How did you decide on "your distance"?

chickey2

What I mean by this is, how did you decide which distance to concentrate on training for? There's such a range of runners on here from sprinters to ultra runners I'm just wondering what it is about each distance that appeals? Is it the race itself, or the training? Do you know if you're a fast twitcher or a slow twitcher?

Like many new runners coming to the sport later in life I started with the C25k programme. Once I finished this my next target was 10K, then I signed up for the Dublin Race series 10mile and half. When I finished the half the next obvious target for me was the marathon. Reading the logs on here that seems like a common progresssion (although most went about it more sensibly that me!) My excuse is that I only found the wisdom of the Boards A/R a few weeks before the marathon.

Anyway, now I have those distances out of my system and I got some great advice on here, I'm repeating the races I did last year, but this time with proper training so I'm hoping to improve my times significantly. I'm not doing DCM this year, but will aim for Limerick (or London if I'm lucky!) next year. That was the plan anyway. Now I'm not sure and wondering should I give the shorter distances a go.

The reason being I had some genetic testing done a while ago (I'm a genetics nerd so it was purely for curiousity) and found that I have 4 of the 5 ideal genes for a sprinter. I basically have a lot of fast twitch fibres and not so much slow twitch. I have a fast metabolism (I knew that already) and I score well on the injury prevention genes (related to collagen and recovery). So I really shouldn't be doing marathons, I should be doing shorter faster running. I'm always short of time for training too so I guess shorter distance training would suit my lifestyle better.

Having said that, I love reading about ultras and would love to give a 50K a go!

So to return to the original question, why do you do your distance?

Myles Splitz

Do what you feel most comfortable with.

Shorter distance does not always equate less training. A 100m sprinter can spend 6-7 hours a day training.

Similarly I know Ultra runners who do mileage some 5k runners would consider low.

There is a tendency to feel that people are naturally suited to longer distances simply because they go from hitting a pace untrained to sustaining that pace for longer duration. However while raw speed can be difficult to train, form, power, efficiency can all be easily trained to develop what some perceive as speed. A 26 second 200m sprinter might be miles off National level but a 1.52 800m runner (14 second per 100m) would be making national finals

I have seen people here who I have thought to myself with the amount of miles they do, if they applied same training time to lower distances they could be competing for provincial and National medals in their category.

Similarly I have seen people reluctant to move up that I have felt would be more competitive over longer distances.

The fact is no point in training for a distance you won't enjoy as when motivation is lacking you won't be able to justify the training and enjoy the hard slog.

With regards my own I have tried everything from 400m to marathon and all field events (bar pole vault) so its mixture of enjoyment and what I feel I am good at.

Runner Mojo

Marathom, cos I feel Im naturally better at distance running than speed and enjoy just tipping along and the change of scenery location as I go. Its more of an "adventure" than running short distances. That being said, i wouldn't be any kinda record breaker.

Greenmachine

Started on the c25k somewhere around 4 months ago. Was covering 5k a few week before even finishing the program, I think once I started my 25 minute run, seems to be where my natural pace is. By the time I was finished the program I was keen to run a race. With no 5k races as such, I targeted the Clontarf 5 mile. I originally set out aiming to train for distances of up to 10km, I have now ran the 5 mile (8k or there abouts), and made my next training target a half marathon, hopefully the clonfarf half, if it runs again in November. I will hit at least one 10k before then, and some parkruns, still, have to hit a parkrun.

Runner Mojo

Greenmachine wrote: »

Started on the c25k somewhere around 4 months ago. Was covering 5k a few week before even finishing the program, I think once I started my 25 minute run, seems to be where my natural pace is. By the time I was finished the program I was keen to run a race. With no 5k races as such, I targeted the Clontarf 5 mile. I originally set out aiming to train for distances of up to 10km, I have now ran the 5 mile (8k or there abouts), and made my next training target a half marathon, hopefully the clonfarf half, if it runs again in November. I will hit at least one 10k before then, and some parkruns, still, have to hit a parkrun.

What's the c25k?

Second Toughest in_the Freshers

Couch to 5k, some sort of training program, I dunno, I'm still on the couch...

