I should not be undecided about my training runs this late in the game, but I am trying to choose between two options for a long run this weekend.
One is a fairly typical long run of 22 miles or so that would keep me on my feet for close to 3 hours. I've seen it recommended time and again that time on your feet is more important than mileage when it comes to a long easy run, and I have never done a training run that kept me out there for as long as the marathon should take me to run.
The other option is a much more difficult but intriguing run some friends are doing on Saturday. The drill: a 4-mile warm-up, 4 miles at marathon pace, 4 X 1 mile at tempo pace with short rests between the miles, 4 miles at marathon pace, and a 4 mile cool down. It sounds like a great workout and some good quality miles, but it might be harder and shorter than I need at this point. I am trying to calculate how long it would take, and maybe consider adding another couple of miles to the cool down to extend the time. But I am afraid that by the time I get to that point the last thing I am going to want to do is run some more slow miles.
One is a fairly typical long run of 22 miles or so that would keep me on my feet for close to 3 hours. I've seen it recommended time and again that time on your feet is more important than mileage when it comes to a long easy run, and I have never done a training run that kept me out there for as long as the marathon should take me to run.
The other option is a much more difficult but intriguing run some friends are doing on Saturday. The drill: a 4-mile warm-up, 4 miles at marathon pace, 4 X 1 mile at tempo pace with short rests between the miles, 4 miles at marathon pace, and a 4 mile cool down. It sounds like a great workout and some good quality miles, but it might be harder and shorter than I need at this point. I am trying to calculate how long it would take, and maybe consider adding another couple of miles to the cool down to extend the time. But I am afraid that by the time I get to that point the last thing I am going to want to do is run some more slow miles.
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.