Running single runs a day or doubles.

Which do you think is better? One 15 mile run at a steady pace or a morning run of 10 miles at a steady pace and a afternoon run at tempo pace?

Singles aren't better. Every elite runner you can think of do their training in doubles no matter what time of the year.

Well, I think singles are better because capillarization occurs. You will be fitter than splitting your runs up.

it depends on where you are in your training cycle as well as the goal of the whole cycle and then if you cannot fit it into your schedule to do 2-a-days then why ask the question.

It depends on what energy system your goal race depends on and how much you can train.

A 5k race relies on glucose so he doesn't need to make a habit of training off of fat (more than around 90min). So if that runner has progressed to beyond that amount of training time per day, he's got to go out for another run after refueling his glycogen.

Okay friend, I hear you, the idea of capilaries being regenerated, or michocondrea(sp) production from singles is true.

However the thing that you are thinking about is a bit misleading. You don't have to run "ALL SINGLES", let me give you an example of my week and let's agree that the time you start developing michocondrea is after 80minutes, okay?

Monday

AM 7 MI

PM 11 MI

Tuesday

AM 6 MI

PM 8 MI

Wednesday

AM 0

PM 18

Thursday

AM 6 MI

PM 8 MI

Friday

AM 0

PM 13

Saturday

AM Race/10 MI

PM 5 MI

Sunday

AM 22 MI

So 124 MI, right? For you personally, how many of those runs are over 80minutes by themselves? How many of those days total well over 80minites for you. Giving yourself, say 6-8 hours rest inbetween gives your body time to recover, while still fatiguing your mucles apropriatly which develops that michrocondrea s***.

If you open yourself up a bit, which I hope you posting this thread was your intention, you will see that there are many ways to get the same result.

Here's my thought, that 124 miles would probably be more taxing and thus reap a greater benefit if done in singles. The catch here is that you would probably break down and/or get injured. One might also argue that 100-110 on singles would be equally beneficial as the 124 with doubles with less pounding taken on the legs. Personally, I like to do as much as my mileage as possible when not racing or doing intence workouts in singles. Later, when I add intensity to workouts but also want to maintain volume I switch to doubles. This is at a volume in the mid 80's to mid 90's, occasionally in the low 100 range, depending on the week. This is what has worked best for me so far. The fact is that each body will react slightly different to different stresses and what works for me may work great for you or it may be a disaster. I guess the short answer is try both and see what works for you.

Alot hinges on a) your event b) your ability and c) what works best for YOU. A lot of people will say "hey do doubles...that works, I do that.." Heres the problem, because it suits them, it may not suit you. Alot of people run their morning runs short and easy, 5 miles at X pace depending on ability and 10 miles in the afternoon at y pace, often these paces differ greatly. Does it reduce stress on the body- absolutely.Is it good for you...possibly, but its something you need to try for yourself. Physiologically, the benefits are evident, your metabolism will increase with doubles, where as you will recruit more mitrichondria with longer singles. Personally, i would say if you are racing a marathon the bulk of your mileage should be in single longer runs. After all your race distance is 26miles your body needs to adapt to this distance. if you are a 800m-5k (maybe 10k) i would suggest singles once running more than 70 miles a week. This is my opinion and what works FOR ME, like i have said to determine whats best for you need to try it.

"would suggest singles once running more than 70 miles a week"

should read..." would suggest singles UNTILL running more than 70 miles a week"

Here is what I ran last week. (age 52)

Endurance building week.

Mon 20mls

Tues 0

Wed 11 mls

Thur 0

Fri 15mls

Sat 0

Sun 17mls.

Total 63mls.It works and it is easy.

Use it as a base.

Suit yourself on the other days.I'm an oldie so I need to rest.

take it to heart,In your schedule, why do you run 13 miles the evening before a race? Wouldn't it be easier to run your 8 and 6 like on Tuesday?

I think once you get past 75-80 you are certainly better off running doubles at least a couple times per week. You will recover better and have the ability to run a faster pace than doing sinlges. I have personally run 100 miles a week in sinlges and in 13 runs in a week. The difference was night and day.

Some fascinating spelling in this thread.

Here's my opinion:

If it's difficult to fit two runs a day into your schedule, then I wouldn't do it. No sense in lighting the candle at both ends - you need rest!

If you can fit in some doubles, my rule of thumb is to make sure one of runs on the double days should be at least 60 minutes long. I personally think it is useless to do doubles like 35-50 or 45-45, for example. To just add to that, I don't believe in running less than 60 minutes a day, unless you're tapering and trying to rest for a race.