Hannibal Smith

My philosophy, give them all a crack and see what you enjoy most

I always thought the shorter distances (sprints etc) were for more disciplined life time runners. So I wouldnt know how/consider it possible to give them ago, certainly not without joining a club.

Lately I am loving the long runs. I love the peace and quiet and the tipping along feeling, but am wondering is that just my laziness shining through I have a 15 mile coming up in a few weeks, I have the route planned, its a run I found in a log last year that I never thought i'd be able for so Im very excited about it.

I toyed with the idea of DCM this year, but Im way under trained. I had hoped maybe to do something in the Spring till i was made aware it would mean marathon training over the winter. Even at that it feels a bit soon. So DCM 2016 is penciled in. Id say if I continue with the long runs I could really, not enjoy it, but not die either

In other words whatever feels good and doesnt break you

Not sure if that in anyway refers to the question you asked or if Im qualified to answer but you get my ponderings anyhow :pac:

rainbow kirby

Now in my 8th year of running and I've had to accept to a certain degree that my body will always hold me back a bit - I am extremely injury prone. I've gotten injured every single time I've trained for a marathon, so that sort of distance isn't really for me. I've also discovered that cross training is very beneficial for me - swimming balances me out a bit and works my upper body, cycling is a good aerobic workout without the impact, strength training deals with my weaknesses.

So my distances? 5k-10k in general with the odd half marathon, sprint and Olympic distance triathlon.

Runner Mojo

rainbow kirby wrote: »

Now in my 8th year of running and I've had to accept to a certain degree that my body will always hold me back a bit - I am extremely injury prone. I've gotten injured every single time I've trained for a marathon, so that sort of distance isn't really for me. I've also discovered that cross training is very beneficial for me - swimming balances me out a bit and works my upper body, cycling is a good aerobic workout without the impact, strength training deals with my weaknesses.

So my distances? 5k-10k in general with the odd half marathon, sprint and Olympic distance triathlon.

I think it's vital to include other training like strength training and if you notice a higher injury rate at a specific distance then acknowledging that it's not right for you and to become as good as you can be at a lesser distance than continually screw yourself up over longer ones.

I always think if you are starting out and want to figure out what's the best distance to aim at, that you can't go wrong with 10k.

Dubgal72

For me, it's got to be what you enjoy and like MS suggested above, also what you're good at...but which comes first there, the chicken or the egg?! I'm like a kid in a sweet shop since I've started to train and race seriously, I'm really looking forward to the next few years as I find out the right balance for me between 'good at distance' plus 'enjoying the training and race'.
I love the shorter stuff, that's probably more to do with my focus as a teen ie it's familiar, but not sure if my ageing body will be able to withstand the training, we'll see next year when I approach track training more thoroughly and with a more focused build up. Over the next two years I can see myself giving the 5 and 10k a good focus. But then I get excited about a 10 mile and HM...and then there's unfinished business with the marathon....argh drooling just thinking about it all!!
So to answer your question, I haven't decided yet but I'm having lots of fun on the way

Chivito550

This is a good discussion. I think there a few factors involved in finding your distance. For starters, I think many people are probably running the distance which is not the one they are physically best suited to. I could perhaps be included in that (debatable IMO), as my old coach in Australia was trying to get me to run 800m, saying I was made for it. That is only one person’s opinion of course. Regardless, I lack the appetite to train for the event right now, and don’t envisage myself enjoying the training, so it’s pretty irrelevant if it is my most optimal distance, as without the love for it, you won’t perform well anyway.

I sort of found 400m by accident. Used to run fairly terrible times over fun run distances of 5K and up. Then one day in Barcelona when over for the European Championships in Barcelona in 2010, myself, and a poster here Brianderunner, had a bit of a race on a 40m track in the fanzone area. He’d been a good sprinter before taking up long distance. Neither of us were adequately attired for the race. I had sandals on I believe. He won the race by no more than a quarter of a metre, a gap he got at the start, and held onto. This surprised me a lot, as I didn’t think I had any speed until then, due to bad experiences at school sports days as a kid. This coupled by being inspired by Derval O’Rourke winning silver (gold in all but name) a couple of days later, had me wanting to try track running. I’d completed the Rotterdam Marathon only 4 months earlier, and the desire to do another one never reached me afterwards.

