The main point about striders is to get a little speed work into your training. The description in your post leaves a lot open for interpretation. When I do strides, I maintain the top speed for the full 100 meters. I jog between strides, not walk. When I am on the street, I count my steps to get approximate distance (50 right foot strikes). Gradual acceleration  for me means to not sprint off a starting line, but get up to speed smoothly, about 10 steps. Of course if you are going from a walk to you target speed, it might take a few more than 10. My recovery stretch is approximately the same distance as the stride, 100 meters. The makes it easy if you on a track, fast on the straights and recover on the curves.

Good luck in your race. I hope you make your goal.

Ydiez, I understand your confusion. Strides (or striders), pickups, fartleks, whatever you call them, are all training ideas that involve bursts of speed.

Strides, as I understand them, are ??quick, but rather short bursts of between 50 and 100 meters, while working on running form. As opposed to pickups and/or fartleks, where change of pace is done during the training runs, strides are usually run by themselves, like sprints, followed by walking or a slow, active recovery (Again, if I understand the idea correctly). They can also be used before a race to build heart rate and as a way to focus again on proper running form. They are supposed to help you build your speed while helping you become a more efficient runner via improved form/technique.

It may be worth your while to Google a list of running terms.

Good luck.

Capital City Veterans' Day 5k, 11/12/2011            20:52 (PB)

30th Annual Great Osprey 10k, 11/5/2011            46:22 (first 10k)

1/2 M training run on treadmill    1/5/2012          1:36:48 (first 1/2)