Frequent runs or long runs?

webpal

I'm sure there's probably no correct answer here but in your experience, what do you benefit more from for marathon training? Is it better to get out 4/5 times during the week doing 4/5 miles each time or maybe once or twice and having a long run at weekend?

Ososlo

webpal wrote: »

I'm sure there's probably no correct answer here but in your experience, what do you benefit more from for marathon training? Is it better to get out 4/5 times during the week doing 4/5 miles each time or maybe once or twice and having a long run at weekend?

i think you really have to do both. Get out 5/6 times a week AND have a long run at the weekend. Make one of the week day runs a medium length run also. That's how I'm approaching it anyways! Good luck!

pconn062

Both! Try and get out for a run as often as possible during the week, and then do a long run every week. Any marathon plan you look at it, even for beginners will have 4-5 runs at least a week and one of them will be a long run, starting around 8 miles and building up to 20 miles at least once. Have a look at Hal Hagdon's beginner marathon plan which would be very typical.

average_runner

To be honest its a mixture of things. These are:
- Recovery Runs
- Long Runs
- Medium Runs
- Tempo Runs
- Speed work

I do recommend not doing tempo and speed work in the same week. For speed work i mean 800x5 or 1000m x 5 with rest etc.

plodder

webpal wrote: »

I'm sure there's probably no correct answer here but in your experience, what do you benefit more from for marathon training? Is it better to get out 4/5 times during the week doing 4/5 miles each time or maybe once or twice and having a long run at weekend?

if it had to be a choice then I'd say the option with the long run, because the long run is the most important training session for a marathon. But, as others have said, it should be both really.

Mr.Fred

plodder wrote: »

if it had to be a choice then I'd say the option with the long run, because the long run is the most important training session for a marathon. But, as others have said, it should be both really.

I'd have to agree with this. What are you aiming to achieve in the marathon would you be in the fun section trying to complete it or are you looking to set a PB.

If the former I'd go with the long run option especially if like myself you've dodgy knees like myself I used to get out every evening but found it hard going on the joints.

As previously posted mix it up with your types of running they usually recommend just getting the mileage into your legs if you plan on just getting around.

just an opinion so don't take it as gospel as i'm still hovering over the enter button

Good Luck

drquirky

average_runner wrote: »

I do recommend not doing tempo and speed work in the same week. For speed work i mean 800x5 or 1000m x 5 with rest etc.

Would completely disagree with this unless its advise purely for a beginner

bigslice

I've learned that you need to be doing both. For Dublin last year, I was much more disciplined and ran more regular and hit the long runs at the weekend. Was happy with the race. For connemara this year, i probably did more long runs and ran them well but was inconsistent on the midweek runs (work/family/other commitments had to be addressed) and putting runs back to back. I felt in better shape for conemara but on the day when i hit 20plus the miles weren't in the legs and fell well short of what I had hoped for.

For dublin this year, i will be alot more disciplined and putting 5/6 days per week together as often as possible with recovery runs part of that.

webpal

Thanks all, about to do my 6th marathon in a few weeks. Have followed Hals advanced 1 plan before but I just don't have the time anymore. Was up at 5.45 yesterday morning for a 20 mile run and then spent the rest of the day either behind a wheelbarrow or minding babies, guess I'll have re think my goals.

average_runner

drquirky wrote: »

Would completely disagree with this unless its advise purely for a beginner

You find very little plans that have both in the same week.
Hadley program has it over 9 day's and his plans aren't for beginners for sure.
Also more than 2 quality sessions raises injury chances.
Long run is one q session.
Pd the same.

drquirky

average_runner wrote: »

You find very little plans that have both in the same week.
Hadley program has it over 9 day's and his plans aren't for beginners for sure.
Also more than 2 quality sessions raises injury chances.
Long run is one q session.
Pd the same.

LSR is not a session- perhaps you are thinking of marathon training. Any athlete looking to run decent times in 3k-15k will simply not get away w/ doing only 1 session per week. 2 sessions and a long run is very standard across distance running coaches coaching competitive athletes. In college we ran 2 sessions, raced on Saturdays and hit a long run on Sundays- this is excessive I know but the point is the body is well able for 2 sessions in a 7 day running week at decent milage (40 plus) Joe Rubio would certainly advise it as would Daniels

average_runner

drquirky wrote: »

LSR is not a session- perhaps you are thinking of marathon training. Any athlete looking to run decent times in 3k-15k will simply not get away w/ doing only 1 session per week. 2 sessions and a long run is very standard across distance running coaches coaching competitive athletes. In college we ran 2 sessions, raced on Saturdays and hit a long run on Sundays- this is excessive I know but the point is the body is well able for 2 sessions in a 7 day running week at decent milage (40 plus) Joe Rubio would certainly advise it as would

average_runner

drquirky wrote: »

LSR is not a session- perhaps you are thinking of marathon training. Any athlete looking to run decent times in 3k-15k will simply not get away w/ doing only 1 session per week. 2 sessions and a long run is very standard across distance running coaches coaching competitive athletes. In college we ran 2 sessions, raced on Saturdays and hit a long run on Sundays- this is excessive I know but the point is the body is well able for 2 sessions in a 7 day running week at decent milage (40 plus) Joe Rubio would certainly advise it as would Daniels

He is talking about marathon training.