I tried some timetrials over the mile, 400m, 100m, 200m, and messed about with the long jump, after Barcelona, down at the Belfield track. I had the idea of a sub 5 mile in my head, but when I moved to Melbourne, and joined a club, and tried out the track meets, and all the events, I found I enjoyed sprinting more. The sub 60 400m stuck out as a fairly similar enough target in quality to the sub 5 mile, so I went for that instead, and 5 years on from Barcelona, I’m still at it.

I think it comes down to a nice blend of what you are good at, and what you enjoy doing. I’d be lying if I said I liked every aspect of 400m training. I don’t think any 400m does. There are some sessions that everyone hates. But there’s enough aspects to the training that I do enjoy. I’d probably enjoy 100 and 200 training more, and I’m probably naturally built more for 800m, so the 400m is a nice common ground between the “enjoyment” and “what I’m good at” aspects. It’s worked out ok up to now anyway. Though I’m looking at ways to increase my enjoyment of the sport going forward, as it has felt like a drag of late, so I’m hoping to do long jump along with my 400s next year.

I guess the number one thing is enjoyment.

Cabaal

Started off running in 2010 with coach to 5km and I remember thinking 5km was a long distance and that 10miles was just nuts, as time went on I did a half marathon and a marathon with the best times of 1.31 (half) and 3.33 (marathon). But all along I never considered myself fast so I decided I wanted to see just how far I could push myself.

In 2012 I did my first 50km and it took me just short of 5hours, around the same year I also did the Connemara Marathon and it kicked my ass...but the moment I crossed the finish line I remember saying to myself that I'd be back the following year to do the Ultra and so I was. So I guess from the start I wanted the challenge, even if some thought I was an idiot

Last Thursday I signed up for 36miles on Saturday and although I paced the race wrong and ended up doing abit of walking I still did my fastest 50km distance (beating last best time by 10min) and my third fastest marathon time. So even though it was a last min afair I can still see improvement and more importantly I can walk away from it afterwards with no blisters or pain afterwards....which kinda seems strange and I suppose I also get a weird kick from that.

I find the crushing lows and high heights of running the longer distances some how very weirdly appealing and although back in May I more or less ended up walking 30 miles of a 100mile race and at the time it was I think the hardest thing I've ever done I'll be running that distance again.

Am I good at ultrarunning, err well I don't think I'll be coming top 3 anytime soon, but I'm only racing against myself and I love the challenge! As for the other distances, I suppose if I worked on half and marathon I'd drop the times further....I'm testing this out this year by aiming for sub 3.15 in Dublin....I figure I have endurance built for it

chickey2

Thanks, some interesting replies there.

Hannibal Smith wrote: »

I always thought the shorter distances (sprints etc) were for more disciplined life time runners. So I wouldnt know how/consider it possible to give them ago, certainly not without joining a club.

That's part of the problem for me. I've no idea if I'd be any good at sprinting as I'm not in a club and don't have access to a track. There's so many 5 and 10 k road races that cater for all levels and everyone can give it a try, but there's no way I would show up at a track meet and run as I'd be sure make an eejit of myself! I was thinking of trying some xc though as the meet and train sessions don't sound too scary. As much as I like my long runs I think I should try something new.

tipping

I'm generally aiming for 5k to 10k distance. Reason being it gives me a good bit of fitness and I can train to a reasonable level and balance family life at the same time. Most of my runs take around 40-50 minutes and I squeeze them in where I can, 2 lunch time runs a week, at the kids gaa training etc. Mini goal setting every 2-3 weeks helps with motivation too.
Marathon training etc is out at the minute as it would just impact too much at home with small kids. Just too much commitment for now but some day (maybe next year) just to see what I'm capable of.

Hannibal Smith

chickey2 wrote: »

Thanks, some interesting replies there.



