While it's critical fuel source that helps you to run fast, a build up of this compound causes that "muscle burning" sensation at the end of a race. Basically, the faster you run, the more lactate you produce. While consumption also rises, there's a point at which the former exceeds the later and lactate begins to build in your system. This interferes with Ca++ uptake, which results in weaker muscle contractions and causes you to slow down. Therefore, in order to prevent this, you need to become more efficient at "clearing" lactate (i.e., keeping production and consumption in balance).
Tempo workouts and "cruise intervals" can help... and this article presents two tweaks that make these workouts even better. Basically, although tempo runs slowly improve your lactic threshold, there are some problems with scalability (i.e., improvements are diminished as the pace climbs). Furthermore, because the pace is constant, clearance is relatively constant... but real improvements in efficiency are seen when clearance oscillates and the body has to figure out how to get back to that steady state. So, in order to "fix" these problems with the traditional tempo workout, you can (1) change paces (i.e., alternate slightly faster than tempo pace segments with slightly slower than tempo pace segments) or (2) change interval distance (i.e., alternate longer intervals with shorter intervals).
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