Are longer runs always better?

Yes. Running is simple. The more you run, the better you will be. That's pretty much all there is to it.

seeker of advice wrote:

Maybe a better way to ask the question is, are there significant benefits to running the 2 extra miles?

More endurance. Thats a significant benefit.

you should go run for Delaware. You would have fewer questions about training after competing for this program.

the race distance matters.

if you want to run a 6 mile race you should have at least 3 runs a week be at least 8 miles. the more the better*

*up until the point where it gets you injured.

if your doing 6 a day right now, build up to 8 a day over the course of a month. then get your long run up to 10, then 12.

consistency and aerobic development are the two most important things in running a good 10k.

you have plenty of time until your goal race so use it.

three months out from your goal race, come back here and get help planning out what kind of workouts your going to do and when.

until then, just get the runs in, if you feel good, run fast, if you feel bad, run slow.

pick up a copy of Jack Daniels' Running Formula, its an easy to read and easy to understand book for runners just getting serious about the sport.

Also a long run 10-12 is prolly enough for a 10K.

I always thought that 2 hours was the ideal run, whatever distance that happens to be. After 2 hours, benefits drop off quickly.

Without trying to be overly critical, but more just blunt, this type of question is asked far too often on this site and it's also given far too many garbage answers. No one can TRULY answer this for you because it depends upon a lot of factors:

1. You want to run 35:00 for a 10k. Are you a male or female? Big difference.

2. Road 10k? Track 10k?

3. How old are you?

4. What is your current weekly mileage?

5. What has your training history been like for the past year?

6. What is your most current PR? Have you even ever RUN a 10k?

7. It would depend on the day, the weather, how your body feels, and what the PURPOSE of that day is in terms of getting you to that long term goal.

You can't just ask a broad question like that and expect a simple, magical answer. It doesn't work that way and neither does running. Jack Daniels might tell you that in order to run a 35:00/10k you need to run exactly 20% of your weekly mileage for your long run at 7:32/mile. Maybe Lydiard would tell you to hammer your long run no matter what weather and throw in hills. What matters is that you have a reasonable goal in mind for YOU personally, and consistant training that you are able to push yourself with but slowly adjust and adapt to and then push a bit more. I don't care if that means one week you are running 8 miles, then another week you are running 10 miles and then maybe 2 weeks later it is -20 outside with snow and you manage to do only 6-7 miles because of conditions. Try to be consistent but also respect your body and it's limits when pushing yourself. If you are doing those things then the work will pay off.

I appologize in advance if that sounded harsh. You are just asking a question in hopes of bettering your training, which is understandable. However, I cannot stand when people actually try to answer with a yes/no response with no information about you personally as an athlete and as if there is actually one true answer to that question. If it was that simple everyone would be doing the same thing all the time.

If the only choice is between 6 miles/day and 8 miles/day, and the target is a 35:00 10K, then 8 is always better than 6, like J.O. said, because it builds better endurance, regardless of sex, age, mileage, previous history, etc. If you are currently running 40 mpw, a typical progression, to get to the next level, is to bump that up to 70 mpw.

The only risk is injury, if you are not ready.

Even better is to mix it up with variety of distances, paces, and terrains. Run 6 miles fast pace on the road one day, 8 miles medium pace over undulating hills another, 10 miles slow on another, 1 hour fartlek on another, short recovery another, etc.

I would add a couple questions to the list above:

- What is your competition schedule between now and summer?

- When do you need to peak?

- Do you want a periodic/phased approach to training? How many weeks of "base training" in winter?

For more detailed practical advice, better to read something like Daniels Running Formula, or go to Lydiard Foundation website, than to ask random questions (and get random non-comprehensive answers) in this forum.

ate!

A hahahahahahahahaha! Spot on. Comment of the day!

Assuming you're serious, the only exception is if you have an injury of some sort or are very old where you have to limit your miles.

Another approach ("hard/easy") is to run 8 and then 4 the next day as opposed 6 everyday. In fact most training programs are periodized into these micro cycles.

So what is "better" may be a week like this

S-10

M-4

T-8

W-4

T-8

F-4

S-4

WRRRROOOONNNNGGGGGG. The FASTER you run the better you will be.Train fast, run fast.

Racerdb wrote:

Yes. Running is simple. The more you run, the better you will be. That's pretty much all there is to it.

In order to run faster for further, you must run faster for further. Here is a basic plan:

1) Run faster

2) Run further

3) Run faster while running further

Running can be as complicated or as simple as you'd like to make it.

The biggest key is finding out what works FOR YOU.

You can do it!

I think most of these broad questions about proper mileage are trolls attempts.

I'll bite. you said your goal was sub 35 which means you need to run at least 6 miles at around 5:30 pace. Some workouts you can focus on long and others you will focus on pace.

The answer is mix it up.