That's part of the problem for me. I've no idea if I'd be any good at sprinting as I'm not in a club and don't have access to a track. There's so many 5 and 10 k road races that cater for all levels and everyone can give it a try, but there's no way I would show up at a track meet and run as I'd be sure make an eejit of myself! I was thinking of trying some xc though as the meet and train sessions don't sound too scary. As much as I like my long runs I think I should try something new.

Did you do the paced mile? What did you think of it? I know of a free track you could practise on . I'm sure someone on here could give you a few pointers on training ideas. You could build yourself up that way before just turning up to a track meet and run.

IvoryTower

would you not just join a club?

Runner Mojo

Cabaal wrote: »

In 2012 I did my first 50km and it took me just short of 5hours, around the same year I also did the Connemara Marathon and it kicked my ass...but the moment I crossed the finish line I remember saying to myself that I'd be back the following year to do the Ultra and so I was. So I guess from the start I wanted the challenge, even if some thought I was an idiot

Ah, Connemara - "The Hell of the West."

Well done on that! I have done the Half - that hill at the start is a killer, and the meandering hill near the end is what I think Calvary looked like with Jesus carrying a cross up it with all his followers at various stages up the hill. Pure penance!

I also did the Marathon. Got one of my best times ever on the first half and thought I might make my goal of a sub-4 but then hit that bloody hill a mile into the Half and that was the end of that dream.

I've supported a little on the Ultra, and by god that's a lonely, isolated run. Have to admire anyone who can get through that with their sanity intact! That being said, I have a fairly similar attitude as you. I have wanted to do an Ultra for a few years but never really had the balls to do it, but plan on 2016 being the year I conquer that. I love long distances. One of the things I enjoy most is the headspace, the meditative feeling - and running from one town to another, then another makes me feel like some sorta caveman if that makes sense?

robinph

Don't have a distance, just do whatever takes my fancy as the next race. The multiple opportunitys to race things between 5km and a half week in week out makes those the common distances. I don't especially care which one I do though.

I'll avoid anything longer than 26.2, but will have a bash at any other distance.

dna_leri

Did some sprinting as a kid.
Got fat and old.
Did my own version of C25K (2007).
Progressed to sub 20 min 5K (2008).
Did a few sprints/strides one day and was surprised that I could still move quickly.
Trained for about 8 wks and did low-key 100m race in 12.x
About 10 wks later I competed in National Masters (and won in 2009).
After a season out with injury, I came back and got fit again with 5K-10Ks (2011)
Then I tried middle distance 800-1500m (2012)
Enjoyed the training for it and found I could do 800m better than any other distance so have specialized in that for the last few years.

Summary - Get 5K/10K fit, then try as much as you can until you find what you are best at and enjoy.

opus

I was trying to get back some level of fitness after leaving a job & a friend of mine suggested I should run the Cork marathon and I did!

chickey2

Hannibal Smith wrote: »

I know of a free track you could practise on .

You do realise that "track" you wore in your back garden doing a beer mile isn't a real track right?! :-)

Hannibal Smith

chickey2 wrote: »

You do realise that "track" you wore in your back garden doing a beer mile isn't a real track right?! :-)

Haahaaa i can throw in a slide as a hurdle?

No but the actual beer mile track is open to the public afaik? I was thinking of using it myself.

Bungy Girl

Great topic, Chickey2!

I have no clue what my distance is. Before I started base building properly I would have said 10K and under, and the shorter the better. Absolutely loved the Trinity Track races this year (1200m and 2000m) as well as the 800m TT. But since I've been out of racing (all of one month :rolleyes:), I'm starting to think I may enjoy the longer stuff too :eek:. Of course this half marathon could go pear-shaped and I'll revert to type :rolleyes:.

straps

chickey2 wrote: »

The reason being I had some genetic testing done a while ago (I'm a genetics nerd so it was purely for curiousity) and found that I have 4 of the 5 ideal genes for a sprinter. I basically have a lot of fast twitch fibres and not so much slow twitch. I have a fast metabolism (I knew that already) and I score well on the injury prevention genes (related to collagen and recovery). So I really shouldn't be doing marathons, I should be doing shorter faster running. I'm always short of time for training too so I guess shorter distance training would suit my lifestyle better.

