, often draining and stressful tasks that take away from potential training time. Plus, because five women are needed to score in each race, there is little room for injury or absence. “There were a lot of races I never would have run, and a few nagging injuries I may have avoided if I wasn’t beholden to a team,” says Higgins.

OUTLOOK: Although she needs to shave a mere second of her current 3000m steeplechase time to hit the Olympic trials mark of 10:20:00, her sights are set on a sub 10-minute time. “Getting there is my real battle, but I feel like I can continue to run even faster, especially with the incredible support of NYAC,” she says.

Kwok-Ming Cheng

TRAINING TACTIC: Completes most of his runs and workouts with social, non-competitive training groups.

2008 GOAL: To run the Boston Marathon in under 3:15 and automatically qualify for the 2009 race; to set a new PR in the ING New York City marathon.

RUNNING ROUTINE: Cheng lets off steam by running up to five times a week with different social groups, including the Niketown runs, adidas’ Urban Run, and Powered by Dim Sum (PBDS). For the latter, his group heads down to Chinatown together for Dim Sum after races and training runs.

WHY IT WORKS: Running can become a chore for many, but for Cheng, it’s all about fun—especially when it comes to PBDS. “Those group runs provide a great atmosphere for all of us to get together and talk about everything running,” he says. ”We’re big running techies, so there’s always some new gadget someone’s trying out or wanting to buy.” But it’s not just all fun and games: Cheng says PBDS members—like most runners—are naturally competitive. “There’s usually someone out there training for the same race, so we’re constantly pushing each other. But we know when to back off and just have a good time, creating a relaxed environment that a team or more serious group may not have,” he says.

SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT: Cheng began seriously running in 1995 and since then his times have gone from downright pedestrian—he finished the ’95 ING New York City marathon in 6:30—to decidedly quick, including a current marathon PR of 3:09.

THE DOWNSIDES: So many runs, so little time. “I’m usually over-committed when it comes to group runs, but I try to balance it all as best I can,” he says. “That might mean I may have to skip a Niketown run to meet up with PBDS, but I try to make it to each a few times a month.” Also, Cheng says personality conflicts can sometimes causes rifts in the group dynamic. “Of course we want to get fit and faster, but our bottom line is to have fun. You can’t get too serious with us.”

OUTLOOK: Cheng hopes his laid-back approach to the sport will continue to propel him to even faster times this season, including a faster finish at the Boston marathon in April.