Which is better - to run more or less often for the same weekly mileage?
Forexample, if I was to run 30 miles in a week, am I gonna get more benefit from doing 4 runs, maybe a long run of ten miles and then three six and a half milers.
OR is it better to do a long run of ten and then five lots of four miles???
Thoughts?
Hmmmmmmmm, this is tricky.
I'd say it depends on your goals.
Are you running for fitness, for a race - and if so which distance?
To me the 10, 4, 4, 4, 4 sounds better than the other one.
My classic set up is this:
1 shorter run 3 miles ( could be a speed session, in my case it's a group run)
3 normal runs 7 miles (What I call the bread and butter runs)
1 longer run 10 miles
2 rest days
Total 34 miles
I guess it depends on your goals. Are you running for fitness, racing, fun.... Just for keeping my mind in it I like variety. If you are running to race it is nice to know you can still go when you are really tired. Doing a long run helps with that. If you just want to keep in shape, not gain weight, doing a bunch of 4's might be the best. You never 'over do it' thus lessening the risk of injury.
I guess there are many variables involved but two that are important is how much time elapses between workouts and how long the longer ones are. If it were me and I was shooting for race fitness and I had 30 miles/week to play with I would have at least one longer workout and then spread the balance of the mileage such that you don't have more than one off day in a row. If you are just shooting for health and state of mind there is no problem having equal mileage each day provided you realize your not going to get much faster doing that
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