Where did u get the genetics test done n was it expensive?

chickey2

straps wrote: »

Where did u get the genetics test done n was it expensive?

www.23andme.com it's currently €169

I then used the results I got from there and put them into www.athletigen.com which was free.

Just to warn you, there's a lot of debate about 23andme and privacy so make sure you're happy to share your dna before you sign up.

straps

chickey2 wrote: »

www.23andme.com it's currently €169

I then used the results I got from there and put them into www.athletigen.com which was free.

Just to warn you, there's a lot of debate about 23andme and privacy so make sure you're happy to share your dna before you sign up.

What do u mean share your DNa? As in results or actual dna?

chickey2

straps wrote: »

What do u mean share your DNa? As in results or actual dna?

They use your dna results for various different studies. I have no problem with it as I've seen some of the studies and its amazing what they can do when they have over a million different dna samples to compare. Some people are far more cautious and don't want big companies knowing what genes they do or don't have which is understandable.

Firedance

chickey2 wrote: »

They use your dna results for various different studies. I have no problem with it as I've seen some of the studies and its amazing what they can do when they have over a million different dna samples to compare. Some people are far more cautious and don't want big companies knowing what genes they do or don't have which is understandable.

I know absolutely nothing about DNA or genetics so excuse the questions Chickey! how much can be told about your athletic abilities from your DNA? Yours shows you have sprinters DNA, what other types can be identified? And, could it happen that you have no 'running DNA' at all? It sounds really interesting either way.

On your original question I think I'm learning my distance is 10K or under, I've never tried the very short stuff but may in fact look at giving 1500 / 800 / 400 /200 a trial out of curiosity to see how I fare there.

chickey2

Firedance wrote: »

I know absolutely nothing about DNA or genetics so excuse the questions Chickey! how much can be told about your athletic abilities from your DNA? Yours shows you have sprinters DNA, what other types can be identified? And, could it happen that you have no 'running DNA' at all? It sounds really interesting either way.

There's only so much that can be told from your DNA. Athletic ability depends on so many different factors, of which genetics are only a part. You might have all the genes for a "perfect" athlete but just not like running! This is from the 23andme site:

"Athletic performance can be influenced by a number of factors, some of which are genetic. Genes determine between 20-80% of the variation in traits like oxygen intake, cardiac performance, and muscle fiber composition. To date, more than 150 genes have been linked to different aspects of physical performance. One of the clearest associations is seen with a gene called ACTN3 that is normally turned on in a type of muscle fiber used for power-based sports. A single SNP can turn this gene off. While this genetic change does not cause any health effects, it may contribute to whether you are a sprinter or a marathoner."

The report I got tells me that I have the ACTN3 variation that is associated with sprinters. I also have
AGT gene which makes angiotensin which improves blood flow to fast twich fibres
IL6 gene which is an antiinflammatory molecule that helps with muscle recovery and growth
AMPD1 gene which stimulates energy production in working muscles.

There's loads of other stuff related to metabolism, aerobic capacity and recovery and a very vague section on motivation (my lowest score!).

So having this report doesn't make me a better runner in any way. It just tells me I might do better as a sprinter, but there's no guarantee! I'm just fascinated by genetics so I think it was worthwhile getting it done, but it might not be of much interest to most people.

clear thinking

If you are like me and late to running it will boil down to what you enjoy. Do you like sloggin 80k a week and prepping for a marathon or would you like sore legs from spikes and sprinting. I've done all from 800m to marathons and each have their high points. The reward of achieving a good marathon is unique, but lashing out some fast races 800m- miles gives a great buzz and its more regular given that you can comparatively do way more of those than marathons in the same time frame.

There are lots of interesting articles on the web (that I found when doing a search for 800m training) outlining how you can do some basic tests to determine what a person is more suited to. These are probably useful for kids and teenagers, but you'd still need to be able to enjoy the training to stick at what supposedly suits.

Personally, I'm loving the short stuff, training is really varied and generally shorter. However all these speed work plans also generally have tempos etc. built in so upping mileage and small tweaks to session can easily allow you to go long - to 1/2 and full mrathons.